10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2005
5. The Mixed Emotions Of Eddie Guerrero’s Last Match
Tussling with Rey inside the steel cage was Eddie's last gimmick match, but obviously not his last match full stop. That'd come on the 11 November '05 SmackDown vs. Mr. Kennedy. They taped that bout on 8 November, then Guerrero was tragically found dead by his nephew Chavo on 13 November. What a depressing series of events.
On one hand, you’ll smile when watching Eddie do his ‘lie, cheat and steal’ thing vs. Kennedy. On the other, it’s painful knowing he’d be gone mere days later. Watching his final match feels surreal, if anything. There was a smile on Guerrero's face as he pulled the wool over Kennedy and referee Charles Robinson's eyes - the fans were in on it, and they grinned along with him.
This was Eddie at his cheeky, creative best. He'd been a heel opposite Mysterio, but now here he was lapping up the adulation from those who adored his roguish ways. There's something quite poignant about the fact that 'Latino Heat' got to go out with this kind of performance. He wasn't booed, he wasn't some character villain trying to wreck someone's family.
No, he was a devilish pro wrestler who used his brain power to outgun a newer star.
Guerrero was robbed of life and gone far too soon. Inside the ring, he clearly had so much more to give and was about to embark on yet another magical babyface sprint heading into 2006. It wasn't to be. Sadly, rather than furnishing the biz with more of this wink and nod chaos, Eddie passed away.