Chavo Guerrero Sr. Passes Away

Yesterday, Chavo Guerrero Jr. announced on social media that his father Chavo Guerrero Sr. had died following a short battle with liver cancer.

“Today the world lost a true rebel. He did things "HIS" way. Not always right, not always wrong, but He always followed what he believed in. He was diagnosed with Liver Cancer in early January of this year.”

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.

Last year, now in his seventh decade, Chavo Classic alighted at Lucha Underground's Temple to intervene in a match between Rey Mysterio and his son where he was the recipient of the former's 619 to conclude the feud.

Chavo was first diagnosed with liver cancer in January of this year, and had recently entered hospice care with his health deteriorating. He died on 11 February 2017, and is survived by brothers Mando and Hector, son Chavo, and sister-in-law Vickie.