The timeline of events below are taken from the archives of Wrestling-Online.com and Wrestling-Online Newsletter. All information was accurate at time of the date stamps below.
Timeline of story: 11/13/2005 to 12/08/2005.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
҂ Today the wrestling world was shocked by the death of Eddie Guerrero. WWE.COM broke the story earlier today that former WWE champion Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room in Minneapolis, MN., this morning. One of the most popular – and hated – wrestling Superstars to ever step foot inside the squared circle, Guerrero – 38 years old – developed an addiction to pain medication a couple of years ago after a car accident that nearly ended his life in 1997. In late 2001 he was arrested for drunk driving and WWE released him from his contract a few days later. After cleaning up himself from the ‘demons’, Guerrero was welcomed back in WWE in April of 2002 and has been on a roll ever since. Eddie is survived by his wife Vickie and his three daughters. No cause of death has been released.
҂ Next week’s Smackdown! main event was supposed to have a three way match for the WWE title, involving Randy Orton, WWE champion Batista and Eddie Guerrero but with today’s tragic news, it is obvious that the plan will change and most probably it will effect both RAW and Smackdown! tapings. Batista looked like he was going to drop the title so he can undergo back surgery and the possibility was that Eddie was going to end up with the World Heavyweight Title, starting his 2nd term as champion. Eddie’s first successful title reign ended after he revealed he couldn’t take the pressure of being champion anymore, and dropped the title to JBL.
҂ Local Minneapolis CBS affiliate WCCO has picked up the story of Eddie’s passing along with the Minnesota Star Tribute newspaper online. Other media who picked up the story are the Associated Press, the United Press International, KHBS-KHOG TV, the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum Bucyrus and others. The TNA Wrestling website also has a note mentioning his death.
҂ It has been confirmed by Vince McMahon that tonight’s RAW and Smackdown! tapings will be a 4 hour (combined 2005) tribute to Eddie Guerrero. WWE Superstars were given the option not to wrestle just like when Owen Hart passed away. The original formats for both shows were immediately scrapped after today’s tragic news. Vince McMahon – who appeared very calm during the press conference – said that next week’s shows will feature the friends of Eddie Guerrero as they give their thoughts on the former WWE champion. Smackdown! will be taped prior to RAW. When asked by one of the members of the media if he will be there, Chavo Guerrero told them that he was given the option to fly back home, but Eddie would want him to be part of the show so he is sticking around.
҂ WWE.COM has a video of the press conference held earlier today at the Target Center with Vince McMahon and Chavo Guerrero. Some members of the media were present at ringside as McMahon and Chavo answered questions regarding the death of Eddie Guerrero, how it will effect the company, tonight’s TV tapings and much more. Check it out at WWE.COM.
҂ More details have been released regarding Eddie’s death from this morning. A hotel security member informed Chavo Guerrero that his uncle missed the wake up call he had set. Wade Keller from the Pro Wrestling Torch is reporting that Guerrero was found laying on the bathroom floor with a toothbrush in his mouth. Guerrero was staying at the Marriott City Center hotel and police were called in at around 7:30AM. Attempts were made to revive him however it was too late. In the press conference, his nephew Chavo said that the two were supposed to meet for breakfast but Eddie opted to get in-room service. The two had just arrived earlier from a flight from Phoenix. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner was called to the scene but authorities are being tight-lipped about releasing information regarding his death.
Monday, November 14, 2005
҂ Yahoo!, popular Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport and other news websites added the Eddie Guerrero story today. On Yahoo!, Eddie’s passing made it on the front page in the Entertainment section with the headline ‘WWE Smackdown!’ star Guerrero dies’ while over at Fox News a picture of Guerrero is accompanied by the headline ‘WWE Star Dead’ on the ‘Today’s Features’ section. On the Italian newspaper which never covers pro wrestling, they have an article explaining Eddie’s death. Smackdown! is pretty popular in Italy with Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio the most popular ever since John Cena moved to RAW. Other media outlets who also reported it include CBS News, Sports Illustrated, Houston Chronicle, Contact Music, El Paso Times, NBC 10 Philly, USA Today and others.
҂ A press release issued today by WWE said that the company is deeply saddened for the loss of the 38 year old Eddie Guerrero, passed away yesterday in his hotel room in Minneapolis, MN. The press release is very short and noted that Eddie was the first ever Mexican-American to become a WWE Champion, by defeating Brock Lesnar at No Way Out in February of 2004. It is interesting to point out that Minneapolis was also the city where Brian Pillman was discovered dead in his hotel room on October 5th 1997.
҂ RAW and Smackdown! taped yesterday were tribute shows to Eddie Guerrero. Superstars from both rosters appeared on both shows as angles where thrown out of the windows for this week as WWE Superstars reflected on Eddie’s life. Seven matches were taped for tonight’s show. These are Eugene vs Simon Dean; Shelton Benjamin vs Kurt Angle; Rey Mysterio vs Shawn Michaels; Ric Flair vs William Regal; Big Show & Kane vs MNM; a Diva Battle Royal; and John Cena vs Randy Orton. There are also loads of backstage interviews as Superstars give their thoughts on Eddie Guerrero.
