CharismaInjection
01-03-2006, 02:57 PM
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2006000123,00.html
Highlights
Can you share your memories of Eddie Guerrero with us?
It was such a terrible terrible shame when Eddie passed away.
The first time I met Eddie was in 1994 in Japan, when he was teaming with Art Barr.
We got on straight away and went through a lot together.
There are a lot of people coming out of the woodwork saying they were Eddie's best friend. I know who Eddie's best friends were and I wasn't one of them, but we were close.
We talked a lot, especially as we both had the same problems and could really relate to each other.
There is also the camaraderie that comes from travelling around the world together, which I also share with Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho.
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When you heard about Eddie's death, did you think that it could have been you?
Without a doubt. That was me!
I had the same thing as Eddie, heart failure, I was just lucky I was already in hospital when they discovered it. I had some symptoms beforehand that caused me to get checked out.
Two or three weeks before he died, Eddie came and sat next to me in Los Angeles. If he ever came and sat next to me it would always be something serious.
He said: "I'm having trouble with my stomach. It's swelling up and getting hard. I feel tired."
I said: "Don't mess about, go and get it checked out. I started off like that and you should get tested for all kinds of stuff - you just never know."
A week after he told me: "I was eating a lot of oatmeal and I've cut down on that, so it's got a bit better."
I said: "You still need to get tested and find out other things as well."
That was the last real conversation I had with him.
Eddie was obviously feeling something but he didn't get it checked out or, if he did, he didn't get it checked out by the right people.
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What did you think of the Smackdown special, where Rey Mysterio prayed to Eddie to win a wrestling match and then Eddie's car was spat on and used in an angle to 'kill' The Undertaker?
I don't think for a second Rey meant anything other than heartfelt, genuine emotion for Eddie - and that was his way of showing it.
As for the other stuff, we live inside our own little world and obviously see things completely differently to those on the outside - but it doesn't mean we are doing things for the wrong reasons.
Fans obviously care enough to wear Eddie's T-shirts and chant his name, so by giving them something that involves Eddie it keeps his name alive.
I didn't see anyone in the building that night who was outraged by it, it was only when people had time to sit and think.
You can get outraged by anything if you analyse it for long enough.
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What is your current role in the WWE?
I don't really have one!
Everyone seems to like my tag team with Paul Burchill but the problem is fitting us in, as the WWE has a lot of tag teams right now.
Hopefully 2006 is going to bring something up, because since I moved to Smackdown I haven't done anything.
Luckily I've had a few matches with Chris Benoit that have made people realise I can still do this and be a bigger part of our show.
The one thing I'd love to do before I finish in this business is a long PPV match with Chris, without any kind of interference or going to breaks. He would be my dream opponent at WrestleMania 22 in Chicago.
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How is Paul coming along? Do you think he could be the WWE's first ever British world champion?
I think the sky is the limit for Paul and I don't see why he can't go all the way and win the world championship. He's definitely got the potential for it. As long as he keeps his head together he'll be fine.
It's actually really good for Paul right now that we're not on TV every week. He's getting that time to season himself on house shows, so by the time he gets a good role he'll be ready for it.
The only way you get really good at what we do is to perform in front of live crowds - you can't learn your craft doing short TV matches.
Highlights
Can you share your memories of Eddie Guerrero with us?
It was such a terrible terrible shame when Eddie passed away.
The first time I met Eddie was in 1994 in Japan, when he was teaming with Art Barr.
We got on straight away and went through a lot together.
There are a lot of people coming out of the woodwork saying they were Eddie's best friend. I know who Eddie's best friends were and I wasn't one of them, but we were close.
We talked a lot, especially as we both had the same problems and could really relate to each other.
There is also the camaraderie that comes from travelling around the world together, which I also share with Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you heard about Eddie's death, did you think that it could have been you?
Without a doubt. That was me!
I had the same thing as Eddie, heart failure, I was just lucky I was already in hospital when they discovered it. I had some symptoms beforehand that caused me to get checked out.
Two or three weeks before he died, Eddie came and sat next to me in Los Angeles. If he ever came and sat next to me it would always be something serious.
He said: "I'm having trouble with my stomach. It's swelling up and getting hard. I feel tired."
I said: "Don't mess about, go and get it checked out. I started off like that and you should get tested for all kinds of stuff - you just never know."
A week after he told me: "I was eating a lot of oatmeal and I've cut down on that, so it's got a bit better."
I said: "You still need to get tested and find out other things as well."
That was the last real conversation I had with him.
Eddie was obviously feeling something but he didn't get it checked out or, if he did, he didn't get it checked out by the right people.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What did you think of the Smackdown special, where Rey Mysterio prayed to Eddie to win a wrestling match and then Eddie's car was spat on and used in an angle to 'kill' The Undertaker?
I don't think for a second Rey meant anything other than heartfelt, genuine emotion for Eddie - and that was his way of showing it.
As for the other stuff, we live inside our own little world and obviously see things completely differently to those on the outside - but it doesn't mean we are doing things for the wrong reasons.
Fans obviously care enough to wear Eddie's T-shirts and chant his name, so by giving them something that involves Eddie it keeps his name alive.
I didn't see anyone in the building that night who was outraged by it, it was only when people had time to sit and think.
You can get outraged by anything if you analyse it for long enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
What is your current role in the WWE?
I don't really have one!
Everyone seems to like my tag team with Paul Burchill but the problem is fitting us in, as the WWE has a lot of tag teams right now.
Hopefully 2006 is going to bring something up, because since I moved to Smackdown I haven't done anything.
Luckily I've had a few matches with Chris Benoit that have made people realise I can still do this and be a bigger part of our show.
The one thing I'd love to do before I finish in this business is a long PPV match with Chris, without any kind of interference or going to breaks. He would be my dream opponent at WrestleMania 22 in Chicago.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How is Paul coming along? Do you think he could be the WWE's first ever British world champion?
I think the sky is the limit for Paul and I don't see why he can't go all the way and win the world championship. He's definitely got the potential for it. As long as he keeps his head together he'll be fine.
It's actually really good for Paul right now that we're not on TV every week. He's getting that time to season himself on house shows, so by the time he gets a good role he'll be ready for it.
The only way you get really good at what we do is to perform in front of live crowds - you can't learn your craft doing short TV matches.