20 Most Epic Wrestling Matches That Weren't Supposed To Be Epic
4. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc 1997)
The WCW Cruiserweight division well-represented the mindset behind this article, as rarely was there a great deal of television time dedicated to building a match for the title. Reputations amongst its combatants were earned through in-ring performances. A great match with Dean Malenko had introduced mainstream audiences to Mysterio, for instance. Another excellent match followed, adding to the aura surrounding the masked high flyer. Each eye-popping match, rather than segment or promo, made Mysterio into a commodity for WCW to bank on. Guerrero, who would go onto be one of the top 25 stars of the WrestleMania Era, brought with him to the division a desire to succeed at a higher level than many of his peers. By the time that they engaged each other in 1997, Mysterio and Guerrero were ready to offer one of WCWs finest matches of all-time. As mentioned a few months ago in a Greatest Matches in WCW History article, what separated Mysterio vs. Guerrero from other CW title matches was the storytelling. Latino Heat was a master pro wrestling psychologist. Mysterios aerial assaults plus Guerreros all-around prowess equated to pure brilliance in the ring. The Mask vs. Title stipulation added a quality not usually present in Cruiserweight Championship bouts, as well.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
