2. Latino Hea(r)t
Irrespective of what Kevin Nash apparently thinks, Guerrero had a huge personality that dwarfed his small frame. He was born to be a star. When announcers talk about the size of a competitors heart, Eddie is exactly the type of competitor they should be talking about. Not only could he stun the crowd with a glorious superhuman comeback, a high-flying last-minute counterattack or a never-say-die spirit (watch powerhouses like Lesnar or JBL crush and dominate Eddie for 2/3s of a match, only for Eddie to take advantage of one little slip up and go home with the gold), he could do so in a way that was wholly convincing and never less than 100% satisfying. Not only did his on-screen persona attest to Eddies strength of character and willpower, but his professional life did as well. He may have played the loveable Latino rogue on TV, but in all the interviews Ive seen, Guerreros peers and colleagues portray Eddie as a devoted family man who loved his wife and kids more than anything else in the world. Eddie was also a trailblazer. WWE was always the home of the big men. Strong, larger-than-life characters like Andre, Hogan, Undertaker, Big Show, Yokozuna, Earthquake, Kane and even the aforementioned Mr. Nash have dominated McMahon's roster for as long as I can remember. Shawn Michaels (and, to some degree, Bret Hart) aside, it is only in relatively recent years that smaller, more technical, wrestlers have started to break through at the very top level. Eddie Guerrero was a prime example of a wrestler who could be a draw without being 9ft tall and built like a bag of cement. In that respect, he should be remembered as a pioneer. How much heart would YOU need if you were a 5,8, 220 lbs Mexican-American in an industry dominated by gigantic monster-men with Irish-sounding names? There should be a place for all body types and styles at the top levels of wrestling, provided the competitors are interesting and have a strong connection to the fans. If people will pay good money to watch them wrestle, then that probably matters more than anything else. At the end of the day, success in wrestling is all about being a draw...And Guerrero was certainly a draw. Eddie's own family name notwithstanding, if Guerrero didnt have the heart of a true champion, he would never have gotten that far in the wrestling industry. Still not convinced? Go back and watch Eddie nearly bleed to death in the ring during Judgement Day 2004. He could barely stand from all the blood loss, but he was still determined to give the fans their moneys worth and send them home satisfied. The sight of Eddie executing that second blood-splattered Frog Splash may have been raw and disturbing, but it demonstrated the heart of a champion and a level of pride that most of us would struggle to emulate.