10 Things You Didn't Know About Eddie Guerrero

10. He Was The First Luchadore In History To Voluntarily Unmask

The importance of the mask to Mexican wrestling is well-documented. It's not simply a gimmick but an important part of the culture and history. The mask has great significance and is to be treated with reverence. Because of this, Mask Vs. Mask matches are huge business in Mexico but, when a wrestler loses his mask, he must never re-mask because it would be considered disrespectful.

Eddie was very aware of this tradition, growing up as a member of the world famous Guerrero wrestling family. Eddie was raised with a wrestling ring in his back yard and was trained the old-school way by his father Gory Guerrero. He definitely appreciated the significance of the mask and what is meant in Mexico. But Eddie was also a bit of a rebel and he made history by becoming the first luchadore to voluntarily unmask. Eddie had wrestled as Mascara Majica (The Magic Mask) for EMLL but left under strained circumstances and was blackballed by the company. He resurfaced in rival company AAA under the mask but took it off before his first match.

Explaining his decision he said that he was continuing the Guerrero legacy and wanted to make his mark under his own name. Eddie would don the mask again when working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, working underneath a hood as Black Tiger.