A Look Back: Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio's 2005 Feud

Until recently, the wrestling related stories I've written here on Vocal solely centered on women's wrestling. Originally, this story was going to be the one that broke my trend, and I'll explain why it wasn't later on. I'll just open with this: one of the best feuds I watched in the last near 20 years was the 2005 angle involving Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. I've watched every bit of this feud so many times; so much that I can pretty much describe it all, bit by bit. 2005 was a wild year in WWE, without question. I remember that WWE filled a void for me that was left by the absence of the NHL, as a lockout canceled the entire 2004-05 season, so stories like this ended up making up for that missing piece. Without further ado, the players.

Eddie Guerrero: Eddie Guerrero was about a year removed from his run as WWE Champion at the time this angle began. On February 15, 2004, Eddie defeated Brock Lesnar at No Way Out to capture the WWE Championship and complete WWE's Grand Slam, and he successfully defended the title against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XX. Eddie's run at the top lasted five months until he was dethroned at The Great American Bash by John "Bradshaw" Layfield, and the rest of 2004 would see him continue his feud with Angle before returning to the title picture once more at Armageddon.

Rey Mysterio: Rey Mysterio, at that time, had held WWE's Cruiserweight Championship three times in 2004, while engaging in feuds with Chavo Guerrero and Spike Dudley. The end of 2004 saw Rey in a tag team with Rob Van Dam, which led to the pair capturing the WWE Tag Team Championship by defeating Kenzo Suzuki and Rene Dupree. However, that title run was very short-lived, as Rey and RVD were dethroned by the Basham Brothers in January 2005, and it was later that month that Rey had an impressive showing in the annual Royal Rumble match.

The Origin: Rey wanted to regain the tag titles back, but needed a partner to replace the injured RVD. He would find the perfect one in Eddie Guerrero, and it was at No Way Out on February 20, 2005 that the duo, the longtime friends, defeated the Bashams to capture the tag titles. This was a dream team, not only because of Eddie and Rey's in-ring abilities, but also due to their closeness; this was a very, very tight friendship. However, even the closest of friendships have cracks, and a month into their tag title run, they started to show.

The cause of the cracks during March of 2005 was Eddie's nephew, Chavo Guerrero, who played both sides and pretty much planted seeds in both of them. When it came to Rey, Chavo told him that Eddie likes to "keep his friends close and his enemies even closer." However, Chavo saves his deepest blows for his own uncle, reminding Eddie that he was once WWE Champion, and he went from that to becoming tag champs with someone who defeated him twice in singles action a few months ago. Apparently, Chavo's words got to Eddie, as he decided to challenge Rey to a match at WrestleMania--a complete 180 from the assumption that the duo would defend the tag titles at the grand stage.

The Betrayal: Eddie and Rey's match at WrestleMania 21, which I watched on PPV, marked the first time that reigning co-holders of the Tag Team Championship faced off against each other at WrestleMania. This would be duplicated two years later when then-World Tag Team Champions John Cena and Shawn Michaels faced each other in the main event for the former's WWE Championship. Their bout kicked off WM21, and it ended with Rey victorious over Eddie, who shook his friend and partner's hand in a show of respect--however, this was his third singles loss to Rey, and it was clear that he was immensely frustrated.

It was after WrestleMania that the cracks increased; both Eddie and Rey were in match for potential contention for the WWE Championship (which was held by John Cena), but each one interfered in the other's match and caused DQ endings. In addition, Eddie and Rey had new foes in the form of MNM--Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, and their fabulous and legendary manager, Melina. Eddie's absence during MNM's attack on Rey during their Carlito's Cabana debut on April 14, 2005 went noticed, though Eddie claimed that he had car problems. The tit for tat led to a tag title contest that was won by MNM, which saw a miscue between the pair. Though Eddie claimed to be all in and would be at Rey's side in the rematch, it would see Eddie nearly walk out on Rey after a miscue, only to return and refuse to tag himself in when the opportunity arose.

Then came the evening of May 5, 2005, which began with Rey challenging Eddie to an all out fight, though Eddie refused to engage with Rey. After Chavo got in Rey's face, a Street Fight between the two main evented that night's SmackDown, with Rey winning before Chavo and MNM ganged up on him post-match. Eddie came out and fought off MNM before picking up Rey and hugging him, with the assumption that all was well between them. That would not be the case, as Eddie delivered a brutal beatdown to Rey afterwards, which went all over the ring and ended with Rey being suplexed on the steel steps. My goodness!

