2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestler's death a tragedy for all
By Lacey Hiles
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: Opinion
This past Sunday morning Eduardo Gori Guerrero Llanes, better known as Eddie Guerrero, died in his sleep. To many, that name means nothing, but to wrestling fans it means that a great wrestler and a great man is now gone. Whether you like "professional" wrestling or not, you've probably heard of it. WWE fans aren't idiots, rednecks or any stereotype. We know that it's staged; like my mother says, it's basically a soap opera with fighting.
However, that doesn't mean that injuries or even deaths don't occur. Few deaths have happened on the job-the only one I can think of is Owen Hart-but injuries are pretty common enough. As with any job that involves long hours on the road, time away from families and competition, the use of drugs and alcohol to drown sorrows or improve performance is a problem in wrestling.
Eddie Guerrero was open about his years of abuse and his four years of complete sobriety. As his nephew, Chavo Guerrero, said in a press conference, he was so happy about making it four years sober. Several hours later, Chavo and hotel security found Eddie in his room, already gone. Years of drug usage can take a toll on a person's body even years after they're sober, especially on the heart, weakening it.
Four years being sober and then he dies. The irony of that doesn't escape me, and it makes me think of others that has happened to, both in wrestling and in other professions. It seems that when you finally find redemption, you lose it all. To others, they never escaped their demons and their own personal hells.
This isn't just a phenomenon in wrestling. It's in every sport, every high-traveling job, every competition; it's everywhere. How these men and women go without seeing their friends and families for weeks, even months, and still want to keep doing their job amazes me. And the ones that manage to do it without the use of anything as "support"...man, I'm in awe of them. They do it because they want to, because they do what they love.
However, that doesn't mean that injuries or even deaths don't occur. Few deaths have happened on the job-the only one I can think of is Owen Hart-but injuries are pretty common enough. As with any job that involves long hours on the road, time away from families and competition, the use of drugs and alcohol to drown sorrows or improve performance is a problem in wrestling.
Eddie Guerrero was open about his years of abuse and his four years of complete sobriety. As his nephew, Chavo Guerrero, said in a press conference, he was so happy about making it four years sober. Several hours later, Chavo and hotel security found Eddie in his room, already gone. Years of drug usage can take a toll on a person's body even years after they're sober, especially on the heart, weakening it.
Four years being sober and then he dies. The irony of that doesn't escape me, and it makes me think of others that has happened to, both in wrestling and in other professions. It seems that when you finally find redemption, you lose it all. To others, they never escaped their demons and their own personal hells.
This isn't just a phenomenon in wrestling. It's in every sport, every high-traveling job, every competition; it's everywhere. How these men and women go without seeing their friends and families for weeks, even months, and still want to keep doing their job amazes me. And the ones that manage to do it without the use of anything as "support"...man, I'm in awe of them. They do it because they want to, because they do what they love.
