Eddie Guerrero was found dead in a Minneapolis hotel room on November 13, 2005, at age 38. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s reported finding was natural causes related to arteriosclerotic heart disease; contemporary reporting says the examiner did not identify what led to the disease. Guerrero’s legacy is remembered through his championship career, distinctive performances and the tributes from colleagues and fans after his death.
What happened to Eddie Guerrero?
The Associated Press reported on November 13, 2005, that Guerrero was found dead in a Minneapolis hotel room. He was 38 and scheduled to appear at a WWE show that evening. The report said an autopsy was planned at the time; it did not yet give a cause of death. CBS News, carrying the Associated Press report.
![Cheating Death Stealing Life( The Eddie Guerrero Story) [CHEATING DEATH STEALING LIFE] [Paperback]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QT-tglqwL._SL160_.jpg)
![Vive Guerrero: A Tribute in Memory of Eddie Guerrero [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51N1SJQRAYL._SL160_.jpg)
In a statement quoted by the Associated Press, WWE chairman Vince McMahon said, “Eddie was a wonderful, fun-loving human being. Eddie was a consummate performer.”
What was Eddie Guerrero’s reported cause of death?
A December 8, 2005 report by Wrestling Inc. said the Hennepin County Medical Examiner attributed Guerrero’s death to “natural causes related to arteriosclerotic heart disease.” The report also said the examiner did not address what led to the heart disease. This is secondary reporting of the examiner’s finding, not an autopsy document reviewed here. Wrestling Inc.’s December 2005 report.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
Accounts about possible contributing factors should be kept distinct from that official finding. A separate account reported that Guerrero’s wife, Vickie, discussed his past substance use and intense exercise as contributing factors. That is her reported explanation, not a conclusion attributed to the medical examiner. The Associated Press’s November 13 report also said a nephew reported Guerrero had been sober for four years; that family statement does not establish a medical cause.
What does the broader wrestling context show?
A 2007 CNN segment discussed a study by medical examiner Keith Pinckard covering wrestler deaths from 1983 to 2003. CNN reported that the study counted 64 wrestlers aged 40 or younger who died during that 20-year period, and Pinckard said the rate was approximately seven times that of the same-age general population. Those are historical group-level figures as reported by CNN, not current statistics and not evidence of what caused Guerrero’s heart disease. CNN transcript, August 14, 2007.
Rank #2
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
What made Eddie Guerrero important to wrestling?
Championships and career milestones
WWE’s official profile lists Guerrero as a WWE Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion, European Champion, ECW Television Champion and WCW Cruiserweight Champion. WWE says he won the WWE Championship by defeating Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004 and records his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. WWE’s Eddie Guerrero profile.
A style that could shift with the moment
WWE’s retrospective characterizes Guerrero as technically accomplished, versatile and charismatic. It highlights moves including the Frog Splash, Lasso from El Paso and Three Amigos. Those qualities help explain the breadth of the profile WWE presents, but the assessment is WWE’s own characterization rather than a neutral measurement.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
“Latino Heat” and audience connection
WWE identifies “Latino Heat” and “Viva La Raza” as central to Guerrero’s public persona. His performances could combine technical wrestling with character and showmanship, giving audiences more than a sequence of moves to respond to. The lasting attachment is visible in the reaction to his death as well as in the career markers.
How did colleagues and fans respond after his death?
WWE’s account of the November 14, 2005 episode of Raw describes a ten-bell salute, a video tribute and matches dedicated to Guerrero. Colleagues wore shirts or armbands in his honor. The report recalls Rey Mysterio dedicating a win to Guerrero and John Cena placing his Guerrero shirt beneath the WWE Championship belt. Audience members chanted “Thank you, Eddie!” WWE’s November 14, 2005 Raw report.
The same WWE report records personal recollections from John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Mysterio. Stephanie McMahon said Guerrero “will always be a champion.” The salute and those gestures document how deeply his loss was felt among WWE colleagues and viewers at the time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why his legacy endures
Guerrero’s legacy rests on several connected parts of his career: a wide range of championship achievements, a performance style WWE describes as versatile, and a character that audiences could recognize and embrace. His colleagues’ tributes and the crowd’s response in the immediate aftermath add another measure of his importance: he was not only a celebrated performer but also a person whose absence was felt across the wrestling community.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
