10 INSANE Risks WWE Took With Their Biggest Stars
7. Rey Mysterio
A number of WWE full-timers were beyond consoling when they lost friend and colleague Eddie Guerrero in 2005, and Rey Mysterio stood bravely as one of the most heartbroken.
Brothers in all but blood, the two wrestled epics with and against one another, infamously feuding shortly before 'Latino Heat' passed in a silly story that has since charmed viewers in the passage of time.
On the first of two tribute shows, Mysterio wrestled Shawn Michaels in something of a dream match and one the pair wanted to have in the fallen star's honour. In the weeks to follow, Guerrero included an "EG" tribute arm band as part of his permanent gear, and scored tag team gold with Batista in another sweet presentation of two men that loved Eddie coming together to share both the real pain of his loss and the storyline success of a title gained.
But WWE didn't know when and where to stop. Mysterio went the distance to earn a WrestleMania title shot in the 2006 Royal Rumble, crediting his #2 position to Guerrero playing a prank from heaven. If that ever-so-slightly soured a sweet tone, an awful follow-up programme with Randy Orton conclusively destroyed it.
Mysterio was barely even a sympathetic figure by the time he became World Heavyweight Champion in Guerrero's honour at the subsequent 'Show Of Shows', and was booked so poorly with the belt after the fact fans simply never felt motivated to latch back on.