10 Best Eddie Guerrero WWE Matches

Eddie Guerrero would have turned 55-years-old on October 9, 2022.

Sadly, Eddie passed away on November 13, 2005, at the age of just 38. While his death was tragic and is still felt to this day, Latino Heat left an indelible legacy full of wonderful moments and matches.

In a career spanning almost twenty years, Eddie forged a reputation as one of the best of all time and worked to a standard few could ever hope to match across runs in Mexico, Japan, the United States and beyond.

The Hall of Famer had some amazing matches for groups like New Japan Pro-Wrestling, AAA and WCW, but he truly emerged as a global superstar while in WWE, particularly during his second spell in the company.

While fans continue to mourn the loss of one of the most talented and charismatic performers to ever lace up a pair of boots, they can also continue to celebrate his life and career by revisiting some of his best matches.

Even just looking at a three-and-a-half-year period in WWE, you soon see that you're spoilt for choice.

Viva Eddie Guerrero.

10. Vs. John Cena - SmackDown (September 11, 2003)

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Eddie Guerrero flipped from babyface to heel and back to babyface again in the summer of 2003.

WWE tried to make him a bad guy, but fans wouldn't boo his lying, cheating and stealing ways and, eventually, the United States Champion began a feud with John Cena, who was also on the cusp of becoming a big fan favourite.

Their brief rivalry climaxed on the September 11, 2003, episode of SmackDown in a 'Latino Street Fight', which was basically a parking lot brawl.

Latino Heat was an artist in the ring, but he could transfer that creativity to other arenas, too, as he proved here. He and Cena beat the hell out of each other as they brawled around the automobiles, hitting offensive moves like suplexes and flapjacks onto the steel as their fellow superstars watched and cheered them on.

Both got their heads put through windows and Eddie even burned Cena with one of the car's cigarette lighters. It was a wild and brutal match and both men must have been sore for a few days afterwards.

Guerrero finally got Cena down long enough to hit a Frog Splash from one car to another, thanks to a timely assist from nephew Chavo, who was returning after months out with an injury.

A very unique match type that you don't see very often, extremely well done by two pros.

9. Vs. Rey Mysterio - Judgment Day 2005

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The feud between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero was one of the WWE highlights of 2005.

They started out the year as Tag Team Champion partners, but a friendly rivalry based on competition escalated rapidly and ended with Latino Heat turning on the masked man in brutal fashion.

That led to their first proper grudge match, at Judgment Day 2005. The pair of luchadores had worked together extensively in the past and always put on great matches, but this one had an altogether different feel to it.

It was less about spots and high-flying (though there was still some of that) and more about matching the intensity of the storyline. Eddie was vicious and methodical, while Rey was determined to take it to him and gain a measure of revenge or go down swinging.

Eddie worked over the injured ribs and attempted to ground Mysterio, while Rey picked his moments and made fiery comebacks. He was on top and gaining momentum as Chavo tried to interfere on his uncle's behalf, only for Rey to dispatch him and then rock Eddie with the 619.

An attempted West Coast Pop, however, was met by a steel chair, giving Mysterio the win via disqualification.

That was really the only ending they could have done, as neither man could be beaten proper in their first big match together, while it also demonstrated Eddie's desperation in trying to avoid another loss to his former partner.

8. Vs. Kurt Angle - SmackDown (April 14, 2005)

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As two of SmackDown's standouts, Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle wrestled each other a lot in 2004 and 05.

They had a few big matches against one another on pay-per-view, but people shouldn't sleep on their bouts from the blue brand itself, as they had several long and compelling ones, which were typically positioned in the main event.

Their last singles match ever headlined the April 14, 2005 episode of SmackDown, as they clashed in the first round of the WWE Title Number One Contendership Tournament.

It was a 25-minute masterclass, full of great wrestling, comedy and some brilliant false finishes down the closing stretch.

The finish was a good one, too, as the ref got bumped, Rey interfered to try and stop Angle from using a chair and, somehow, in the confusion of it all ended up costing Eddie the match.

