It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years (as of this writing) since the following match took place. When you think of the journey of Eddie Guerrero, this moment probably never should have happened. Here's a man who was never elevated to the main event in his runs in ECW and WCW. Guerrero was seen as a good hand but rarely a top act. Even in WWE, where Guerrero was allowed to shine and put a bit of his own personality into the character he portrayed on screen, there was a glass ceiling over him. This was due to several factors: Personal Demons, Size, and the stigma of just being a good hand among others. But in 2003, especially, the level of support for Eddie Guerrero began to swell as the "Lie, Cheat, and Steal" persona of Eddie Guerrero resonated. Even despite a couple failed attempts to turn Eddie heel, the fans would not stop cheering for Latino Heat. So, in 2004, when Chris Benoit was moved to Raw, Eddie took that position as the main face of SmackDown.
Brock Lesnar, on the other hand, had been in the main event seemingly since his debut. Hot-Shot to the main event position after the Summer of 2002, Lesnar had become a marquee act in the WWE. He was pushed hard against legends such as Hulk Hogan, The Rock, The Undertaker, The Big Show, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, and others. But Brock began getting tired of the WWE schedule. And his interest started to turn to other things outside of the business. Namely, an attempt to join the NFL. It became clear backstage that Lesnar was "looking for a way out." So, it is appropriate that this event was called "No Way Out." Because on this night, there was "no way out" of one of the biggest upsets ever booked in WWE history.
Inspired by this week's episode of Something to Wrestle and the 15th Anniversary of this classic contest, here is my review (and usual written commentary) for Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004. Enjoy!
(By the way, I drank a cup of coffee during this match for both the caffeine and the irony. WCW fans will know what I mean by this.)
WWE No Way Out 2004
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2004
WWE Championship
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero
Brock Lesnar comes out first, furious over what happened earlier when he was attacked by Goldberg. Eddie does the classic entrance complete with the car hooked up with hydraulics. Once the music dies down, it becomes clear that Eddie has a HUGE amount of support from the fans in the Cow Palace.
The bell rings. Brock overpowers and assaults Eddie early on with Guerrero taking a HUGE backdrop at one point. Eddie starts fighting back, but Brock will have none of it. For every few punches Eddie gets in, Brock gets one move in to get the advantage back. Eddie tries to jump on Brock to do a hurricanrana, but Brock basically dumps Eddie on his head, deadlifts him up in a powerbomb position, and just swings around throwing Eddie aside. Belly-to-Belly Suplexes to Guerrero. Suplex City is here 10 years before its declaration. Brock hits a running knee into Guerrero's jaw in the corner. Another Belly-to-Belly Suplex sends Guerrero to the floor. Brock refuses to let Guerrero back in the ring as he knocks Guerrero repeatedly off the apron.
Eddie gets a shoulder to the gut and hangs up Lesnar on the top rope. Eddie gets the leg of Lesnar, drags it near the ring post, and snaps it against the post repeatedly. But Eddie gets sent shoulder first into the post by Brock's leg. Brock and Eddie are both in the ring. Delayed Fisherman Buster by Brock Lesnar. 2 count only. Brock grapevines around Guerrero and executes a sleeper hold. Guerrero gets out of the hold and tries to get some offense going, but Brock does Brock things like clobbering a guy with a clothesline. German Suplex by Brock Lesnar. That's almost 5 suplexes in this match (if you count the Fisherman Buster earlier). Brock rams the shoulder into the midsection of Guerrero in the corner. Eddie ducks to miss a knee attack, sending Brock to the floor screaming in pain. Eddie dives out over the ropes onto Brock. Both men get back in the ring by 9.
Eddie goes immediately after the knee of Lesnar. Back Suplex on Lesnar. But Lesnar immediately throws Guerrero throat-first into the ropes. 2 count. (The story here is Guerrero refusing to stay down while Lesnar continues to be a dominant monster. This actually reminds me a little bit of Flair vs. Vader at Starrcade 1993. Similar story being told here. ) Brock gets caught mocking Guerrero, and Eddie turns it into an STF on Lesnar. Lesnar's knee is jammed against the mat. Eddie ruthlessly goes after the knee. Spinning Toe Hold by Eddie Guerrero. Brock kicks him off. Lesnar continues to keep Eddie from applying any hold on him. Another Belly-to-Belly Suplex by Lesnar. "Goldberg" chants from the crowd. (You think they expect a Dusty finish? I think you can take that to the pay window, if you willll...)
