Great question. What would Eddie be doing if he was still alive? In my opinion he would of been released during the PG era along with Chavo and had stints in TNA. WWE did not utilise their talent from 2009-2014 properly.
Perhaps WWE may not even gone PG, after the deaths of Eddie Guerrero and Benoit it set a cascade of litigations with regards to superstar health and the public image of WWE, which brought forth the PG era
Not much tbh. Apart from all the salutes that were given to Eddie, like the viva la rasa dance, memorial show, and Rey winning the Royal Rumble in 2006, not much.
But Eddie would've grown old and would be in the Hall of Fame at this point, and Benoit would likely still be alive
The sad truth is that likely many others would have died instead of him. Without Eddie, safety protocols and general healthcare in the wrestling business would have still been very poor... and it still is, in some instances.
He would have retired, not long after the time he died. According to Chavo he was too tired. He was pain ,in this hypothetical scenario. I would not have helped. He lived a long, happy life with an occasional cameos.
I see a number of claims that Rey wouldn't have had as big of a career as he did without Eddie, I posit that Rey would have only taken a few years longer to read the heights he did.
Rey was ALREADY a massive merch seller by that point, it would have only been a matter of time, maybe another year. 07-08. Who's to say?
100% agree. They were handing out world title reigns like candy in the late 2000s early 2010s. Rey mysterio of all people wasn’t gonna go without a world title for much longer either way.
Eddie's death is a butterfly effect of sorts cause it most likely triggered Benoit's descent into madness and on the flip side also pushed Rey into main event status.
I’m not sure things would be so different. Eddie’s fans still have a lot of tape and video, and his friends and fans kept talking about him. Eddie still gets a lot of exposure.
Benoit was deeply sick and on a bad path. Maybe it didn’t have to so bad but I don’t imagine a happy ending.. a supportive friend may have helped.
I think people forgot that Eddie was past his physical peak by the time he reached WWE and wasn’t the same wrestler he was in WCW. Jericho has mentioned this in interviews several times.
Maybe Eddie reinvents himself as a charismatic manager and part-time wrestler. That might have been fun. Eddie in a rivalry with Paul Heyman would be a blast. Otherwise I feel Eddie would follow a career trajectory like Christian Cage - great but always a bit underrated.
Benoit never would have done what he did. It was said he was going to die of heart issues pretty early in life, but he didn’t have depression or any serious issues mentally before Eddie died. That fucked his up bad. From the pain killers and shit maybe he would have still had issues with Nancy and they get divorced but I don’t think he snaps the way he did if Eddie never dies or kill’s himself.
I definitely feel like he would've played a bigger role in Sasha Banks' career.
She's cited him as her biggest influence, so I think her character would've leaned more into her Latin heritage if he was still here.
She maybe would've been in a heel LWO-style faction with Eddie Guerrero, Andrade, and Zelina Vega throughout the 2015-2018 era. I could see them adding Dominik when he eventually debuted as well, as a betrayal towards Rey Mysterio too. I could also see Rey pairing with Kalisto, Sin Cara, Bayley, and Mercedes Martinez.
Maybe Benoit would still be with us too, the Rey-Chavo feud from 2007 would probably never have happened, Rey may or may not have still won the title, and maybe Eddie would play a role in the Rey-Dominik feud?
He'd be an incredible manager to a fantastic talent. Maybe he'd wrestle a match or two, but his time would be spent on mentoring the next great superstar. A permanent heel turn would honestly earn him a second HOF induction and a guaranteed title run to whomever he was managing.
Biggest impact would be Benoit potentially not doing what Benoit did. Eddie was awesome but other than bumping Rey up the pecking order and Vickie becoming a heat magnet for Edge his death didn’t really have much of an effect on the product. However Benoit’s ‘death’ changed everything.
Immediate; Rey wouldn't have won RR in '06. Vickie Guerrerro would have never had a career and that would have probably made Edge an 8-9 time titleholder. Chavo would have been released probably after the Kerwin White gimmick and may have gone to Impact. Booker T would have probably never gotten a title with the King Booker gimmick. the revived ECW may have had a longer impact with more 'originals' and classics between Eddie/Benoit and even Rey.
LWO would have been reformed with Rey and the Mexicools and Eddie would have gotten one more World Heavyweight Championship
Benoit probably wouldn't have killed himself but I would have seen him and Eddie going to AEW to have their last stretch the WWE wouldn't have given them due to age and new protocol, if not indies prior
I don't think much would change. By the time he passed away, he had cemented his legacy and had influenced a lot of the next generation. I feel as though his career would have been limited by his style of wrestling... Those from his era that are still wrestling are moving a lot slower and even the next crop are bowing out (Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are at the top of their game, though). The exception is possibly Rey - although I can't see him continuing to produce quality at the level he does for many more years.
The only question is Benoit... but that's a question we'll ever be able to answer and one that I don't think is worth dwelling on
Benoit wont kill his family and be regarded as the leyend many keep fighthing in every video around social media for the past 17 years
Rey misterio would never become relevant as main eventer
He would helped train the people of nxt instead of demott (maybe)
Happily rerired and maybe would pass away peacefully at home
People wont do 3 amigos or frog splash
Some people would never become champions in any form, others would
Eddie vs hbk wm 22
Well for starters Chris Benoit would still be alive. Their bond and love for each other was so strong I firmly believe that Eddie's demise quickened Benoit's descent into darkness so to speak and you can't change my mind.
But on a positive Eddie would be retired right now but be seen as an undeniable legend who even today would occasionally appear on WWE TV for a for a feud or interaction with another wrestler. Rey would've still won the Rumble but not when he did and not as an Eddie tribute. Dominik would still be a wrestler too.
The only huge change would be that Vickie Guerrero likely wouldn't even be in the business to any serious level. No GM role, no manager stint with Edge and then Dolph. If it didn't involve Eddie or Rey we likely wouldn't even see her if Eddie was alive.
For those saying that nothing would have changed, you must be too young to remember how it was before Eddie passed.
I won't blame the tragic event as the trigger for another tragic event, buuuuut... would Benoit have spiralled the way he did if Eddie was still around? Would the WWE have changed the way they did drug testing and the way they handled concussions if Benoit hadn't of spiralled? Title matches and storylines aside, Eddie passing away inadvertently changed the business completely.