Judgment Day: I remember Eddie Guerrero's heel turn like it was yesterday, and I also vividly remember the promo that followed a week later. We see Eddie come out to a darker version of his usual "Lie, Cheat, Steal" theme, and with the lights dimmed, Eddie claimed that he gave Rey the fight he wanted. In a moment that makes me think of Hamlet ("Alas, poor Yorick"), Eddie takes out Rey's torn mask and shouts at it, blaming Rey for his actions. He would later focus his blame on the fans as well, accusing them and Rey of living through him and taking his passion, love, energy, and importantly, his Latino Heat--claiming that he got it all back with his attack on Rey. Eddie then gave the following warning to Rey regarding his return at Judgment Day to face him in a grudge match:

"Right now, I have your blood on my hands. At Judgment Day, if you come back, I'll have your life!"

The episode of WWE Untold titled, "Rey, Eddie, and the Rumble," featured Rey revealing that Eddie had wanted to be a heel once again, so this was all by his design. What I also remember from all those years ago was the surprising turn that Eddie's character took. Usually, even as a heel, Eddie maintained that same demeanor; cracking wise, driving the Lowrider, upbeat and smiling. The only difference was that he would intentionally plague babyfaces. This heel character was a lot different. The Lowrider was gone, the theme was darker and more sinister--as was Eddie. He reminded me of a villain in a Quentin Tarantino film, and I've seen Tarantino's films. That's a scary comparison, which made this whole angle that much more delicious.

Eddie spent weeks walking around with that mask until Judgment Day came, and that whole match told the story. It was clear why Eddie attacked Rey. The fans knew why. Michael Cole and Tazz knew why. Rey definitely knew why. Eddie knew it as well: he had problems beating Rey. That's what it was all about. The bout was stellar, and it would see Chavo attempt to get involved and insert a chair into the equation. Though Chavo wouldn't get anywhere, Eddie would, using the chair on Rey and getting DQ'ed, and it was followed by a brutal beatdown with the same object post-match.

The Secret: After a heated confrontation, Eddie and Rey faced each other once again on SmackDown, with Rey winning yet again. This was Eddie's fifth straight loss to Rey, but strangely, we see Eddie flash a bit of a twisted smile on his face. That can't be good, and the following week proved it, as Eddie came out and presented video of himself at a daycare attended by Rey's son, Dominik, who Eddie approached and promised to tell a "bedtime story" that he would never forget.

Clearly, Rey had enough of this and confronted Eddie, who threatened to reveal a long dormant secret that the pair had shared, which actually caused Rey to back down and give in to Eddie's order to get on his knees and beg him not to reveal it. The following week saw Eddie force Rey into teaming with him in a WWE Tag Team Championship contest, though Eddie used this to attack and beat up Rey at every opportunity. Eddie was prepared to further humiliate Rey on the following week, but it was at that moment that Eddie's wife, Vickie Guerrero (remember that name), and their daughters (including Shaul, who would follow into the family business) appeared, after which Vickie pleaded with Eddie to come to his senses and not to reveal whatever he was holding over Rey.

The Great American Bash: Eddie's response to Vickie was abrupt to say the least, and after defeating Hardcore Holly, he decided to offer a compromise to both Vickie and Rey. It included a challenge to face Rey at The Great American Bash, with the promise that if Rey won, their secret would remain just that, a secret. However, if Eddie wins, he'll tell it to the world, and the event saw Rey backstage praying before hugging Dominik, who actually watched the entire thing while seated next to Cole and Tazz on the announce table.

What I loved about this go-around is that Cole and Tazz spent the entire match building up how evil and malevolent Eddie's character was, it really told the story, as well as Dominik's presence. And of course, Eddie was masterful; feigning geniality until showing his viciousness towards Rey in front of Dominik, and then we see Eddie tell Dominik to watch as he defeats his father, but Rey counters and gets the winning three-count. Eddie was shocked and later livid; he couldn't believe he had lost. He thought he had it won, but in the end, it was a sixth straight defeat for him against Rey. In addition, the secret wouldn't be told.

Or so we thought.

The Secret is Out: The first SmackDown following the Bash saw Rey and Dominik thanking the fans for their support, as they believed their nightmare was over. However, Eddie appeared and stated that he made one more promise regarding the Bash: he never loses. He also stated that he lied about keeping the secret, and just as Rey was about to go after him, Eddie spilled the proverbial beans: Rey wasn't Dominik's father, Eddie was. The news sent Dominik running out of the ring, with Rey chasing after him, and we would be followed by Eddie revealing the entire tale. When he and Vickie were separated, Eddie engaged in several flings with different women, but got one of them pregnant. Neither of them wanted a baby in their lives, so Eddie took his son and gave him to Rey as his own.

