Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero – Latino World Revolution

A friend is their enemy, is their friend is their enemy. Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero are as tied together in wrestling history as they are in their global influence on popularizing Lucha Libre in the 21st century.

From their earliest days of competing in Mexico to their time in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and eventually the World Wrestling Federation, where Rey Mysterio has been, so has Eddie Guerrero.

While both men competed in Triple-A in Mexico and ECW at the same time, no documented match took place between them.

So, while their careers are so remarkably tied together, their time standing in the same ring wasn’t until they were both in World Championship Wrestling.

Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero –
Prepared to Set the Wrestling World on Fire

Both men competed in the event on November 24th, 1996, as part of WCW’s World World III three-ring battle royal.

But the first time they faced each other wasn’t until nearly ten months later, on September 8th, 1997, on an episode of Monday Night Nitro. The match was reportedly nothing special. They had a little over five minutes to show their skillset against one another.

The next time they faced each other, Guerrero wore a mask and was referred to as El Caliente. Depending on one’s translation, he was either very hot or very spicy! Once again, their battle lasted a little more than five minutes.

“He taught me how to pace myself. How to give the fans what they want at a certain time, and not just throw away my entire arsenal–just waste all my bullets in one match.

‘Wait, let them digest a little bit and have them wanting more the next time they see you… “All those little details are very important in our industry.”

• Rey Mysterio, on what he learned from Eddie Guerrero

But as time passed, the chemistry between them was undeniable. With that recognition, it was the start of a rivalry between these two that would make the focus of their feud the most significant item in Lucha Libre. The mask.

So, with Rey Mysterio’s mask on the line and Eddie Guerrero’s WCW Cruiserweight title. After nearly fourteen minutes, Mysterio would pin Guerrero and capture the WCW Cruiserweight title.

But that reign would be short-lived, as Guerrero would regain the title a couple of weeks later. As time passed, the two would battle with the stipulation that if Rey lost to Eddie, he would join the Guerrero-led faction Latino World Order.

Eventually, this feud would come to an end, and what would emerge would be a union. Before the two would become WWE tag team champions, they along with Billy Kidman, Konnan, Juventud Guerrera, and Disco Inferno.

Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero – The Filthy Animals

After Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero teamed together for the final time in WCW, it would be three years before they would be in the same ring together.

Only this time, it wouldn’t be as part of a major promotion but as part of IWA-Mid South in a triple-threat heavyweight championship match. The third competitor in that match was CM Punk.

“Oh God, a match? A match where I kind of figured things out? I really don’t know. I’d really have to think about it and maybe working with Rey Mysterio and Eddie (Guerrero) for the first time.

We famously did a three-way in like a — I don’t know. It was like a school gymnasium somewhere in Indianapolis, somewhere in Indiana, or something like that for IWA (Mid-South). It was when Eddie was in between jobs…

– CM Punk on his triple threat match with Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero

Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero –
Re-united in the WWE

By August 2002, Guerrero and Mysterio would once again cross paths. This time as part of the WWE’s Smackdown brand. Throughout the balance of 2002, the two would face each other in a series of tag team or six-man tag team matches.

While the focus wasn’t necessarily on them and their feud, it did include them. It also saw both men challenge each other and defeat each other for WWE tag team championships.

Throughout 2003, the two men did face each other, but there was little in the way of meaningful interaction or eventful of note between them. That would all change in 2004.

As WWE Heavyweight Champion, Eddie Guerrero would face Mysterio for the championship on an episode of Smackdown. And after nearly twenty minutes, Guerrero would retain his title.

But in defeat, it seemed to put the wheels in motion for reuniting these one-time friends. Throughout 2004 and into 2005, the two men would team together, recapturing the magic they once had.

I love Rey. I love him like my little brother. That’s how much I think of Rey. He’s a man and he has no fear.

And I like that. He has no fear of me because it is a compliment to me because you have got to all the stuff he does. I have to catch him, and I have to support him.

(To) do all that stuff for him and his moves, and for him to have that type of confidence in me it’s a compliment to me. I love that guy. He’s just great, and he’s one of my favorite people.

– Eddie Guerrero talks about what he thinks of Rey Mysterio.

They would face the likes of The Basham Brothers, Mark Jindrak, and Luther Reigns as they look to regain their momentum as a tag team.

This would ultimately culminate in them capturing the WWE Tag Team Championships at No Way Out 2005, defeating then-champions The Basham Brothers. They were active champions, defending their titles countless times over the next few months.

After losing the titles to MNM, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero would lose half a dozen times to Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro, attempting to re-capture the championships.

While the two would continue to team with one another, they weren’t without facing each other. Their matches against one another were highly entertaining and truly exemplified their ability to bring out their best in one another.

Eventually, however, a friendly rivalry would become deeply personal. This would all stem from their ‘custody of Dominik’ storyline.

From two-out-of-three falls matches to matches with special referees, street fights, and ultimately, the custody of Dominik ladder match, it was clear that these two could not only have versatile stipulations for their matches but also push each other to the limit.

Their last match singles against one another was in September 2005, when Guerrero defeated Mysterio in a Street Fight. Sadly, Guerrero would pass away a couple of months later.

While it will be nearly twenty years since Eddie Guerrero passed away, but his spirit lives on in Rey Mysterio.

From Rey’s feud with his son Dominik to Rhea Ripley being referred to as ‘Mami’ to the resurrection of the LWO, Eddie Guerrero‘s essence is very much a part of the WWE in the modern era.

Fans have seen Rey adopt the frog splash and demonstrate a shoulder shimmy as a reminder of his long-time friend. Together, the two men helped put lucha libre on the map in the modern era in the United States, and they will forever be tied together.