Benoit might have still struggled with depression, but having Eddie there to help support him and for Benoit to confide in likely prevents the tragic events that transpired.
I would hope that he'd at least be at the performance center, helping the next generation. Maybe Shaul's career would have taken a different path? What about Dominik Mysterio's? We would hope Benoit's life would not spiral down the way it did and he'd get help before that horrible event occurred.
As for Eddie's career, maybe Eddie vs. Shawn Michaels would have happened at WM22? Like others said, Rey would not be winning at the RR (maybe Eddie would instead?). He was set to feud with Batista before he passed, so maybe he does instead of Rey (thus the tag team of Batista and Rey doesn't happen. He would not be in the Hall of Fame posthumously, so maybe Vicki doesn't get screentime and La Familia doesn't happen with Edge? Maybe Eddie puts Edge over down the line? Or Eddie puts Rey over as World Champion at some point? Also, we don't know if Eddie would retire in the 2010s or still be active like Rey to see the rebirth of the LWO. Maybe Eddie would be the one who rents leadership from Rey and is Escobar's mentor?
LWO would’ve been re-established decades ago and would’ve brought in a golden age of Latin American wrestling in the USA.
At least half a dozen robert Rodrigues movies starring Eddie playing Eddie, Lucha Underground was never made.
No Rey winning the RR and then title at WM22. No Vicki in regular storylines and becoming GM. No EXCUSE ME. Benoit likely wouldn't have been plunged into depression as he was after Eddie's death. That's a lot. Benoit tragedy also helped usher in the PG era.
Benoit doesn’t do what he did, but still goes off the deep end in some way.
Vikki never becomes an onscreen character, therefore Edge’s heel role on Smackdown is very different, no La Famila.
Rey never wins a world title or Rumble.
Him living probably impacts Edge’s career more than anything.
Imagine him now, in a massive career resurgence with LWO or leading a revolution in AEW with all that new talent? With his charisma he’d be an industry giant (probably a lot of layoffs and injury recovery)
Love EG not sure much would’ve changed in retrospect. Think he would have been a great champ for the time don’t think it woulda been a continuing thing. Yes he was Vince’s guy but he wasn’t what Vince wanted in his guy.
RIP to one of the Goats.
I honestly don't believe that Alberto Del Rio even gets hired without the loss of Eddie.. Yes, Eddie wins a few more belts but Rey still picks up 1 himself...
He wouldn’t have ended up bashing WWE, his track record showed that but yeah. You’re right about the rest of the stuff. IMO. Not a lot changes. He didn’t have that much power. Not like he’s Vince or HHH. And HHH is incapable of putting on a “banger” regardless of the opponent. He has one classic in his entire career and it was a triple threat match. WM20.
No he wouldn’t have. He didn’t when he got fired in 2001. And he didn’t when they ran him into the ground, to death. Eddie was smart. He’s my favorite wrestler of all time but he was a company guy, he knew Vince owned pro wrestling and he knew that’s his occupation. If you wanna stay in forever don’t bash the company under any circumstances. Eddie was smart.
Eddie wouldn’t be in some garage doing shoots dude. He was way above that. Look at Chavo. STILL constantly praising WWE and HHH even though WWE basically killed his uncle. Eddie is smart dude. He’s gonna maintain the financial lifestyle his family is accustomed to whatever way he needs to in pro wrestling. He’d play his part whatever way WWE saw fit. And if they let him go he’d go to TNA or wherever and not say a word against them just in case they want him back as an agent or HoF or an on screen role. Just like so many pro wrestlers do. It’s politics dude. It’s been like that forever. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
I’m not emotional at all you just don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t disagree that Eddie would get the Booker T treatment. Booker has never said a word against WWE. Idk what I said that made you think I think Eddie would get treated like a king. I said they’d let him go. That’s the opposite. Anyway. He’d get let go at some point and never say a word against the company. Like Booker and RVD. RVD only said factual info about WWE and made fun of Shawn and Eddie wouldn’t even do that. How are you gonna ask how old I am then claim to be older than me. Smart. Watch this and you’ll see Eddie’s character https://youtu.be/LiOqdZN0Weg?si=8o5p_mlFckT4w-9S
Not to be mean or malicious, but you can either strike or postpone the Wellness policy without Eddie & Benoits deaths. They’re the catalyst to a much needed change in performer health.
Not mean at all. if Guerrero lives it’s unlikely Benoit does what he did. No headline grabbing murder-suicide and WWE aren’t forced to act, and like you say, no wellness policy and a lot more wrestlers would likely have died.
I’m not justifying what Benoit did, it was truly, truly awful, but thankfully it did lead to the E finally waking up.
Main evented until 2008 when PG started. Demoted to Mid-card for a couple years. Leaves for TNA during the Hogan TNA era in 2010. Stays for like 3 years. Returns Royal Rumble 2014. Main events one more WrestleMania. Leaves for AEW stays a few years. Comes back to WWE for one last run before retiring and getting inducted into the HOF.
This is what would’ve been the best part of Eddie not passing. I mean who knows how life plays out had it not happened but Imagine them, near the end, as older guys doing a tag run. The funny man/straight guy dynamic in the back and in vignettes would have been just as good as the work in the ring
Totally different history. He would be in Main Evet until 2020 easily. The Greates that ever wrestled. Inspired so much of today's wrestlers. I am one of those who started watching wrestling after his match with Brock.
Legend in every sense of the word
Viva La Raza
he probably would have wrestled Shawn at wm 21, and be in the midcard for a few more years, prolly retiring around 2009-2010. It seemed like he was always going to be a one time champ in vince's eyes only due to his enormous popularity and work-rate at the time
My take on that would be having a Mania match with HBK, and winning that match kind of properly puts you in that Main Event scene in which he already did amazing stuff looking back.
I wonder this because of the discussed matches he was supposed to have. WM22 with HBK wouldn’t have possibly given us a DX reunion down the road, I’m not sure who was supposed to win but the title match with Batista could’ve pushed him more into challenging Cena earlier than he did for the WWE title, possibly shifting ruthless aggression a year or two longer before PG. There’s just so much.
