PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF EDDIE GUERRERO'S PASSING

MAT CLASSIC: EDDIE GUERRERO VS. BROCK LESNAR
by Buck Woodward & Mike Johnson 

In memory of Eddie Guerrero, this week we will look at some of his greatest moments and classic matches.

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Eddie Guerrero
No Way Out - February 15, 2004
Cow Palace, San Francisco, California

The History

After taking care of Hardcore Holly at the 2004 Royal Rumble in under seven minutes, and Chris Benoit's departure to Raw, Brock Lesnar found himself without a number-one contender. In fact, Lesnar was spending more time concentrating on Bill Goldberg, saying he was the youngest WWE champion ever, and that he had headlined Wrestlemania, two things Goldberg had never done. Still, a champion needs a challenger, and Paul Heyman scheduled a Royal Rumble match on the January 27th edition of Smackdown to name a challenger for No Way Out. The match came down to Eddie Guerrero, who had been mysteriously attacked earlier in the evening and taken to the hospital, and Kurt Angle, who had entered number one and survived the 15-man field to reach the end. Guerrero flipped Angle over the top rope and to the apron. Eddie hit some right hands, but Angle held on. Angle shoulderblocked Guerrero through the ropes, and grabbed Guerrero for a vertical suplex from the apron. Eddie swung his legs back down, and lifted Angle into a vertical suplex. However, instead of falling back, Guerrero tossed Angle forward, over the top rope and to the floor. Eddie Guerrero had earned himself the WWE Title shot at No Way Out.

On the February 5th edition of Smackdown, Michael Cole was scheduled to interview Guerrero in the ring. However, before Eddie could talk about his No Way Out match, Brock Lesnar came to the ring. The fans chanted "Eddie", which Brock mocked. Brock congratulated Eddie on becoming the number one contender with his Rumble win, then reminded Guerrero that he wasn't in the Rumble, and pointed out that he has beaten Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, The Rock and Kurt Angle. Brock said he is afraid of no one, including Goldberg, then went off on a tangent about Goldberg, showing the champion did not have his mind on the matters at hand. Eddie played it cool, saying Brock has quite the resume, and that he was impressed with him. Guerrero said he didn't have all those accomplishments, all he had was the fact that he has overcome every obstacle that has come in his way. Eddie talked about how people have told him his whole life that he would never amount to anything in wrestling due to his size and his personal demons, then he got very emotional, saying he is beating all demons and overcoming all obstacles. Eddie says he hears the voices that say he can't do it, but when he pictures Brock Lesnar, all he sees is his next obstacle to overcome. Guerrero told Brock that at No Way Out, he would be facing all the fire that burns within him. Brock backed up, then smiled at Guerrero. Brock said that all of the voices were right, and that Eddie Guerrero was "no one". Eddie decked Lesnar with one punch, and pounded him on the mat. Lesnar rolled out of the ring and backed away up the aisle, leaving his belt behind. Eddie strapped the championship around his waist, as Brock glared at him from the runway.

Brock continued to have Goldberg on the brain, especially after Steve Austin gave Goldberg a front row ticker for No Way Out and speared Paul Heyman. However, Lesnar also realized he needed to get past Guerrero, and went about playing mindgames with the Latino superstar. On the February 12th edition of Smackdown, with a Mariachi band playing, Lesnar danced out to the ring wearing a sombrero. Brock had the band stop playing, and said he owed everyone an explanation for what he was doing. Lesnar said he was throwing Eddie Guerrero a celebration, because at no way out, he wouldn't have anything to celebrate. Brock had the band start playing the Mexican Hat Dance, and Eddie ran to the ring. The band took off, Brock went to the floor as Eddie tossed around the microphone stands left in the ring. Brock told Guerrero to relax, and they were just having a celebration. Brock said the people love him because he is such a tough fighter, but told him (calling him "addict") that this Sunday, he isn't fighting the odds, he is fighting "Brock Lesnar". Brock said he was going to torture Eddie this Sunday, saying he was winning NCAA Championships and World Titles while Eddie was fighting his demons. Brock said he hoped Eddie was "addicted to losing". Guerrero said if they wanted to talk about his demons, they should "tell it straight". Guerrero said he is an addict, and three years ago he was in a shower in a locker room high. Eddie said he was carried out of that arena and straight into rehab. Guerrero said he then lost his job, his wife, his kids and his spirit. Eddie said he disgraced his race, his family and himself. Guerrero said he came to a point in his life where it was "do or die". Guerrero said he then earned his way back into the ring, earned the respect of his kids again, and earned his life back. Guerrero said winning the World Title was going to be his way to say he was sorry to everyone, and prove to his family that he was going to provide for them. Guerrero said he was addicted to the cheers of the crowd, was addicted to being able to tell his family he is succeeding, and addicted to being able to tell people like Brock to "stick it up his ass". Eddie said he was going to get "his high" at No Way Out by winning the World Title. Later that night, it was Guerrero gaining the final psychological edge, pinning Lesnar in a tag team match.

The Match

Brock Lesnar (who had been confronted by Bill Golberg earlier in the evening, resulting in Goldberg being "arrested") made his way to the ring first. Eddie Guerrero drove a Low Rider into the Arena, with a camera inside the car. Michael Cole said tonight was a day of reckoning for Eddie and recapped the events of Guerrero's firing and comeback to the WWE. Brock didn't show any signs of the earlier Jackhammer he received from Bill Goldberg.

The crowd chanted "Eddie" at the match started. Lesnar and Eddie locked up with Lesnar shoving him off several times, but Eddie refused to back off. Lesnar began beating down Eddie with kicks in the corner.

