10 Times WWE Were Shamelessly Exploitative

2. Eddiesploitation

Rey Mysterio Vickie Guerrero
WWE

On 13 November 2005, just one day prior to a scheduled World Heavyweight Championship victory on SmackDown, Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room. He was 38 years old.

What followed was an outpouring of grief from all facets of the industry for one of its best-loved performers. WWE led the tributes for their fallen superstar, with both episodes of the week's Raw and SmackDown given over to his honour. The entire roster, many of them overcome by tears, stood on the entrance ramp in silence as a ten bell salute sounded for Guerrero.

WWE's touching tribute was soon rendered meaningless when Eddie's death was incorporated into Rey Mysterio's long-running tilt at the World Heavyweight Championship. At first, Mysterio vowing to win the Royal Rumble for his close friend seemed reasonable. What wasn't was rival Randy Orton getting in on the act, callously claiming that "Eddie ain't in heaven... he's in hell!" Vince McMahon - and according to a group of ex-writers, the idea was entirely his - had stopped honouring Eddie's death, and was simply milking it.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.