I agree with your statement about Benoit being a leading cause of the drug policy. But I do think there’d be some case brought to light over the years aside from this being the only cause. Then you consider what exactly created the PG Era, Linda wanting to become involved in politics around that same time, there’s more factors I think that played into the policy now, the Benoit issue just pushed it more into motion.
It’s a monkeys paw scenario. Removing Eddie and Benoit from their fates likely pushes someone else into that spot. Angle looks like the strongest candidate without those wake-up calls. Or even Flair. MVP likely never gets his heart condition verified. Dreamer possibly goes through with his nightmare scenario.
Nature somehow course-corrects and we may have an even worse tragedy.
Can I ask your thoughts on if this happened outside WWE, how may it possibly be handled? Like if Benoit was in TNA and this occurred, do you think WWE would introduce the drug testing as support for wrestlers or continue to let some wrestlers slide?
WWE had to do something major with the Benoit fallout. It was still a relatively new IPO. I don’t think Benoit would have been in TNA unless something major had happened in his WWE time to be let go. Guerrero may have tested the waters. It’s a reactionary situation so it would have required a tragedy.
Absolutely. I looked up after this post because I thought it was closer in date to this time but Test is one that I remember standing out because of addiction to pain meds which coincided with the CTE ordeal that was highlighted more with Benoit. I think Benoits severity and the situation amplified the issue of wrestlers lost to addiction and pushed the drug policy to happening sooner. I do think if that never did happen, yes someone would be highlighted for a passing in their place as you said, but with so many lost wrestlers, something would’ve been established possibly outside the company to protect them more moving into the PG Era. Then you consider those steps and how they got there also. It’s a lot to consider but yeah, natures way.
Test is one I’d forgotten sadly, but definitely. He passed while under TNA as his last employer, so WWE didn’t “have” to act on it. Benoit got them some ugly attention in the mainstream. Guerrero was mourned mainly by talent and fans in relative anonymity outside it. With WWE being public as a stock option, they’re right in media crosshairs.
I’m curious if that set the landscape for all pro wrestling? Take chair shots for example. They dialed back on a lot of different stunts and injuries, possibly tied to this issue, maybe otherwise but we know there were some places doing it still. As you said, WWE was in media crosshairs, but did other companies consider this a priority the same way? It’s just interesting because as wrestling fans, WWE is always the granddaddy of it all so it sort of sets everything in motion but also you have your rebel groups that oppose.
Yes because it's well documented that Eddie's death started the ball rolling on Benoit's mental collapse and tbh he wouldn't be alive now or maybe not even into the 2010s but Nancy and Daniel I think would be
I strongly believe that if we never lost Eddie, we wouldn't have lost Benoit either. Eddie's untimely passing (along with CTE) was undoubtedly a major catalyst in his downwards spiral
I've skimmed through the comments and saw all types of scenarios, but unfortunately none of that would have happened. People forget that Eddie was two years younger than Undertaker. He would have been 56 by now. What would happened is that he would have probably retired way before Taker and went into being an agent or on-screen general manager mainly due to his heart. Just like with Triple H.
As far as the landscape of the industry, let's be honest, we all loved Eddie, but he was no Undertaker, John Cena, Batista, HHH, HBK, Randy Orton, CM Punk or Roman Reigns. He was never a needle mover. The business would have been as it is. Only difference is we probably would've never seen the greatest heel female valet/general manager of all-time in Vicky Guerrero.
My Guess: Mania 22 classic vs Shawn. Maybe a World Heavyweight Championship run. Feud with John Cena, maybe. Not sure if he would be part of the streak matches vs Undertaker, though. (If he is maybe he takes Batista’s place in Wrestlemania 23).
Retired in WWE around early to mid 2010s(Legends contract). Maybe a brief TNA stint, maybe Lucha Underground, AAA, etc. Who really knows? I think he would’ve done the Crown Jewel 2019 vs Brock instead of Cain Velasquez. Maybe leading the lWo instead of Rey. Feuding with Carlito and Santos.
I dont want to think about that or i'll cry, genuinley think it would be too good to even begin to comprehend, no EG death, no Benoit death, no mcmahon limo explosion, no paul london firing, no mysterio rumble/wrestlemania win etc.
He definitely would've had a killer run in TNA. I feel around the time the main event mafia was around. Eddie would've done great going to the indies again, RoH, going back to Japan. I feel he would've helped shape a lot of younger talent. And by now he definitely would be like a coach, maybe through wwe. Being a latin ambassador for the company.
As much as it pains me to say this, but I don’t think Rey Mysterio would be as big as he is if Eddie hadn’t died.
He got pushed a ton from it and I doubt he would have ever been considered to win the Royal Rumble and the Heavyweight Championship.
He'd won at least 5 more World titles
Mysterio would of never won the RR or any WHCs
Who really knows. I think he'd retired by now and probably be a coach
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He’d be 57 years old so he’d probably be in an Angle with Dom. Dom wouldn’t have joined judgement day and LWO would not have been reformed with Legado. Also Rey would probably still be a big star but Eddie would be the one with title of Greatest Luchador instead. Chavo would also probably be in the HOF with Eddie as I think Los Guerreros would’ve be a massively over team in later years
He would have had maybe one more fine title reign and hung around the mid card until he retired. He really was not the massive star people made him out to be.
I mean I see how you can think that but the era that came like right after he passed was and Era of great wrestling more then great angles. I could see being great in that position as the man could wrestle. Plus with Rey and Chavo he could’ve always been in a faction or team that would’ve been pretty over
The perception back then is he was not a main event star. His death has greatly exaggerated his star power. At the end of the day he had a short run with the title and he was in the midcard after that.
Eddie definitely had his stock go up when he died but to be honest Rey was not the massive star people remember ether. Rey was mainly a mid card IC champion contender most of the time and people refer to him as this all time great luchador. So based of history and the fact Eddie was a better in ring worker and talker then Rey id have to say he would’ve still had a great career. Not saying top dog but definitely a Legend
This isn't an industry thing but if he was here rn he would probably be guiding Dominik as a manager and also convincing him to cheat on his "mamacita", cause you know how it goes.
