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Chavo Guerrero Sr. Interview Recap

Posted: Jun 30th 2006 By: mikeiles

Almost eight months after the death of his younger brother, Chavo Guerrero Sr. said he still experiences his "Eddie moments."

Those are the times when Chavo remembers that Eddie, a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar and one of the industry's most beloved figures, died last November of heart failure at the age of 38. One of them came recently when Chavo was doing some home repairs and unexpectedly heard Eddie's voice on a 2004 Mad TV episode that was being replayed on Comedy Central.

"I lost it," Chavo said. "I started sobbing for about an hour. It's painful and still hard. But with my belief in Christ, I know that was his calling and that he's in a better place now."

Chavo Guerrero and his namesake son are now doing their part for the family that Eddie left behind.

When Las Vegas-based promoter Jonathan "Iceman" Knudsen proposed running a tribute show, Chavo Guerrero volunteered to perform and help book Mexican talent familiar with Eddie and/or his famed wrestling family.

The result is a card Sunday in Denver that features a match teaming three Guerrero brothers (Chavo, Mando and Hector) as well as scheduled appearances from such all-star luchadores as El Hijo del Santo, Villano IV and Brazo de Plata. Proceeds from the show, which is scheduled for later release on DVD and possibly pay-per-view, will be used toward establishing college funds for Eddie Guerrero's three daughters.

"Everybody was more than willing to do this and even took a little pay cut so they could donate the funds to the kids," said Guerrero Sr., who also is helping to organize a fundraising golf tournament with wrestlers in October in Tampa, Fla.

The son of famed luchador Salvador "Gory" Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero Sr. was a headline talent in Southern California during the 1970s and 1980s with other notable stints in Florida, Texas and Japan. But it was Eddie who later became the star of the Guerrero clan, winning the WWE title in February 2004.

"His mannerisms and facial expressions were tremendous," Guerrero Sr. said. "He could relate to the people and his wrestling was obviously some of the best in the world. He was a born entertainer."

While doing much to honor him, WWE also has come under criticism for incorporating (sometimes tastelessly) Eddie's death into wrestling storylines. Guerrero Sr. said such usage "sometimes hurts a little, but they're remembering him and he's still drawing (fans)."

"It's like Elvis. He's sold more records now than when he was still alive," Guerrero Sr. said. "It takes a pretty amazing character who can do that. Plus, it's giving the Guerreros more work. Thank you, Eddie!"

Chavo Guerrero Sr. and his son have both benefited from Eddie's success. Chavo Sr. enjoyed a six-month WWE stint in 2004 as "Chavo Classic," even capturing the promotion's cruiserweight title at the age of 55. A resident of Bandera, Texas, Chavo Sr. still works sporadically for independent promotions.

"The good lord has still blessed me with some mechanical ability, although sometimes my brain says I can do things my body says I can't," Guerrero Sr. said. "I do a little more acting in the ring. But you still try to do the same thing, and that's giving people they're money's worth."

Chavo Guerrero is performing on Smackdown (8 p.m. Fridays, UPN) and may soon feud with Rey Mysterio Jr., who also was one of Eddie Guerrero's closest friends.

"Eddie and Chavo were like brothers," Chavo Guerrero Sr. said. "Part of (Chavo's) life been lost ... He has been very, very composed, but I can tell he hurts."

Credit: Alex Marvez and Gerweck.net