Tributes to Eddie Guerrero: Encyclopedia II - Tributes to Eddie Guerrero - Tribute shows

Tributes to Eddie Guerrero - Tribute shows

Both RAW and SmackDown! were booked as tribute events in memory of Eddie Guerrero. Throughout the events, several wrestlers wore Guerrero's "I'm Your Papi" T-shirt to the ring, and some also wore a black armband marked with the initials "EG." Both shows consisted almost entirely of interbrand matches.

Tributes to Eddie Guerrero - RAW

Taped in Minneapolis barely 12 hours after Eddie's passing, this special edition of RAW was the first WWE show to air following Eddie's passing and included the expression of grief and tribute by WWE superstars and fans. Video tributes from JBL, Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, Lilian Garcia and The Big Show were aired. It aired the following day, November 14.

The show began with a ten-bell salute with the entire roster standing at the entrance ramp, a tradition in professional wrestling used to honor a recently fallen comrade. Following that, a video tribute, using the song "Hurt" by Johnny Cash was shown, and the audience emotionally chanted "Thank you, Eddie!" out of respect to the late Superstar.

Rey Mysterio wrestled Shawn Michaels in an interpromotional tribute match, which Mysterio won. Following the match, both men embraced one another and Mysterio cried while pointing skyward. In the aftermath of his match with Randy Orton, WWE Champion John Cena, who had previously described Guerrero as a great man and father figure, laid the Eddie Guerrero t-shirt he had worn throughout the match in the center of the ring then placed the WWE Championship atop the shirt, reflecting Stephanie McMahon's earlier comment that "Eddie was always a champion." The broadcast ended with commentator Joey Styles eulogizing Guerrero with the words "Eddie Guerrero was a champion competitor, he was a champion in life."

Matches:

• World Tag Team Champions Big Show and Kane (RAW) defeat WWE Tag Team Champions MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro) (SmackDown!) in a non-title match.
• Kurt Angle defeats Shelton Benjamin.
• Rey Mysterio (SmackDown!) defeats Shawn Michaels (RAW).
• Melina (SmackDown!) won a "Diva battle royal" that included every Diva on the active WWE roster (excluding Lita, Torrie Wilson, Lilian Garcia, Sharmell, and Stacy Keibler).
• Eugene (RAW) defeats Simon Dean (SmackDown!).
• WWE Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair (RAW) defeats William Regal (SmackDown!).
• WWE Champion John Cena (RAW) defeats Randy Orton (SmackDown!) by disqualification.

Tributes to Eddie Guerrero - SmackDown!

After the RAW taping, the scheduled edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown! was conducted and taped entirely as a tribute to Eddie Guerrero.

The show opened with Batista driving one of Eddie Guerrero's signature lowriders to the ring, then after making a tearful speech he laid his sunglasses and the World Heavyweight Championship belt on the hood of the lowrider, where they remained throughout the show.

Video tributes by Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio and Eric Bischoff were also aired, with each one of them recounting memories they had of Eddie Guerrero.

Chavo Guerrero wrestled a match against John "Bradshaw" Layfield in which he performed several trademark Eddie Guerrero spots, such as the *Three Amigos (Combination three vertical suplexes), as well as tricking the referee into thinking JBL had used a chair, and using the frog splash as a finisher.

A modified video tribute to Eddie Guerrero was shown, this time the song used for it was "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down.

The show ended with Chris Benoit defeating Triple H. Before the match, Triple H paused at the entrance to the ring and stared at the lowrider with the championship belt on the hood. At the point in his entrance where he stands on the ring apron and spits water, he pointed skyward and the crowd erupted. Then he mounted the ropes in the corner and mouthed 'It's not about me tonight' and pointed to his wrist, where he was wearing his 'EG' armband. After the match, Triple H and Benoit shook hands and embraced, celebrating Eddie's life in the ring. Also, Dean Malenko, who came in to the WWE with Eddie and Benoit as 'The Radicalz', came into the ring and embraced his friend.

Following that match, announcer Michael Cole remembered the night in which Eddie won the WWE Championship, telling the TV audience how grateful he was to Guerrero for letting him call that match and finished the show off by saying "Thank you Eddie, one last time."

Matches:

• Matt Hardy (SmackDown!) defeats Carlito (RAW).
• Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Heidenreich) (SmackDown!) defeats Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch (RAW).
• Chavo Guerrero (RAW) defeats John "Bradshaw" Layfield (SmackDown!).
• WWE Cruiserweight Champion Juventud (SmackDown!) won a cruiserweight battle royal.
• Chris Benoit (SmackDown!) defeats Triple H (RAW).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Tribute shows", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki