The tribute last night was excellent. The video package brought a tear to my eye, and the matches they put on in Eddie’s memory were absolutely top notch. He was an awesome wrestler, a hilarious performer, and from what I’ve heard a hell of a guy. He will be missed.
RIP Eddie
This is sad, and I hope it’s not related to drugs.
I’ve always felt that professional wrestling should be monitored just like football or any other sport. While I don’t consider professional wrestling a sport (it isn’t competitive per se) it’s definitely just as much an athletic endeavor as gymnastics or something of that nature.
Considering the conditioning of most of the athletes and the hard hits they take, they need access to the same type of medical care that any other professional athlete would receive. If you’ve ever watched a wrestling match you notice it’s basically a form of “dramatic gymanstics” in which the gymansts regularly wipe out on the mat (dozens of times a night.) And while the ring is designed with give it takes its toll on the body nonetheless. Professional sports teams have doctors on staff, experts on sports medicine, high quality trainers and etc. I’d be surprised if Vince McMahon has a set up anything like that primarily because the wrestling industry has a record of treating it’s wrestlers like chattel.
Here’s part of the
[quote]
(http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/causeofdeath) my DH sent me:
It was so painful to watch the tribute last night, we could only handle about a half hour. When I noticed my DH couldn’t stop crying, we went ahead and turned it off and went to bed. Very sad, such a young life shortened. I hope his family finds peace and knows how appreciated Eddie was.
R.I.P. Eddie, you will be sorely missed.
Eddie “Cheat to Win” Guerrero was my favorite wrestler. He radiated wit and charisma, and created a persona that went beyond the traditional archetypes of “heel” and “bayface”. This is really sad.
When Rey took off the mask - which is a HUGE deal for a luchadore* - that got me going and seeing Chris Benoit sob was heartbreaking.
*Yes, I know he was de-masked in WCW. Like later days WCW knew anything about tradition?
Does anyone remember the ladder match against RVD about 2000/2001ish (if memory serves)? Probably the greatest match I’ve ever seen.
Actually, losing it in WCW was perfectly within the rules. Rey putting the mask back on when he came back to WWF was a huge break with tradition.
I didn’t see Rey take off the mask. He unsnapped it at the chin but I didn’t see it come off.
When I heard Johny Cash {another great individual with drug related demons} singing “I hurt myself today” during the video I got va klempt. Chris Benoit , The Rabid Wolverine, sobbing openly for the loss of his friend, was too much. I noticed Kurt Angle was pretty broken up too. As the camera panned through all the wrestlers at the beginning and so many were teary eyed you realized the deep freindships in that violent demanding lifestyle. It must be close to being in combat together.
The Big Show, 7 foot whatever, 500 lbs, openly weeping for his friend. Very touching.
Rey took off the mask at the very end, but didn’t show his face. He has wrestled unmasked back in WCW.
And I should read all the posts, not just the last, before posting.
Here are some video tributes on WWE’s own website, including a SURPRISINGLY heartfelt and touching tribute from JBL:
JBL’s really was nice. That surprises me too, because I’m so used to him being the guy who will beat down the Blue Meanie for no reason and that sort of thing.