One of the best TV matches you'll see from this (or any) era, it's almost thirty brilliant minutes that fly by.

7. Vs. Rob Van Dam - Raw (May 27, 2002)

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Eddie Guerrero was fired by WWE in late 2001 after getting a DUI following a company-mandated spell in rehab. He quickly rebuilt his reputation on the independent and international scenes, however, and was re-signed by WWE in March 2002.

Rewarding his good behaviour and strong performances, WWE quickly made him the Intercontinental Champion during his return feud with Rob Van Dam, a feud which culminated in a frenetic Raw ladder match main event.

As Eddie told it in his autobiography Cheating Death, Stealing Life, he didn't know the match was booked until he showed up at the arena that day and didn't exactly have a tonne of experience in that environment, leading to some feelings of trepidation.

Regardless, he and RVD rocked the house, contesting a thriller that wasn't perfect, but was actually improved by its imperfections. Slight mistakes heightened the sense of danger and recklessness, while a fan running into the ring and trying to push Eddie off the ladder was utterly unpredictable (even if it's something you never want to see happen).

There were some huge bumps and spills and both men used their ingenuity to devise new ways to perform old favourite moves or spots.

In the end, Van Dam regained the IC strap, but both men raised their stock in a featured spot and put on one of the most exciting ladder matches in WWE history.

6. w/Tajiri Vs. Team Angle - SmackDown (May 22, 2003)

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When Chavo Guerrero suffered an injury at a television taping just days before he and Eddie were due to compete in a Tag Team Title ladder match at Judgment Day 2003, WWE didn't panic.

They made the best of an unfortunate situation by substituting in the talented and underutilised Tajiri, with the Japanese Buzzsaw and Latino Heat winning the titles in their first outing together.

Team Angle, naturally, wanted their rematch and received it on the post-Judgement Day episode of SmackDown.

There were no ladders involved this time, but their match was no less thrilling because of it. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin were really starting to come into their own as a unit at this point, and their amateur wrestling style meshed perfectly with their more experienced high-flying foes.

All four guys are great, but veteran Eddie held it all together, dictating the flow and taking a beating to set up Tajiri's hot tag.

The ending was classic Eddie, too, as he set Haas up and had him DQ'd. That result led to more matches between the two teams, something that nobody could rightly complain about.

5. Vs. JBL - Judgment Day 2004

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Eddie Guerrero's WWE Title run started off brilliantly, with a feel-good win over Brock Lesnar followed by a WrestleMania classic opposite Kurt Angle.

After the dust had settled on the Showcase of the Immortals, however, the perilous situation SmackDown found itself in became clear.

Brock took off to try his hand at the NFL, while Angle underwent another neck operation and Big Show, the next credible heel in line, also needed to go under the knife.

With a dearth of headliners, WWE rolled the dice and decided to reinvent mid-card babyface tag teamer Bradshaw, the Texan transforming into the villainous JBL.

Expectations were low heading into their showdown at Judgment Day 2004, though their feud had been a hot one and helped draw a strong, sellout crowd to the Staples Center.

And the match itself was far, far better than anyone probably thought it could have been, remembered mostly for Eddie's sickening bladejob and resultant blood loss.

The sheer amount of claret Latino Heat spilled was frightening, but undoubtedly added to the match's drama while establishing JBL as a proper main eventer in the process.

4. Vs. JBL - SmackDown (July 15, 2004)

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Eddie ended up losing the WWE Title to JBL in a Texas Bullrope match at the Great American Bash pay-per-view, but the dodgy nature of the result (Eddie looked to have won it but General Manager Kurt Angle overturned it and awarded the match to JBL on a technicality) meant that a rematch was inevitable.

It was booked for the July 17 episode of SmackDown and would take place inside a steel cage.

One thing Eddie did well was that, despite being undersized by the standards of the time, he never wrestled like a 'little' guy. He always worked as though he was much bigger, and it helped in these situations as he could conceivably throw down with someone like JBL and maintain suspension of disbelief.

