The defining moment of No Way Out's considerable history is Eddie Guerrero's WWE Championship victory in 2004. A show built solely around Latino Heat, his face emblazoned on the promotional poster and in pre-taped advertisements, it was meant to be the culmination of a career of hard work and in-ring greatness, not to mention the coronation, of one of wrestling's best and most inspirational. Squaring off with the unstoppable Brock Lesnar, Guerrero was the underdog but he never allowed the overwhelming size of The Beast Incarnate to intimidate him. Being tossed around the squared circle and trapped in the grasp of his champion opponent did not stop Guerrero from fighting, from demonstrating his unmatched resiliency. He fought back and, whether or not he needed it, benefited from interference by Bill Goldberg and delivered an explosive Frog Splash to capture the most coveted title in the industry and prove an old cliche correct: indeed it was not the size of the dog in the fight but, rather, the fight in the dog. Still one of the most emotional and heart-warming moments in WWE history.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