Eddie gets a Head Scissors takedown on Lesnar. FIGURE FOUR by Eddie Guerrero! Cole and Tazz do a great job here mentioning the fact that Lesnar has tapped before to build the anticipation of this being a possible finish. Lesnar uses his size and strength to get to the ropes to cause a break. Eddie goes back after the leg and gets a Texas Cloverleaf on Lesnar (a nod to Dean Malenko perhaps) followed by an STF. But Lesnar just powers Guerrero off of him. Another German Suplex by Lesnar. (We're about 20 minutes in the match, and we've seen 8-9 suplexes. Anyone that says "All Lesnar does is suplexes" needs to look back at his original run. He was doing this in his original run as well. Granted, he did more moves back then. But let's not pretend Suplex City wasn't a thing in 2003-2004, ok? Back to the match...) Eddie runs into a spinebuster. 2 count. Another 2 count.
Brock executes another Grapevine Sleeper Hold. Eddie eventually gets to his feet and sends Lesnar head first into the turnbuckle. Eddie goes for the Missile Dropkick, but Lesnar ducks it. Another Vertical Suplex by Lesnar. Brock is bleeding from the nose as Lesnar says "Just die, Eddie. Die!" Gutwrench Submission Hold by Lesnar. The crowd is chanting for Eddie gets up on his feet eventually after selling the move, but Lesnar just suplexes him back down. Lesnar reapplies the Gutwrench Submission and rolls Guerrero around for a couple 2 counts. (Great wrestling here all around.) Eddie motions the crowd for help, and the energy starts picking up a bit. Eddie headbutts Brock off of him. Dropkick to the knee and to the head of Lesnar. Head Scissors Takedown by Guerrero. Lesnar staggers selling the match as Guerrero gets Lesnar into the Three Amigos. Eddie motions to the crowd and climbs the corner! FROG SPLASH MISSES!
Lesnar is slow to get back on his feet, but he gets up. He kicks Eddie in the gut and hits the F-5. BUT THE REFEREE GETS HIT IN THE PROCESS! He covers Guerrero, but there is no ref! Brock rolls out of the ring and gets the WWE Championship. He rolls back in the ring with it. He stands over Guerrero.... AND TURNS INTO A GOLDBERG SPEAR!!!!!! The crowd popped huge for that. LOUD "EDDIE" chants! Guerrero crawls over onto Lesnar after a good 45-60 seconds. 1-2-KICKOUT! Eddie almost stole the title. Speaking of which, Eddie sees the title on the ring apron and grabs it. He goes to hit Lesnar with it, but Brock avoids it and hits Guerrero in the gut! Brock picks him up for the F-5! EDDIE DDTS BROCK IN THE F-5 POSITION ONTO THE BELT!!!!! EDDIE CLIMBS UP! FROG SPLASH!!!! 1-2-3! The crowd pop is AMAZING in this moment! Guerrero goes out into the crowd, and security has to pry him away from the fans!!!! Eddie goes around and celebrates with his family and poses for the crowd on the ring steps and announce table. The final shot is Eddie posing with the title on the stage.
Winner: Eddie Guerrero (NEW WWE Champion)
Match Grade: A+. This was an absolutely amazing classic WWE Championship match here. As I wrote earlier, they used the classic tale of "underdog vs. monster" that others had used in the past. For a guy on his way out of the company, Brock Lesnar did an amazing job working the match and doing everything he could to put Guerrero over on the way out. Lesnar deserves some credit for doing the honors. Eddie Guerrero worked perhaps his greatest match here in both selling Brock's offense and working the crowd to that huge ovation at the end. You don't see this type of formula from WWE (a back and forth offense between the wrestlers as opposed to the traditional face-heel-face dynamic most matches tend to go with). But it was absolutely the right call. If you have never seen this match, go out of your way to see it. It lives up to the hype as "one of the all-time greatest matches in WWE history."