Brock continued to beat down Eddie. Brock powerbombed Eddie, then held him, spun around and sent Guerrero flying. Brock hit a belly to belly suplex on Eddie. Lesnar kneed Guerrero in the jaw. Eddie struggled to get back to his feet and fired back with several shots but Lesnar kneed him in the ribs and sent Guerrero back to the mat.

Guerrero rolled out of the ring to buy some time as Lesnar mocked him from the ring. Eddie tried to get back in the ring but Lesnar kicked him through the ropes in the ribs. Lesnar sent Eddie into the railing. Eddie finally shoulderblocked Lesnar and clotheslined him on the top rope. Eddie grabbed Lesnar's leg to the ringpost and slammed Lesnar's knee against it. Eddie tried to do it again but Lesnar pulled Guerrero into the post.

Eddie got back in the ring. Lesnar began beating on Eddie's back and hit him with a delayed fisherman's buster. Lesnar scored a two count but Guerrero kicked out. Lesnar locked a side chinlock on Eddie, who made it to his feet and dropped into a jawbreaker. Eddie couldn't follow up. Brock pressed Eddie over his head but Eddie got away and dropkicked Brock's knee. Brock clotheslined Eddie down before he could build on his momentum.

Brock hit a huge German suplex on Eddie. Lesnar smothered Guerrero in the corner and continued to beat him down. Lesnar continued to work over Eddie's back and midsection. Lesnar went for a high knee in the corner, but Eddie ducked. Lesnar hit his knee on the turnbuckle and crashed over the top to the floor. Tazz and Michael Cole painted it as the opening Eddie has needed. Guerrero dove out of the ring on Brock.

Both men rolled back in the ring and Eddie went right after the injured knee. Eddie ducked a clothesline and hit a belly to back suplex. Eddie charged but was hit with a Hot Shot into the ropes. Lesnar covered Eddie, who kicked out at two.

Lesnar went for a powerbomb, but Eddie locked in a submission around the knee, then turned it into an STF in the center of the ring. Eddie drove Lesnar's knee into the mat and went after it with a series of kicks. Eddie tried to lock in a figure four leglock but Lesnar's legs were too big and he kicked Eddie off.

Eddie dropkicked Lesnar in the side of the head. Lesnar made his way back to his feet and hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Guerrero. The crowd began chanting for "Goldberg." Brock shot Eddie into the ropes but he came back with head scissors to take Brock down. Eddie locked in a figure four leglock in the center of the ring. Brock tried to turn it over but couldn't. Lesnar used his strength to pull himself towards the ropes and finally grabbed the bottom rope.

Eddie continued to assault the champion's knee. Eddie locked in a Texas Cloverleaf and then turned it back into another STF. Lesnar powered out of the hold by rolling over. Lesnar jettisoned Eddie into the air with a German suplex. The referee began counting both men down. Lesnar got to his feet first and hit a spinebuster on Eddie. Lesnar made the cover but Guerrero kicked out at two.

Brock locked on a rear naked choke on Guerrero, scissoring his legs around Eddie's midsection. Eddie got to his knees and was trying to break the hold but Lesnar held his weight down on Eddie. Eddie used that momentum to charge towards the corner and send Brock flying into the turnbuckles. Lesnar's nose and mouth came up bloody. Lesnar continued to beat on Eddie, screaming, "Die Eddie! Just Die!"

Lesnar locked in a reverse bear hug as the crowd chanted Eddie's name and he struggled for the ropes. Brock finally tossed Guerrero with a Gutwretch suplex. Lesnar went for several covers but Eddie kicked up at two each time. Eddie began to come back with a series of headbutts. Lesnar went down after Eddie came off the ropes with a dropkick to the knee.

Eddie hit a flying headscissors. Lesnar kneed Guerrero in the stomach but missed a charge in the corner. Eddie hit a series of three vertical suplexes. Eddie motioned for the frog splash and ascended to the top rope. Eddie dove off with the frog splash but Lesnar rolled out of the way. No water in the pool. Michael Cole and Tazz said that may have been Eddie's last chance.

Lesnar hit the F-5 on Eddie but Eddie's legs clipped referee Brian Hebner when he was in the rotation. The crowd began yelling for Goldberg. Lesnar rolled out of the ring and grabbed the WWE championship belt, preparing to hit Guerrero with it. Goldberg hit the ring and speared Lesnar. Goldberg was wearing broken handcuffs on one hand. Goldberg walked off with the referee, Lesnar, and Eddie all down. The fans chanted for Eddie.

Guerrero made the cover and the referee counted one...two....kickout by Lesnar! Guerrero grabbed the WWE title belt and measured him with it as Lesnar struggled to his feet. Eddie charged but Brock cut him off and went for the F-5 but Eddie turned it into a DDT on the dropped title belt.

Eddie hit a top rope frog splash and pinned Brock Lesnar for the WWE championship. A tremendous, must see match.

Eddie jumped into the crowd and celebrated with the fans. He comes back into the ringside area and hugged his mother and Mando Guerrero sitting at ringside. Eddie stood on the announcers' table and held the WWE championship aloft for the fans to see.

The winner and new WWE champion, Eddie Guerrero.

The Aftermath

Eddie Guerrero would hold onto the WWE Championship for over four months, defending it against the likes of Shelton Benjamin, Rey Mysterio, The Big Show, Bubba Ray Dudley, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, and Kurt Angle before losing it to John Bradshaw Layfield on June 27, 2004 at the Great American Bash.

Match Availability: Match is available on WWE's "No Way Out 2004" DVD, and on "Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story" on DVD.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet