Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio (WWE SmackDown) Match Review

It is September 6^th 2005, and WWE are in Atlanta, Georgia to tape the very first Friday Night SmackDown. As a result, it’s a loaded lineup, led by a Bullrope main event between Batista and John Bradshaw Layfield. That isn’t the match this show is remembered for though, as Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio conclude their rivalry with a Steel Cage match. They’d feuded for most of 2005, with Guerrero steadily becoming resentful at his inability to beat Mysterio.

That led to the soap opera business involving Dominik, adding a theatrical piece to an already heated programme. In history, the blowoff is widely recognised as their SummerSlam Ladder match, climbing to secure the Custody of Dom. That’s pretty much accurate too, with this follow-up basically serving as a way to transition Guerrero towards other business. In addition, this became a familiar play, with SmackDown often hosting a virtual epilogue inside the cage.

Nonetheless, Guerrero corners Mysterio right away, eating right hands in response but chucking his foe towards the fence. He even does so from a powerbomb position, with Mysterio soon finding a flurry regardless. The 619 is unavailable though, drawing a grin from Guerrero as Mysterio sells this apparent breaking news. Rey’s attempt to leave the cage is thwarted too, being greeted by Guerrero only to adjust for a sunset bomb.

He still can’t leave however, being yanked back down and taking a terrible fall on his knee. They return from an ad break with Guerrero climbing, as Mysterio grabs the foot to keep him inside. Guerrero adjusts, finding a heavy Russian Leg Sweep from the top rope. Mysterio goes full Spiderman afterwards, being thrown into the fence and yet almost climbing free. Guerrero races after him, producing a brawl as they sit on top of the cage.

Guerrero holds onto Mysterio as he looks to drop to the floor, which is always a cool visual in these scenarios. They eventually veer back inside, standing on the top rope and trading blows, with Mysterio ultimately sacrificing himself for a dropkick. That leaves both men floored, launching a double down. They brawl upright from there, with Guerrero landing a DDT and heading for the door. Mysterio cuts him off, yanking Eddie back in by his tights.

That does the trick, with an inverted bulldog then producing another double down as they go to a second ad break. We return to a Rey climb, being caught by Guerrero who begins to think powerbomb. Instead, Mysterio counters with a ‘rana, leaving both men floored once more. Rey is up first, climbing again but opting for a horrifying crossbody that Guerrero avoids. My goodness, what a bump. That allows Guerrero to walk through the door, having the match won only to return.

After all, he senses a chance to score that elusive pinfall over Mysterio, landing his frog splash to do so. Superb finish, with the heel finishing his story, so to speak. It’s the kind of idea that could quite easily suck in other hands, but is absolutely perfect for Guerrero, sporting that sinister scowl throughout. It’s assisted by their focus on the escape stipulation too, allowing the pinfall to pack an extra punch. That dynamic very much shapes the match, so your mileage may vary.

I’m somewhere in the middle on WWE cage matches, with this one trending positively due to their frequent flashes of creativity. Granted, I’d have preferred a bloody, hateful alternative, but this is great TV nonetheless. It is also their final television bout, only sharing two more singles bouts, working a weekend of Street Fights in Texas. Finally, they met in a trios main event on SmackDown but in terms of one-on-one meetings that aired, this was it.

Eddie was gone just a couple months later, entering a programme with Batista before passing away on November 13^th. Even as he wore the prior twenty years of wrestling, Guerrero produced some of his finest work in 2005, remaining superb until his tragic demise. Somehow, Mysterio is still one of WWE’s strongest performers, always just a match graphic away from earning my viewership for SmackDown. Even still, their names are forever attached in history, genuine wrestling soulmates.