| On November 13, 2005, Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Marriott City Center Hotel. An autopsy is currently being performed to determine the cause of death.
WWE.com later released the following announcement: "WWE is deeply saddened by the news that Eddie Guerrero has passed away. He was found dead this morning in his hotel room in Minneapolis. Eddie is survived by his wife Vickie and daughters Shaul, 14, Sherilyn, 9, and Kaylie Marie, 3."
On the day of his death, he was set to face Batista and Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship on November 13 taping of Friday Night SmackDown! to air on November 18. It was highly speculated that he was to win the title that night and hence walk out World Heavyweight Champion for the 1st time (his first major title reign was in February 2004 as the WWE Champion), a rumor fueled by the fact that current champion Batista is scheduled to have surgery.
WWE held a press conference with a speech from his nephew Chavo Guerrero, Jr., who spoke of Eddie's four years of sobriety that would have come on November 15 this year. Chavo adamantly defended his uncle, saying he had defeated his 'personal demons'.
WWE RAW on November 14, 2005, and WWE Friday Night Smackdown! on November 18, 2005, will each air as a tribute to Eddie Guerrero. None of the superstars are required to wrestle, although there have been matches booked, including one featuring Chavo Guerrero, Jr., his nephew. These shows will be similar to the RAW is Owen special edition of RAW, which paid tribute to the late Owen Hart, and the SmackDown special in Houston, Texas two days after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Eddie Guerrero's funeral will take place on Wednesday, November 16 in Phoenix, Arizona and it will not be open to the public as requested by Eddie's wife Vickie, even after speculation that it should be open to the public. "Superstar" Billy Graham will be performing the service. |