Rey Mysterio Shares Emotional Tribute To Eddie Guerrero

November 13, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of Eddie Guerrero’s death.

Two decades on from his passing, Eddie Guerrero remains one of the giants of the wrestling industry. He helped change the wrestling landscape and sparked an influence that’s still felt to this day. Not bad for a man who was just 38 years old when he died.

In a new article for The Players’ Tribune, Rey Mysterio shared an emotional letter with his best friend. He began by recalling their first meeting and how they came to be friends through the art of professional wrestling.

“There was something unique about our friendship…… even going back to that night in Tijuana, before we had any friendship. It’s hard to put into words. But I think I’d say it like this: A lot of wrestlers, they work together in the ring, and then become friends outside the ring. Not us, though. We became friends in the ring — literally in the ring. Through the art of wrestling itself.”

Fast forwarding to their time together in WCW, Mysterio explained how Guerrero went to bat for him when management wanted him to lose his mask at Halloween Havoc 1997. After much hard work from Latino Heat behind the scenes, it was agreed that he would lose the Cruiserweight Title, crucially keeping Mysterio’s mask intact.

Thankfully, though, I had you. I had my friend, my big brother. That whole day leading up to the match, my head was spinning. I couldn’t even think straight. But you just kept telling me, “Don’t worry, Rey!!!! Don’t worry!!!! Keep your head up, brother. We’re going to make this right.”

And I’ll never know what those exact conversations were that went down behind closed doors. But I know you talked to the office, explained why it was a bad decision for me to lose, and convinced them to let you put me over. Honestly … I still get chills when I think of what you did for me that night. Not just sticking your neck out for me, but doing it at your own expense — and offering to lose your title, so I could keep my mask, and my identity, and the momentum in my career.

It’s a gift I’ve never forgotten, and have tried to pay forward over the years as I’ve grown from New Kid into OG: the idea that success for Latinos in this business — in this life — doesn’t have to be zero-sum. We either get over as a community…… or we risk getting buried as one. For me, that lesson, it all started with you.”

Eddie Guerrero Changed The Game

Mysterio went on to highlight arguably Guerrero’s biggest gift to pro wrestling, and that was his incredible influence as an in-ring performer. The WWE Hall of Famer highlighted the number of smaller wrestlers who have held WWE’s top prize and made a career in the main event, something he says wouldn’t have happened without Guerrero.

“Here’s one thing I’ll gladly speak too much on: I wish you were around to see the impact you’ve had on our sport. Oh my GOD, Eddie…. Like, where can I even begin??? I think the first thing that comes to mind — it’s just your style.

Math isn’t really my strong suit, so this isn’t scientific. But purely off the dome, and from knowing what’s what? I’d say that when other wrestlers are asked in interviews who their favorite wrestler was growing up, or who “their guy” was that they really connected with, or tried to emulate most in the ring … or simply put, who’s their GOAT … your name comes up more than any other.

“Your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler” — you know this phrase??? That’s YOU, WeeWeeto. You resonate in a way that can’t be measured. You f***ing matter. The second thing I always think about, as far as your impact, it’s how you helped guys like us — guys who, let’s just say, aren’t giants — get taken seriously as headlining talent.

Honestly, maybe the best way to express how much you changed these perceptions, it’s to promise you there are young people reading this letter right now who didn’t know it was ever another way.

That’s how fundamental it’s become, the idea that wrestlers at your size, or my size, or any non-traditional size, can main-event a show and be booked at a top level. Guys like AJ Styles, CM Punk, Jey Uso … these are great world champions, who’ve headlined some of the biggest shows ever. And I’m not sure it happens without you.

To hammer home the point, Mysterio joked that even his own son has become “Eddie Guerrero’s demon boy.” Mysterio recalled Dominik’s rise, noting that it was only when he started following Guerrero’s blueprint that he really came into his own.

“Now it’s 20 years later, and I wish so bad that you could be here to see Dom’s own wrestling career take flight. Honestly … it wasn’t the smoothest flying at first.

He debuted in WWE about five years ago (or came back, if you count the custody match) — and “Rey Mysterio’s baby boy” was still very much the character he was playing. No mask (TOO handsome!!!), but other than that he was the same “clean-cut babyface” type I’ve been for most of my career. And he held his own!!

Like, his first match ever was at SummerSlam in 2020, against Seth Rollins, one of the best guys on the roster. And I think Dom surprised people that night, and started to earn respect from there.

But at the same time……. he wasn’t quite hitting that next level, you know what I’m saying?? And I can already picture you reading this, WeeWeeto, way up in those clouds, and you’re doing that pose where you’ve got your elbows in and your palms open — and you’re giving me that f***ing smirk-shrug, because you know what I’m about to say: Dominik wasn’t fully clicking as “Rey Mysterio’s baby boy”……… so he did what I’m 100% sure you would’ve told him to do.

He turned heel, and basically became “Eddie Guerrero’s demon boy.” And that changed everything.”

Meanwhile, it’s been announced that Eddie Guerrero’s daughter Sherilyn, is set to begin her own wrestling career. The would-be star is due to begin training with Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion and wrestling school.

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