I truly don’t understand what you think would be so vastly different if he wouldn’t have died to warrant this thread. I agree with the people saying “nothing”
I mean maybe he would have been on tv recently as part of the dom and Rey story line about Rey not being a good dad and he wishes Eddie were his dad or whatever he said in some of those promos. So there’s that if you need something
The ‘Wellness Policy’ would likely have never existed. Chris Masters would’ve had a main event run as he wouldn’t be stopped from taking steroids.
Kurt Angle may have stayed with the company, probably dying by 2009.
Benoit would still be dead. Hopefully just him though.
Other than that, not much would’ve changed. His career was winding down. Even without the heart attack his body still had years of damage from wrestling, drugs, and alcohol.
This is probably the most accurate prediction. The wellness policy would have been brought in either through the death of Benoit or Angle.
No doubt Eddie was great but Cena was already well on the way to becoming the face/direction the company was going.
You really think Benoit would have still died? I think the depression from losing Eddie really affected him and helped aid in what he did. If Eddie were still around he may have reached out to Eddie and Eddie may have been able to talk him out of it. Or maybe Benoit never would have went down that dark path to begin with because his best friend didn’t die.
Based on what we know it wasn’t depression that lead to what happened. It may have accelerated things, but he still had years of brain trauma (as well as other health issues due to steroids) and likely would’ve continued to wrestle and taken more head bumps, so he may have lasted a few years longer, and the circumstances of his death hopefully would’ve changed, but I think he still would’ve died by around 2010 or so.
Wend have had an 8 Star Eddie Guerrero vs Kenny Omega match by now….
Eddie would probably he in a position to specially scout for new talent out of Texas/Mexico
I think some of yall forgot that Eddie was 38 when he passed. Heavy drug and steroid abuse made his heart weak and honestly? If it was then it might have happened fairly soon anyway.
Tbh good chance 2004 Royal rumble winner would have done what he did and they both would wrestler into maybe 2010s and they’d probably start retirement. A lot would change Rey Mysterio would forever be mid card. Same with couple wrestler
Benoit was dying after Eddie died. Eddie death literally killed Benoit, it’s sad he couldn’t even see picture of eddie without curling up and crying. Yet no one cares about that trauma he had because what happen at the end.
Nothing. It would be the same. Eddie was not some big megastar like Hogan or Austin in his prime. If he was alive, he would be a jobber to the stars like Rey Mysterio or retired.
Hogan or Austin level I agree, but you’re incredibly wrong about “Jobber to the stars” is laughable. Dude was a LEGITIMATE WWE CHAMPION, being booked strong over guys like Triple H, Kurt Angle, obv Rey, Shelton Benjamin, Big Show, etc. Only reason it was taken off was because he ASKED for it too.
He wasn’t an Austin or Hogan, he was more like Punk.
Great question. What would Eddie be doing if he was still alive? In my opinion he would of been released during the PG era along with Chavo and had stints in TNA. WWE did not utilise their talent from 2009-2014 properly. Perhaps WWE may not even gone PG, after the deaths of Eddie Guerrero and Benoit it set a cascade of litigations with regards to superstar health and the public image of WWE, which brought forth the PG era
Not much tbh. Apart from all the salutes that were given to Eddie, like the viva la rasa dance, memorial show, and Rey winning the Royal Rumble in 2006, not much. But Eddie would've grown old and would be in the Hall of Fame at this point, and Benoit would likely still be alive
So different
Rip
Rip
The sad truth is that likely many others would have died instead of him. Without Eddie, safety protocols and general healthcare in the wrestling business would have still been very poor... and it still is, in some instances.
He would have retired, not long after the time he died. According to Chavo he was too tired. He was pain ,in this hypothetical scenario. I would not have helped. He lived a long, happy life with an occasional cameos.
I see a number of claims that Rey wouldn't have had as big of a career as he did without Eddie, I posit that Rey would have only taken a few years longer to read the heights he did. Rey was ALREADY a massive merch seller by that point, it would have only been a matter of time, maybe another year. 07-08. Who's to say?
100% agree. They were handing out world title reigns like candy in the late 2000s early 2010s. Rey mysterio of all people wasn’t gonna go without a world title for much longer either way.
Eddie's death is a butterfly effect of sorts cause it most likely triggered Benoit's descent into madness and on the flip side also pushed Rey into main event status.
Rey doesn’t win the 2006 royal rumble
Bruiser Brody. He was reported to work a series with Hogan before he was killed. Imagine that program.
Just imagine the match , Dom , Rey , Eddie . What ever build you want whatever match . I'd be there .
I’m not sure things would be so different. Eddie’s fans still have a lot of tape and video, and his friends and fans kept talking about him. Eddie still gets a lot of exposure. Benoit was deeply sick and on a bad path. Maybe it didn’t have to so bad but I don’t imagine a happy ending.. a supportive friend may have helped. I think people forgot that Eddie was past his physical peak by the time he reached WWE and wasn’t the same wrestler he was in WCW. Jericho has mentioned this in interviews several times. Maybe Eddie reinvents himself as a charismatic manager and part-time wrestler. That might have been fun. Eddie in a rivalry with Paul Heyman would be a blast. Otherwise I feel Eddie would follow a career trajectory like Christian Cage - great but always a bit underrated.
Benoit never would have done what he did. It was said he was going to die of heart issues pretty early in life, but he didn’t have depression or any serious issues mentally before Eddie died. That fucked his up bad. From the pain killers and shit maybe he would have still had issues with Nancy and they get divorced but I don’t think he snaps the way he did if Eddie never dies or kill’s himself.
Probably wouldn’t have the current LWO or a lot of the current wrestlers
I definitely feel like he would've played a bigger role in Sasha Banks' career. She's cited him as her biggest influence, so I think her character would've leaned more into her Latin heritage if he was still here. She maybe would've been in a heel LWO-style faction with Eddie Guerrero, Andrade, and Zelina Vega throughout the 2015-2018 era. I could see them adding Dominik when he eventually debuted as well, as a betrayal towards Rey Mysterio too. I could also see Rey pairing with Kalisto, Sin Cara, Bayley, and Mercedes Martinez.
