10 Most Emotional Title Wins In WWE History
1. Eddie Guerrero Wins The WWE Title (No Way Out 2004)
Eddie Guerrero’s story will go down as one of wrestling’s greatest tragedies, particularly when considering his rise to glory. He passed away as one of the most universally admired, revered, and cherished performers that WWE has ever seen, and No Way Out 2004 was his grandest moment.
Guerrero was an immaculate performer, but a flawed human being. He struggled with personal demons throughout his life, and saw more than his fair share of disappointment during his time on Earth. That’s what made Eddie so popular: nobody is perfectly, and Eddie’s relatable flaws (and will to overcome them) made him a modern day folk hero.
After surviving a life-threatening car accident in 1999, Eddie made his way to WWE the following year. Unfortunately, Guerrero had developed a crippling addiction to alcohol and painkillers in the aftermath. This got the better of him in 2001, when Eddie was sent to rehab, then released from WWE after being arrested for drunk driving.
Guerrero went through one of the darkest periods of his life, but he bounced back. He took in the independent scene by storm, and after cleaning up his act, Eddie was back in WWE by 2002. Guerrero often worked heel, but his natural charm soon won the fans over, and with WWE playing-up on his passion and real-life struggles, Eddie entered No Way Out 2004 with everyone behind him.
Few gave him a shot against the dominant Brock Lesnar, but he pulled it off. Eddie pinned Lesnar with his patented Frog Splash for the win, and the building erupted. A passionate celebration saw him leap into the audience, crowdsurf, and share a tearful hug with his mother. Finishing the show on the announce table, with the WWE Championship in one hand and the Mexican flag in another, Guerrero’s big win was a truly special moment.