҂ Funeral service for Eddie Guerrero will be held this Wednesday at 1:30PM, while most of the WWE Superstars will be in Europe for a loaded tour. Not all WWE Superstars went on the European tour which starts tomorrow in Italy, and the show, although will go on as scheduled, will not have all the advertised Superstars. Many are staying for the funeral and then they leave for the rest of the tour. Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit – two of Eddie’s closest friends – flew with the body from Minneapolis. Superstar Billy Graham, who is a close friend of Guerrero as well and lives nearby in Phoenix, will be conducting the funeral service along with a friend at Billy Graham’s church.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
҂ The Minnesota Star Tribune has revealed in today’s online edition that the Hennepin County medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Eddie Guerrero yesterday but said the cause of death may not be known for weeks. Local police have said there were no signs of foul play or indications that his death was a suicide. Guerrero will be buried in Phoenix, AZ.
҂ The word going around is that Eddie’s funeral will be held on Thursday now in Arizona, and not tomorrow. WWE.COM posted a note from Eddie’s wife Vicikie, thanking the fans for their support and to respect the privacy of the family as the funeral will be closed to public. Dave Meltzer of the Observer reported that Chris Benoit, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Rey Mysterio and JBL will join the WWE European tour later in the week as they are staying for the funeral.
Wednesday, November 16, 2012
҂ UPN, the network that carries Smackdown!, has issued a statement regarding the death of Eddie Guerrero. “All of us at UPN are deeply saddened by the passing of WWE Superstar Eddie Guerrero. An incredible performer, who has been a fan favorite on Smackdown, Eddie will be truly missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.” Guerrero was arguably one of the most popular Superstars in Smackdown! history and one of the reasons WWE is so popular with the Hispanic audience.
҂ The Eddie Guerrero tribute show on RAW generated a lot of interest from WWE fans and others who tuned to the broadcast as WWE Superstars said their final goodbyes to their friend. RAW on Monday pulled a 4.5 rating with a 6.6 share for the two hour broadcast, its best number of the year. It had hours of 4.6 and 4.4. In weekend ratings, AM RAW did a 0.6 with a 1.5 share.
҂ WWE.COM has added tons of other video testimonials on Eddie. These include messages from Eric Bischoff, Ted DiBiase, Trish Stratus, Matt Hardy, Booker T and Sharmell, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Michael Hayes and many other friends and colleagues. You can check them out. Rob Van Dam and Jim Ross also sent in their message which you can read on WWE.COM.
҂ Preliminary reports of the autopsy on Eddie Guerrero suggests a heart failure according to his wife Vickie. “It was heart failure. It was from his past – the drinking and the drug abuse. They found signs of heart disease. She (the examiner 2005) said that the blood vessels were very worn and narrow, and that just showed all the abuse from the scheduling of work and his past,” she said. Vickie also said that for the past week Eddie wasn’t feeling to well but he thought he was just “road tired”. Unfortunately those were the first signs of the horrible circumstances which occur ed on Sunday morning. “It made his heart grow bigger and work harder and the vessels were getting smaller, and that’s what caused the heart failure. He went into a deep sleep.”
Thursday, November 17, 2005
҂ Edge and Arn Anderson were interviewed by WWE.COM to give their thoughts and reaction to Eddie Guerrero’s death this past Sunday. Edge was unable to attend Sunday’s tapings due to his injury and was very emotional over the phone, explaining how it was his mom who actually told him about Eddie’s passing. You can listen to them at WWE.COM.
҂ WWE has released an Eddie Guerrero tribute t-shirt and armband like the Superstars wore during RAW last Monday with all proceedings being donated to the Guerrero family. The price is $20 for the shirt, which is $5 less than the other normal WWE t-shirts and the armband goes for $4. You can check out a screen shot of the shirt. Interesting to note is that seven out of the top ten items on the WWEShop.com website are all Eddie related. Vince McMahon in the press conference on Sunday afternoon stated that Eddie’s family will receive royalties “for life” from merchandise or anything else that has Eddie in it.
Friday, November 18, 2005
҂ Funeral for Eddie Guerrero was held yesterday in Scottsdale, AZ., in a service led by WWE Hall of Famer ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham. Dave Meltzer of the Observer is reporting that tons of WWE Superstars attended the ceremony including Chris Benoit, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, Edge, Lita, Shane Helms, Doug Basham, Torrie Wilson, C.M. Punk, Jamie Noble, Kevin Dunn, John Laurinaitis, Michael Hayes, Steve Austin and the entire McMahon family. Other non-WWE personnel included Tom and Bruce Pritchard, Billy Anderson, Charlie Haas, Jackie Gayda, Mark Jindrak, Konnan, Gail Kim, Mike Tenay, Christian, Billy Kidman, Sting, Tommy Drake and of course the whole Guerrero family.
Thursday, December 8, 2005
҂ The official report of the death of Eddie Guerrero was released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner today. The report states that Guerrero died of natural causes related to arteriosclerotic heart disease. Guerrero’s blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart were narrow which contributed to his death. The former WWE champion was found dead in his hotel room in Minneapolis, MN., on Sunday November 13th.