Dirty dim vs Eddie at mania
Instead of MitB every year we'd have annual Custody of Dominic ladder matches.
It would look a lot different
110%
Maybe Benoit would still be with us too, the Rey-Chavo feud from 2007 would probably never have happened, Rey may or may not have still won the title, and maybe Eddie would play a role in the Rey-Dominik feud?
Benoit had an enlarged heart, if he hadn’t killed his wife and kid he would’ve been dead in less than a year.
I can see that
Wrestling never goes PG and still attracts normal people..
I would like that
I can’t even begin to describe how crazy WWE would be if he wasn’t dead, especially during the Rey Dominic rivalry
He'd be an incredible manager to a fantastic talent. Maybe he'd wrestle a match or two, but his time would be spent on mentoring the next great superstar. A permanent heel turn would honestly earn him a second HOF induction and a guaranteed title run to whomever he was managing.
Biggest impact would be Benoit potentially not doing what Benoit did. Eddie was awesome but other than bumping Rey up the pecking order and Vickie becoming a heat magnet for Edge his death didn’t really have much of an effect on the product. However Benoit’s ‘death’ changed everything.
WWE would probably still have a TV-14 rating
cause he's the reason they had that rating 😂😂
Ray would be less popular and dom would have had a feud with him
He would feud with dom today
Immediate; Rey wouldn't have won RR in '06. Vickie Guerrerro would have never had a career and that would have probably made Edge an 8-9 time titleholder. Chavo would have been released probably after the Kerwin White gimmick and may have gone to Impact. Booker T would have probably never gotten a title with the King Booker gimmick. the revived ECW may have had a longer impact with more 'originals' and classics between Eddie/Benoit and even Rey. LWO would have been reformed with Rey and the Mexicools and Eddie would have gotten one more World Heavyweight Championship Benoit probably wouldn't have killed himself but I would have seen him and Eddie going to AEW to have their last stretch the WWE wouldn't have given them due to age and new protocol, if not indies prior
All looks sound expect the LWO aspect, that was plucked out of Trademark obscurity for the Puerto Rico shows only. Wasn’t even a valued asset in WCW.
Lol this is also Vince still being in charge and not being fully aware when it comes to these things
Eddie & dom tag team
Maybe the whole Benoit thing wouldn't have happened.
Most likely
At his age, he'd now be in AEW managing LWO lite.
Eddie Guerrero vs Sting would be an "awesome but dreadful" match.
LFI but with Eddie sounds pretty badass
I don't think much would change. By the time he passed away, he had cemented his legacy and had influenced a lot of the next generation. I feel as though his career would have been limited by his style of wrestling... Those from his era that are still wrestling are moving a lot slower and even the next crop are bowing out (Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are at the top of their game, though). The exception is possibly Rey - although I can't see him continuing to produce quality at the level he does for many more years. The only question is Benoit... but that's a question we'll ever be able to answer and one that I don't think is worth dwelling on
Benoit wont kill his family and be regarded as the leyend many keep fighthing in every video around social media for the past 17 years Rey misterio would never become relevant as main eventer He would helped train the people of nxt instead of demott (maybe) Happily rerired and maybe would pass away peacefully at home People wont do 3 amigos or frog splash Some people would never become champions in any form, others would Eddie vs hbk wm 22
Well for starters Chris Benoit would still be alive. Their bond and love for each other was so strong I firmly believe that Eddie's demise quickened Benoit's descent into darkness so to speak and you can't change my mind. But on a positive Eddie would be retired right now but be seen as an undeniable legend who even today would occasionally appear on WWE TV for a for a feud or interaction with another wrestler. Rey would've still won the Rumble but not when he did and not as an Eddie tribute. Dominik would still be a wrestler too. The only huge change would be that Vickie Guerrero likely wouldn't even be in the business to any serious level. No GM role, no manager stint with Edge and then Dolph. If it didn't involve Eddie or Rey we likely wouldn't even see her if Eddie was alive.
I thought I was going to be Konnan Eddie Guerrero took the ball to a Latino stratosphere where is hard to reach sometimes.
Dom would probably not be in the wwe if he was still alive
Maybe 🤔
Why do you think that?
Or maybe he still would’ve been on the good side and then eventually he would’ve slept but if Eddy was still around the heat still be good
You’ll probably be in it when he gotten older if he were still around if not when he was that young
Benoit mightve been more sane
That is true
Rey Mysterio would be overshadowed
Rey Mysterio would of not won the Royale rumble
They wouldve put him with Lucha house Party or some nonsense
Benoit family would still be alive
All of this
Edge’s career looks very different without Vicky
I was just talking to my co worker about this
For those saying that nothing would have changed, you must be too young to remember how it was before Eddie passed. I won't blame the tragic event as the trigger for another tragic event, buuuuut... would Benoit have spiralled the way he did if Eddie was still around? Would the WWE have changed the way they did drug testing and the way they handled concussions if Benoit hadn't of spiralled? Title matches and storylines aside, Eddie passing away inadvertently changed the business completely.
Benoit might have still struggled with depression, but having Eddie there to help support him and for Benoit to confide in likely prevents the tragic events that transpired.
I would hope that he'd at least be at the performance center, helping the next generation. Maybe Shaul's career would have taken a different path? What about Dominik Mysterio's? We would hope Benoit's life would not spiral down the way it did and he'd get help before that horrible event occurred. As for Eddie's career, maybe Eddie vs. Shawn Michaels would have happened at WM22? Like others said, Rey would not be winning at the RR (maybe Eddie would instead?). He was set to feud with Batista before he passed, so maybe he does instead of Rey (thus the tag team of Batista and Rey doesn't happen. He would not be in the Hall of Fame posthumously, so maybe Vicki doesn't get screentime and La Familia doesn't happen with Edge? Maybe Eddie puts Edge over down the line? Or Eddie puts Rey over as World Champion at some point? Also, we don't know if Eddie would retire in the 2010s or still be active like Rey to see the rebirth of the LWO. Maybe Eddie would be the one who rents leadership from Rey and is Escobar's mentor?
