16 Wrestlers Who Died In 2017

Chavo Guerrero Sr., brother of Eddie and father of Chavo Jr., passed away in February at the age of 68 after a short battle with cancer.

Chavo Guerrero was born Salvador Guerrero III on 7 January 1949, the son of EMLL legend Gory Guerrero and one of four brothers who would follow in their father's footsteps by entering the wrestling industry. After first making his name in Japan squaring off with hardcore innovator and future member of the Diet Atsushi Onita, Chavo relocated to California to compete for NWA Hollywood, where he feuded with Roddy Piper, picking up the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship 15 times in the process.

Chavo's first real national exposure came when teaming with his brothers Mando and Hector in the AWA, but it wasn't until later life that he attained mainstream attention. Son Chavo and brother Eddie became the latest in the Guerrero line to step into the ring, each forging successful careers in WCW and latterly WWE, where Chavo Sr. joined them in 2004 under the inspired moniker 'Chavo Classic'. Though he was largely employed in a light-hearted role, Chavo nevertheless became the oldest WWE Cruiswerweight Champion in history when he defeated his son and Spike Dudley on an episode of SmackDown.

As recently as 2016, well into his seventh decade, Chavo Classic alighted at Lucha Underground's Temple to intervene in a match between Rey Mysterio and his son. He took a 619 from the former to conclude the feud.

Chavo was diagnosed with liver cancer in January this year, entering hospice care soon after as his health deteriorated.