(As a side note to all this, Taz and Michael Cole did an excellent job in this match. Michael Cole has had a few exceptional calls over his long career in WWE. This is one of them.)
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness. And thank you Brock Lesnar and Eddie Guerrero for that match.
Brock Lesnar, on the other hand, had been in the main event seemingly since his debut. Hot-Shot to the main event position after the Summer of 2002, Lesnar had become a marquee act in the WWE. He was pushed hard against legends such as Hulk Hogan, The Rock, The Undertaker, The Big Show, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, and others. But Brock began getting tired of the WWE schedule. And his interest started to turn to other things outside of the business. Namely, an attempt to join the NFL. It became clear backstage that Lesnar was "looking for a way out." So, it is appropriate that this event was called "No Way Out." Because on this night, there was "no way out" of one of the biggest upsets ever booked in WWE history.
Inspired by this week's episode of Something to Wrestle and the 15th Anniversary of this classic contest, here is my review (and usual written commentary) for Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004. Enjoy!
(By the way, I drank a cup of coffee during this match for both the caffeine and the irony. WCW fans will know what I mean by this.)
WWE No Way Out 2004
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2004
WWE Championship
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero
Brock Lesnar comes out first, furious over what happened earlier when he was attacked by Goldberg. Eddie does the classic entrance complete with the car hooked up with hydraulics. Once the music dies down, it becomes clear that Eddie has a HUGE amount of support from the fans in the Cow Palace.
The bell rings. Brock overpowers and assaults Eddie early on with Guerrero taking a HUGE backdrop at one point. Eddie starts fighting back, but Brock will have none of it. For every few punches Eddie gets in, Brock gets one move in to get the advantage back. Eddie tries to jump on Brock to do a hurricanrana, but Brock basically dumps Eddie on his head, deadlifts him up in a powerbomb position, and just swings around throwing Eddie aside. Belly-to-Belly Suplexes to Guerrero. Suplex City is here 10 years before its declaration. Brock hits a running knee into Guerrero's jaw in the corner. Another Belly-to-Belly Suplex sends Guerrero to the floor. Brock refuses to let Guerrero back in the ring as he knocks Guerrero repeatedly off the apron.
Eddie gets a shoulder to the gut and hangs up Lesnar on the top rope. Eddie gets the leg of Lesnar, drags it near the ring post, and snaps it against the post repeatedly. But Eddie gets sent shoulder first into the post by Brock's leg. Brock and Eddie are both in the ring. Delayed Fisherman Buster by Brock Lesnar. 2 count only. Brock grapevines around Guerrero and executes a sleeper hold. Guerrero gets out of the hold and tries to get some offense going, but Brock does Brock things like clobbering a guy with a clothesline. German Suplex by Brock Lesnar. That's almost 5 suplexes in this match (if you count the Fisherman Buster earlier). Brock rams the shoulder into the midsection of Guerrero in the corner. Eddie ducks to miss a knee attack, sending Brock to the floor screaming in pain. Eddie dives out over the ropes onto Brock. Both men get back in the ring by 9.
Eddie goes immediately after the knee of Lesnar. Back Suplex on Lesnar. But Lesnar immediately throws Guerrero throat-first into the ropes. 2 count. (The story here is Guerrero refusing to stay down while Lesnar continues to be a dominant monster. This actually reminds me a little bit of Flair vs. Vader at Starrcade 1993. Similar story being told here. ) Brock gets caught mocking Guerrero, and Eddie turns it into an STF on Lesnar. Lesnar's knee is jammed against the mat. Eddie ruthlessly goes after the knee. Spinning Toe Hold by Eddie Guerrero. Brock kicks him off. Lesnar continues to keep Eddie from applying any hold on him. Another Belly-to-Belly Suplex by Lesnar. "Goldberg" chants from the crowd. (You think they expect a Dusty finish? I think you can take that to the pay window, if you willll...)