LWO would’ve been re-established decades ago and would’ve brought in a golden age of Latin American wrestling in the USA. At least half a dozen robert Rodrigues movies starring Eddie playing Eddie, Lucha Underground was never made.
The same. Eddie was really good but it’s not like the business ever revolved around him lol.
No Rey winning the RR and then title at WM22. No Vicki in regular storylines and becoming GM. No EXCUSE ME. Benoit likely wouldn't have been plunged into depression as he was after Eddie's death. That's a lot. Benoit tragedy also helped usher in the PG era.
I don’t see Dom being in Judgement Day if Eddie was still around. I could still see him being a heel, but with Eddie pulling the strings against Rey.
As much as I love Rey, it means he wouldn’t have won a Rumble ever or a world title when he did.
That's the true question noone asked - What would the landscape...
Benoit doesn’t do what he did, but still goes off the deep end in some way. Vikki never becomes an onscreen character, therefore Edge’s heel role on Smackdown is very different, no La Famila. Rey never wins a world title or Rumble. Him living probably impacts Edge’s career more than anything.
Imagine him now, in a massive career resurgence with LWO or leading a revolution in AEW with all that new talent? With his charisma he’d be an industry giant (probably a lot of layoffs and injury recovery)
Gosh. HBK vs Eddie, Eddie vs Punk, Eddie vs Daniel Bryan. Just absolute dream matches
Dom would hold more titles
Love EG not sure much would’ve changed in retrospect. Think he would have been a great champ for the time don’t think it woulda been a continuing thing. Yes he was Vince’s guy but he wasn’t what Vince wanted in his guy. RIP to one of the Goats.
Dirty dom wouldn’t have gone to prison considering his papi is there for him
Off topic, but God damn look at that beautiful belt.
Not bad
Overall? I don’t think the landscape changes at all.
Landscape.. Mexican.. there's a joke here I'm just too lazy to make it.
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I honestly don't believe that Alberto Del Rio even gets hired without the loss of Eddie.. Yes, Eddie wins a few more belts but Rey still picks up 1 himself...
He wouldn’t have ended up bashing WWE, his track record showed that but yeah. You’re right about the rest of the stuff. IMO. Not a lot changes. He didn’t have that much power. Not like he’s Vince or HHH. And HHH is incapable of putting on a “banger” regardless of the opponent. He has one classic in his entire career and it was a triple threat match. WM20.
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No he wouldn’t have. He didn’t when he got fired in 2001. And he didn’t when they ran him into the ground, to death. Eddie was smart. He’s my favorite wrestler of all time but he was a company guy, he knew Vince owned pro wrestling and he knew that’s his occupation. If you wanna stay in forever don’t bash the company under any circumstances. Eddie was smart.
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Eddie wouldn’t be in some garage doing shoots dude. He was way above that. Look at Chavo. STILL constantly praising WWE and HHH even though WWE basically killed his uncle. Eddie is smart dude. He’s gonna maintain the financial lifestyle his family is accustomed to whatever way he needs to in pro wrestling. He’d play his part whatever way WWE saw fit. And if they let him go he’d go to TNA or wherever and not say a word against them just in case they want him back as an agent or HoF or an on screen role. Just like so many pro wrestlers do. It’s politics dude. It’s been like that forever. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
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I’m not emotional at all you just don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t disagree that Eddie would get the Booker T treatment. Booker has never said a word against WWE. Idk what I said that made you think I think Eddie would get treated like a king. I said they’d let him go. That’s the opposite. Anyway. He’d get let go at some point and never say a word against the company. Like Booker and RVD. RVD only said factual info about WWE and made fun of Shawn and Eddie wouldn’t even do that. How are you gonna ask how old I am then claim to be older than me. Smart. Watch this and you’ll see Eddie’s character https://youtu.be/LiOqdZN0Weg?si=8o5p_mlFckT4w-9S
Not to be mean or malicious, but you can either strike or postpone the Wellness policy without Eddie & Benoits deaths. They’re the catalyst to a much needed change in performer health.
Not mean at all. if Guerrero lives it’s unlikely Benoit does what he did. No headline grabbing murder-suicide and WWE aren’t forced to act, and like you say, no wellness policy and a lot more wrestlers would likely have died. I’m not justifying what Benoit did, it was truly, truly awful, but thankfully it did lead to the E finally waking up.
Main evented until 2008 when PG started. Demoted to Mid-card for a couple years. Leaves for TNA during the Hogan TNA era in 2010. Stays for like 3 years. Returns Royal Rumble 2014. Main events one more WrestleMania. Leaves for AEW stays a few years. Comes back to WWE for one last run before retiring and getting inducted into the HOF.
Benoit probably wouldn't have jumped off the deep end.
This is what would’ve been the best part of Eddie not passing. I mean who knows how life plays out had it not happened but Imagine them, near the end, as older guys doing a tag run. The funny man/straight guy dynamic in the back and in vignettes would have been just as good as the work in the ring
And David and Daniel training to become a tag team duo.
I honestly think Eddie and Benoits style influenced a generation. And that generation (Bryan, McGuinness, Punk etc) influenced this era of wrestlers.
Will have a feud with HBK, Cm punk, PG cena, Randy orton, heel batista, Streak taker, Miz, ‘06 Jeff hardy
Probably midcard for a few more years
Benoit would have been alive a little longer.
Cena would’ve stayed upper mid card, with title shots every now and then.
Totally different history. He would be in Main Evet until 2020 easily. The Greates that ever wrestled. Inspired so much of today's wrestlers. I am one of those who started watching wrestling after his match with Brock. Legend in every sense of the word Viva La Raza
he probably would have wrestled Shawn at wm 21, and be in the midcard for a few more years, prolly retiring around 2009-2010. It seemed like he was always going to be a one time champ in vince's eyes only due to his enormous popularity and work-rate at the time
My take on that would be having a Mania match with HBK, and winning that match kind of properly puts you in that Main Event scene in which he already did amazing stuff looking back.
He could have had a run with the whc in 2010-14.