Theirs was an even match and they utilised their surroundings well. Never more so than when Guerrero hit a massive Frog Splash from the top of the cage onto his prone opponent.

They went around 20 minutes and did lots of big moves and teases, and JBL deserves a tonne of credit for allowing himself to look so vulnerable by bumping willingly and doing things like begging off.

Really, the one thing that could have improved this would have been some blood - but after the horrific scenes at Judgment Day, it's wise that they didn't go that route here.

As it is, it's a gripping cage match and one of JBL's best matches from his title run.

3. Vs. Edge - SmackDown (September 26, 2002)

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When Eddie Guerrero was drafted to SmackDown in the summer of 2002, a rivalry with the ascendant Edge was a natural one.

The Canadian stalwart was in the process of establishing himself as a true singles star, following a series of great matches with Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho and others.

His first few matches with Latino Heat (including at SummerSlam and Unforgiven) were good, too, but they saved their best for last when they met in a No Disqualification bout on SmackDown.

They went hell for leather in a fast and furious match that incorporated a steel chair and a ladder for some breathtaking spots, like Eddie's huge sunset flip powerbomb from the tippity top rung.

The timing, selling and storytelling here were all first-rate and the match built beautifully to the finish - a crazy Edgecution DDT from the top of the ladder.

Despite being beaten and busted open the hardway, Eddie had to have felt great after this performance. The fans in the arena were certainly appreciative of his efforts, giving him a prolonged standing ovation afterwards.

2. Vs. Kurt Angle - WrestleMania XX

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After playing peacemaker between Chavo and Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle shockingly turned on Latino Heat in the buildup to their WWE Title match at WrestleMania XX.

Their dispute had been bitter and heated, and many expected them to have a match that reflected that.

Instead, they had a slow-building bout that, while certainly captivating, wasn't exactly the bloody war that some thought they may be in store for.

Regardless, it was a terrific chess match that built beautifully as both men tried to figure out a strategy to negate the other. There was some crisp wrestling, nifty submissions and novel counters as it chugged along towards a blistering finish full of near falls.

The Madison Square Garden crowd were captivated as it looked as if the ever-intense Olympic Hero had Eddie's number. Guerrero got a reprieve, but his ankle was damaged and he needed to remove his boot in order to relieve the pressure on it.

Like a shark smelling blood in the water, the overzealous Angle then charged Eddie and tried to lock it in one more time, only for the boot to go flying. Eddie then surprised a charging Kurt with an inside cradle in a frankly genius finish.

A great match and a hell of a WrestleMania moment for a performer who really deserved one.

1. Vs. Brock Lesnar - No Way Out 2004

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The crowning achievement of Eddie Guerrero's professional wrestling career happened on February 15, 2004, when he beat Brock Lesnar in the main event of No Way Out to become WWE Champion.

That is something that previously had been dismissed as impossible, as Eddie was the smaller 'cruiserweight' with a history of substance abuse issues, while Lesnar was the hand-picked Next Big Thing and checked every one of Vince McMahon's boxes when it comes to what the boss looks for in a main eventer.

But Eddie's popularity had been growing rapidly in the months prior, which correlated with him doing some of the best work of his career inside and outside of the ring.

He was drawing a new, largely Hispanic audience to SmackDown, and WWE higher-ups felt it was time to reward his good work.

Had he won the WWE Title in any match would have been special, but he did so against Lesnar in a genuine thriller and that made it all the more special.

The two put on a thirty-minute David versus Goliath battle for the ages, as Eddie used his veteran instincts in an attempt to counter Brock's brute force and exceptional athleticism.

As the match went on, belief crept in that it might be Latino Heat's night, though those hopes were dashed somewhat when Lesnar kicked out of an interfering Goldberg's spear.

It was simply a great tease, however, as Eddie managed to counter an F5 and hit the Frog Splash for the biggest and most unlikely - and most welcome - of upsets.