Eddie gets a Head Scissors takedown on Lesnar. FIGURE FOUR by Eddie Guerrero! Cole and Tazz do a great job here mentioning the fact that Lesnar has tapped before to build the anticipation of this being a possible finish. Lesnar uses his size and strength to get to the ropes to cause a break. Eddie goes back after the leg and gets a Texas Cloverleaf on Lesnar (a nod to Dean Malenko perhaps) followed by an STF. But Lesnar just powers Guerrero off of him. Another German Suplex by Lesnar. (We're about 20 minutes in the match, and we've seen 8-9 suplexes. Anyone that says "All Lesnar does is suplexes" needs to look back at his original run. He was doing this in his original run as well. Granted, he did more moves back then. But let's not pretend Suplex City wasn't a thing in 2003-2004, ok? Back to the match...) Eddie runs into a spinebuster. 2 count. Another 2 count.
Brock executes another Grapevine Sleeper Hold. Eddie eventually gets to his feet and sends Lesnar head first into the turnbuckle. Eddie goes for the Missile Dropkick, but Lesnar ducks it. Another Vertical Suplex by Lesnar. Brock is bleeding from the nose as Lesnar says "Just die, Eddie. Die!" Gutwrench Submission Hold by Lesnar. The crowd is chanting for Eddie gets up on his feet eventually after selling the move, but Lesnar just suplexes him back down. Lesnar reapplies the Gutwrench Submission and rolls Guerrero around for a couple 2 counts. (Great wrestling here all around.) Eddie motions the crowd for help, and the energy starts picking up a bit. Eddie headbutts Brock off of him. Dropkick to the knee and to the head of Lesnar. Head Scissors Takedown by Guerrero. Lesnar staggers selling the match as Guerrero gets Lesnar into the Three Amigos. Eddie motions to the crowd and climbs the corner! FROG SPLASH MISSES!
Lesnar is slow to get back on his feet, but he gets up. He kicks Eddie in the gut and hits the F-5. BUT THE REFEREE GETS HIT IN THE PROCESS! He covers Guerrero, but there is no ref! Brock rolls out of the ring and gets the WWE Championship. He rolls back in the ring with it. He stands over Guerrero.... AND TURNS INTO A GOLDBERG SPEAR!!!!!! The crowd popped huge for that. LOUD "EDDIE" chants! Guerrero crawls over onto Lesnar after a good 45-60 seconds. 1-2-KICKOUT! Eddie almost stole the title. Speaking of which, Eddie sees the title on the ring apron and grabs it. He goes to hit Lesnar with it, but Brock avoids it and hits Guerrero in the gut! Brock picks him up for the F-5! EDDIE DDTS BROCK IN THE F-5 POSITION ONTO THE BELT!!!!! EDDIE CLIMBS UP! FROG SPLASH!!!! 1-2-3! The crowd pop is AMAZING in this moment! Guerrero goes out into the crowd, and security has to pry him away from the fans!!!! Eddie goes around and celebrates with his family and poses for the crowd on the ring steps and announce table. The final shot is Eddie posing with the title on the stage.
Winner: Eddie Guerrero (NEW WWE Champion)
Match Grade: A+. This was an absolutely amazing classic WWE Championship match here. As I wrote earlier, they used the classic tale of "underdog vs. monster" that others had used in the past. For a guy on his way out of the company, Brock Lesnar did an amazing job working the match and doing everything he could to put Guerrero over on the way out. Lesnar deserves some credit for doing the honors. Eddie Guerrero worked perhaps his greatest match here in both selling Brock's offense and working the crowd to that huge ovation at the end. You don't see this type of formula from WWE (a back and forth offense between the wrestlers as opposed to the traditional face-heel-face dynamic most matches tend to go with). But it was absolutely the right call. If you have never seen this match, go out of your way to see it. It lives up to the hype as "one of the all-time greatest matches in WWE history."
(As a side note to all this, Taz and Michael Cole did an excellent job in this match. Michael Cole has had a few exceptional calls over his long career in WWE. This is one of them.)
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness. And thank you Brock Lesnar and Eddie Guerrero for that match.
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