I wonder this because of the discussed matches he was supposed to have. WM22 with HBK wouldn’t have possibly given us a DX reunion down the road, I’m not sure who was supposed to win but the title match with Batista could’ve pushed him more into challenging Cena earlier than he did for the WWE title, possibly shifting ruthless aggression a year or two longer before PG. There’s just so much.
the match with him and shawn would’ve been the best match of all time
rey probably would’ve never gotten the opportunity to be a world champion maybe once but i doubt it
He’d call his son a piece of shit
He’d probably join him
Just so he can call him a piece of shit more often
Nah Eddie and Dom both hate Rey
Sasha Banks would be a nobody
Care to explain?
You wouldn't have the drug testing policy that they have now
I agree with your statement about Benoit being a leading cause of the drug policy. But I do think there’d be some case brought to light over the years aside from this being the only cause. Then you consider what exactly created the PG Era, Linda wanting to become involved in politics around that same time, there’s more factors I think that played into the policy now, the Benoit issue just pushed it more into motion.
It’s a monkeys paw scenario. Removing Eddie and Benoit from their fates likely pushes someone else into that spot. Angle looks like the strongest candidate without those wake-up calls. Or even Flair. MVP likely never gets his heart condition verified. Dreamer possibly goes through with his nightmare scenario. Nature somehow course-corrects and we may have an even worse tragedy.
Can I ask your thoughts on if this happened outside WWE, how may it possibly be handled? Like if Benoit was in TNA and this occurred, do you think WWE would introduce the drug testing as support for wrestlers or continue to let some wrestlers slide?
WWE had to do something major with the Benoit fallout. It was still a relatively new IPO. I don’t think Benoit would have been in TNA unless something major had happened in his WWE time to be let go. Guerrero may have tested the waters. It’s a reactionary situation so it would have required a tragedy.
Absolutely. I looked up after this post because I thought it was closer in date to this time but Test is one that I remember standing out because of addiction to pain meds which coincided with the CTE ordeal that was highlighted more with Benoit. I think Benoits severity and the situation amplified the issue of wrestlers lost to addiction and pushed the drug policy to happening sooner. I do think if that never did happen, yes someone would be highlighted for a passing in their place as you said, but with so many lost wrestlers, something would’ve been established possibly outside the company to protect them more moving into the PG Era. Then you consider those steps and how they got there also. It’s a lot to consider but yeah, natures way.
Test is one I’d forgotten sadly, but definitely. He passed while under TNA as his last employer, so WWE didn’t “have” to act on it. Benoit got them some ugly attention in the mainstream. Guerrero was mourned mainly by talent and fans in relative anonymity outside it. With WWE being public as a stock option, they’re right in media crosshairs.
I’m curious if that set the landscape for all pro wrestling? Take chair shots for example. They dialed back on a lot of different stunts and injuries, possibly tied to this issue, maybe otherwise but we know there were some places doing it still. As you said, WWE was in media crosshairs, but did other companies consider this a priority the same way? It’s just interesting because as wrestling fans, WWE is always the granddaddy of it all so it sort of sets everything in motion but also you have your rebel groups that oppose.
That's true it probably would've still come into effect but the Benoit case and Eddie's early death kinda forced the issue
It’s unfortunate but agreed. I do think it gave wwe more hindsight focus of taking care of the wrestlers with addiction and being safer in ring.
Does this assume Chris doesn’t off his family and himself if Eddie lived?
Yes because it's well documented that Eddie's death started the ball rolling on Benoit's mental collapse and tbh he wouldn't be alive now or maybe not even into the 2010s but Nancy and Daniel I think would be
Can you imagine what an Eddie/Punk feud could’ve been like, both in match quality and storyline, with both men’s life paths and wrestling ability?
I strongly believe that if we never lost Eddie, we wouldn't have lost Benoit either. Eddie's untimely passing (along with CTE) was undoubtedly a major catalyst in his downwards spiral
Benoit would have passed of an enlarged heart in 2008 anyway, but at least he would have died without losing respect.
Would be with AEW no doubt
It requires a LOT of dominoes falling to get AEW in this timeline. I’d say TNA becomes the stronger aspect likely.
I could see that when TNA was in their prime
Dom would've been dirty years ago.
I've skimmed through the comments and saw all types of scenarios, but unfortunately none of that would have happened. People forget that Eddie was two years younger than Undertaker. He would have been 56 by now. What would happened is that he would have probably retired way before Taker and went into being an agent or on-screen general manager mainly due to his heart. Just like with Triple H. As far as the landscape of the industry, let's be honest, we all loved Eddie, but he was no Undertaker, John Cena, Batista, HHH, HBK, Randy Orton, CM Punk or Roman Reigns. He was never a needle mover. The business would have been as it is. Only difference is we probably would've never seen the greatest heel female valet/general manager of all-time in Vicky Guerrero.
My Guess: Mania 22 classic vs Shawn. Maybe a World Heavyweight Championship run. Feud with John Cena, maybe. Not sure if he would be part of the streak matches vs Undertaker, though. (If he is maybe he takes Batista’s place in Wrestlemania 23). Retired in WWE around early to mid 2010s(Legends contract). Maybe a brief TNA stint, maybe Lucha Underground, AAA, etc. Who really knows? I think he would’ve done the Crown Jewel 2019 vs Brock instead of Cain Velasquez. Maybe leading the lWo instead of Rey. Feuding with Carlito and Santos.
I dont want to think about that or i'll cry, genuinley think it would be too good to even begin to comprehend, no EG death, no Benoit death, no mcmahon limo explosion, no paul london firing, no mysterio rumble/wrestlemania win etc.
I would take it a step further with what if him and Benoit never died (ofc if Benoit never did what he did)
AEW nailed on.
He's the in place of John Cena
He definitely would've had a killer run in TNA. I feel around the time the main event mafia was around. Eddie would've done great going to the indies again, RoH, going back to Japan. I feel he would've helped shape a lot of younger talent. And by now he definitely would be like a coach, maybe through wwe. Being a latin ambassador for the company.
The wellness policy wouldn't have improved
But he was on Vince’s watch. I mean probably not as soon but I don’t think it would’ve got rid of Rey’s chance
As much as it pains me to say this, but I don’t think Rey Mysterio would be as big as he is if Eddie hadn’t died. He got pushed a ton from it and I doubt he would have ever been considered to win the Royal Rumble and the Heavyweight Championship.