Eddie promised a second chapter on the following week, and he delivered--in the form of custody papers. With his lawyer, Ana, present, Eddie stated that he would file for sole custody of Dominik, and even after Rey was given the chance to profess his love for his son, Eddie denounced Rey as a liar who was denying Dominik his chance to carry out the Guerrero legacy. It was a week later that Eddie was in the ring expecting Rey and his wife, Angie, to hand Dominik to him, but that didn't quite happen. What we saw was Rey remind Eddie of what his actions, the last several months' worth of Eddie's diabolical conduct, have led to, and when Eddie refused to listen, Rey resorted to a new plan: prodding his ego.

Rey mentioned how Eddie had beaten everything--his past, the streets, and his addictions--and went on to become WWE Champion in the process, but one thing he had never done was beat Rey. That last part was repeated by Rey quite a bit, and it was followed by Rey responding to Eddie's claims that he would be a better father than Rey, by referring to Eddie as a "chickenshit," which fired Eddie up. Rey later made a challenge for one last contest at SummerSlam: a ladder match for the custody of Dominik, with Eddie gladly accepting.

SummerSlam: Eddie claimed that he was going to win his match for Dominik, while adding that his intentions weren't to hurt or destroy Rey. Not even Vickie believed that, and she was shown backstage at SummerSlam informing Eddie that she knows the kind of man he is, and he wouldn't do anything to harm Ray's family, but Eddie took that as Vickie believing that he couldn't beat Rey, and loudly ejected her. This bout was personal and brutal, and it even featured Dominik actually entering the ring and attempting to prevent Eddie from climbing the ladder. Eddie, in response, ordered Dominik to hug him, and when he wouldn't, he threatened to strike him, prompting Rey to deliver a flurry of punches to his foe.

Despite this, Eddie manages to regain control and later climbed the ladder, but he had problems getting the briefcase down, and he ended up being pulled down by Rey. Eddie vented over coming so close, but after delivering the Three Amigos (the last one on the ladder), he was back up again. This time, Vickie entered and made one last attempt to get through to Eddie, and when that failed, she shoved the ladder down, knocking Eddie off. Rey later climbed the ladder and retrieved the briefcase, while Vickie made sure that Eddie was held at bay. Rey won his match, but more importantly, he had Dominik back.

I Who Have Nothing: I have to mention this; though the rivalry's end came at SummerSlam, it was announced that the first Friday Night SmackDown would feature Eddie and Rey going at it one more time inside a steel cage. It was on September 1, 2005 that Eddie gave yet another amazing promo for their upcoming cage match, and in it, Eddie vented over his SummerSlam loss...as well as the other ones that came before it. Now while Eddie stated that he could easily blame Rey for everything, he admitted that his unfortunate fate was his own undoing. He said that in every one of those matches, he had Rey beaten, but his own hubris resulted in his defeats, and he would not make that mistake again. Eddie ended with the following question to Rey:

"How can you beat someone who has already lost everything?"

Eddie actually won the cage match, and with that, their feud came to a definitive end.

Epilogue: This was Eddie Guerrero's final epic feud in his storied career. He was placed in the World Heavyweight Championship picture entering the month of October, and on November 11, 2005, Eddie defeated Mr. Kennedy to win a spot on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series. Sadly, two days later on November 13, 2005, Eddie passed away at the age of 38. The following Raw and SmackDown were dedicated to Eddie, as was Survivor Series, which saw Randy Orton fill Eddie's spot on Team SmackDown.

As for Rey, he would go on to have a brief run as one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions with then-World Heavyweight Champion Batista, but 2006 was Rey's big year. That year, he entered the Royal Rumble at #2, lasted 62 minutes and 12 seconds before winning the Rumble, and went on to capture the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22.

As I said before, this was originally going to be my first non-women's wrestling piece. The reason why I waited until now to write about this great feud? I wanted to do this right. Like nearly every wrestling fan, I was shocked and heartbroken by Eddie's passing; I was a huge fan, still am. Eddie brought out a lot of emotion in all of us in life, with his ability, his passion, and most of all, his heart. Because of that, I firmly believe that if one is to discuss Eddie Guerrero, one must give their heart and their soul, and give as much passion as he did. And I say that last part even though it is impossible to match the passion that Eddie Guerrero had, so all I and any other wrestling fan can do is try. I hope I did well.