Just over a month ago, Dave Batista led the crowd at No Mercy in singing Happy Birthday to Eddie Guerrero, as wrestling's most lovable heel turned 38. Eddie had every reason to celebrate. After years of battling personal demons, as well as drug and alcohol problems, Eddie could proudly boast four years of sobriety. His career was back on track as he worked a main-event storyline with the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista. He had the love and support of his family, and the respect of his friends and peers. No-one dreamed that in a little more than a month, Eddie Guerrero would be dead.

Born in 1967 in El Paso, Texas, Eddie Guerrero continued the family tradition of professional wrestling. Often referred to as Mexico's first family of wrestling, Eddie followed in the footsteps of his father, Gory Guerrero, beginning his training almost before he could walk. Family legend has it that Eddie had mastered the dropkick by his third birthday.

Eddie made his professional debut in 1987, heading to Japan as the masked Black Tiger. It was in Japan that Eddie would meet lifelong friends Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. His training in Japan would stand him in good stead for his tenure in ECW, where the world got their first good look at Eddie Guerrero. He captured the ECW TV Championship from 2 Cold Scorpio shortly after his debut. One of the highlights of his career in ECW was the incredible match he had with Dean Malenko. The match, which was given a standing ovation by the live crowd, has become one of ECW legend.

In 1990, Eddie married Vickie Guerrero and had the first of what would be three daughters.

Eddie spent four years wrestling for WCW, and like his close friends Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit, grew increasingly frustrated with the way the promotion was run. Like so many of his peers, Eddie was also wrestling with personal demons as drug and alcohol problems began to affect his life. In 1999, he suffered serious injury to his pelvis when he crashed his car. When he recovered, he went back to work, but it would not be long before he, along with Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn, eventually walked out on WCW.

They made their debut on Monday Night RAW on January 31, 2000, collectively known as The Radicalz. Eddie dislocated his elbow during the Radicalz first match against the New Age Outlaws, but returned a short time later to win his first WWE title, defeating Chris Jericho for the European Championship.

Later, Eddie teamed up with woman wrestler Chyna, beginning a relationship that was dubbed "Latino Heat and his Mamacita." Eddie and Chyna were a formidable tag team, winning many matches together, but when their relationship soured Eddie again secured WWE gold by defeating Chyna for the Intercontinental Championship on October 30, 2000. The Radicalz reunited in November 2000, going on to feud with DX. However, early in 2001, Eddie was removed from the roster to enter rehabilitation for his substance abuse problems. Unable to fully conquer them, he was released by WWE in November 2001.

Eddie spent time in the independent circuit, wrestling for promotions such as Ring of Honor. Early in 2002, he was once again signed by WWE and made his return by attacking Rob Van Dam during a RAW taping. He would defeat Van Dam for the Intercontinetal Championship in May, and from there his career skyrocketed. Clean and sober, with his demons vanquished, Eddie threw himself into his career. On February 15, at No Way Out, Eddie defeated Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion. At WrestleMania XX, Eddie came out to the ring to celebrate with his lifelong friend, Chris Benoit, when he defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels to become World Heavyweight Champion.

On Tuesday, November 8, Eddie and the rest of the SmackDown roster gathered for the taping of the show. With Batista named as captain of Team SmackDown at Survivor Series, the rest of the slots were up for grabs. Eddie battled Ken Kennedy to claim one of the spots, delighting the crowd with a vintage Eddie Guerrero perfomance that was both athletic and humorous. It would be his last match.

Eddie and his nephew Chavo Guerrero flew into Minneapolis late on Saturday night. They bid each other goodbye at the Marriot Hotel with plans to meet to go to the gym the next morning, and organised wake-up calls. When Eddie didn't respond to his wake-up call, hotel security contacted Chavo and together they entered Eddie's room. He was found dead on the bathroom floor, a toothbrush in his mouth.

Asked by the press if Eddie's substance abuse problems could have contributed to his death, Chavo stated, "Actually, he told me on the plane just yesterday, that he had just marked 4 years of sobriety. No. I don't think so."

Chavo Guerrero and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon confirmed that the tapings of both RAW and SmackDown, scheduled to be taped at the same time, will be tribute shows to Eddie Guerrero.

Eddie is survived by his wife Vickie, and his daughters Shaul, Sherilyn and Kaylie Marie. NZPWI's thoughts and condolences are with Eddie's family, and all who knew and loved him.

R.I.P Eddie.

Eddie Guerrero
9 October 1967 - 13 November 2005