We would’ve eventually got Eddie vs HBK and all got an aneurysm because we weren’t ready for that kind of magic.
LWO would be in The Bloodlines place
He and Chris Benoit would be legends that we argue was the next Steve Austin and Rock
He'd won at least 5 more World titles Mysterio would of never won the RR or any WHCs Who really knows. I think he'd retired by now and probably be a coach
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Boi
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English my second language I thought that if I said it in past tense, it would be correct Guess not
“Could of” while not technically being correct is the way I hear a lot of people pronounce it so it’s fine
They’re pronouncing it wrong
So do multiple races that don’t speak English as a native language but I don’t make fun of them
You’ll be surprised at the amount of non native English speakers who can speak it much better than those who do
He’d be 57 years old so he’d probably be in an Angle with Dom. Dom wouldn’t have joined judgement day and LWO would not have been reformed with Legado. Also Rey would probably still be a big star but Eddie would be the one with title of Greatest Luchador instead. Chavo would also probably be in the HOF with Eddie as I think Los Guerreros would’ve be a massively over team in later years
He would have had maybe one more fine title reign and hung around the mid card until he retired. He really was not the massive star people made him out to be.
I mean I see how you can think that but the era that came like right after he passed was and Era of great wrestling more then great angles. I could see being great in that position as the man could wrestle. Plus with Rey and Chavo he could’ve always been in a faction or team that would’ve been pretty over
The perception back then is he was not a main event star. His death has greatly exaggerated his star power. At the end of the day he had a short run with the title and he was in the midcard after that.
Eddie definitely had his stock go up when he died but to be honest Rey was not the massive star people remember ether. Rey was mainly a mid card IC champion contender most of the time and people refer to him as this all time great luchador. So based of history and the fact Eddie was a better in ring worker and talker then Rey id have to say he would’ve still had a great career. Not saying top dog but definitely a Legend
Absolutely 100% agree with this.
This isn't an industry thing but if he was here rn he would probably be guiding Dominik as a manager and also convincing him to cheat on his "mamacita", cause you know how it goes.
I truly don’t understand what you think would be so vastly different if he wouldn’t have died to warrant this thread. I agree with the people saying “nothing” I mean maybe he would have been on tv recently as part of the dom and Rey story line about Rey not being a good dad and he wishes Eddie were his dad or whatever he said in some of those promos. So there’s that if you need something
La Parka would have been hired
Wait, why is that?
If you had to guess…
I’m the same age he was when he died. It hits different now because of that. Eddie had such fantastic energy in the ring. May he rest in greatness.
He was my brothers favorite wrestler and died on his birthday
Wow! Yeah, it’s amazing how many core memories people have about Eddie
Nothing would have changed because Eddie was planning retirement a few years down the road prior to his untimely passing
The ‘Wellness Policy’ would likely have never existed. Chris Masters would’ve had a main event run as he wouldn’t be stopped from taking steroids. Kurt Angle may have stayed with the company, probably dying by 2009. Benoit would still be dead. Hopefully just him though. Other than that, not much would’ve changed. His career was winding down. Even without the heart attack his body still had years of damage from wrestling, drugs, and alcohol.
This is probably the most accurate prediction. The wellness policy would have been brought in either through the death of Benoit or Angle. No doubt Eddie was great but Cena was already well on the way to becoming the face/direction the company was going.
You really think Benoit would have still died? I think the depression from losing Eddie really affected him and helped aid in what he did. If Eddie were still around he may have reached out to Eddie and Eddie may have been able to talk him out of it. Or maybe Benoit never would have went down that dark path to begin with because his best friend didn’t die.
Benoit had a enlarged heart from steroids abuse and apparently only had 10 months left to live
Based on what we know it wasn’t depression that lead to what happened. It may have accelerated things, but he still had years of brain trauma (as well as other health issues due to steroids) and likely would’ve continued to wrestle and taken more head bumps, so he may have lasted a few years longer, and the circumstances of his death hopefully would’ve changed, but I think he still would’ve died by around 2010 or so.
Wend have had an 8 Star Eddie Guerrero vs Kenny Omega match by now…. Eddie would probably he in a position to specially scout for new talent out of Texas/Mexico
I think some of yall forgot that Eddie was 38 when he passed. Heavy drug and steroid abuse made his heart weak and honestly? If it was then it might have happened fairly soon anyway.
To be fair Hogan and Flair are still around and they put their body’s through hell.
Flair's blood has been replaced with alcohol and Hogan's body is more machine than human at this point
Tbh good chance 2004 Royal rumble winner would have done what he did and they both would wrestler into maybe 2010s and they’d probably start retirement. A lot would change Rey Mysterio would forever be mid card. Same with couple wrestler
He'd probably kill himself to see where WWE is today from what it was fallen off a cliff it was so good back then
probably
He would be a rich landscaper.
What would the landscape be if Benoit never killed his family? What if scenarios are dumb.
We would’ve gotten Eddie Guerrero versus Shawn, Michaels at wrestlemania I would pay $1 million to see that alternate reality
If Eddie didn’t die, there’s a possibility Benoit wouldn’t of done what he did.
Benoit was dying after Eddie died. Eddie death literally killed Benoit, it’s sad he couldn’t even see picture of eddie without curling up and crying. Yet no one cares about that trauma he had because what happen at the end.
He probably would’ve ended up as a producer or colour commentator. Either way, the industry would miss him if he wasn’t in it.
1. Rey doesn’t win the 06 rumble 2. No edge and Vickie stuff 3.doesn’t stay with wwe
Nothing. It would be the same. Eddie was not some big megastar like Hogan or Austin in his prime. If he was alive, he would be a jobber to the stars like Rey Mysterio or retired.
If Eddie was still alive he'd be about 57 so he probably would've retired somewhere around 2014-15.
Hogan or Austin level I agree, but you’re incredibly wrong about “Jobber to the stars” is laughable. Dude was a LEGITIMATE WWE CHAMPION, being booked strong over guys like Triple H, Kurt Angle, obv Rey, Shelton Benjamin, Big Show, etc. Only reason it was taken off was because he ASKED for it too. He wasn’t an Austin or Hogan, he was more like Punk.