CHAVO GUERRERO Sr.

　　MAGAZINE　ARTICLES　4　　

Chavo Guerrero : Rising Star Of The NWA

( from Nov. 1977 issue of "Popular Wrestling" magazine )

Holder of the prized Americas belt,　the symbol of wrestling superiority in the

Southern California area,　Chavo Guerrero is one of the most dynamic young stars

on the professional wrestling scene.

　The future of wrestling depends upon the development of top young talent.　This is the backbone of the

　sport, and without it, professional wrestling cannot continue to grow and prosper.　One of the newer and

　most promising young stars is the sensational Mexican by way of El Paso, Texas,　Chavo Guerrero.

　Guerrero has only been wrestling professionally for a little more than two years,　but this high-flying

　Mexican has already made his mark in the professional ranks.

　Chavo is the oldest son of former Junior Heavyweight champion Gory Guerrero, and, like many sons whose

　fathers were professional wrestlers,　Chavo decided early in life that he himself wanted to enter the ranks

　of professional wrestling.　While growing up,　Chavo learned his trade by watching his father and by being

　around the sport continuously.　The early schooling paid off for the young Guerrero, when he was awarded

　a full scholarship to the University of Texas in El Paso, for his wrestling expertise.　While in college,　Chavo

　became an increasingly proficient wrestler.　Upon graduation,　Guerrero decided to go into teaching, and he

　stayed on as coach at his alma mater.　Needless to say, under Guerrero's guidance, his team won the state

　championship for three consecutive years.

　After three years of college coaching,　Guerrero was fortunate enough to get a paid working vacation to

　Japan.　While in Japan, he wrestled professionally for the first time, and the young Mexican did very well -

　so well, in fact, that, when Guerrero's tour ended, Los Angeles promoter Mike LaBell made Chavo an offer

　to wrestle in Los Angeles.　"I can remember that day very well, " Guerrero says.　"At first,　I turned down

　Mike LaBell , stating that I had too much security back in El Paso and knowing, too, that I had a team

　returning that had won the state championship the year before.　But, after giving the offer a little more

　thought,　I decided to give it a try, and I couldn't be happier with my decision."

　From that day on, the sport was blessed with the beginning of a tremendous career that has carried

　Chavo Guerrero to the top.　Four times the young Guerrero has held the prized Americas belt which is

　symbolic of wrestling superiority in the Southern California area,　and it doesn't look like Chavo is going to

　relinquish that top spot too soon.

　"I really love it in Los Angeles," stated Guerrero, on a recent trip to New York.　"There they have quite

　a few topnotch wrestlers, and I have really developed myself by facing the likes of these men.　Also, L.A. is

　a very good base for me.　From there I can easily travel down the coast and, when my schedule permits,

　I frequently travel to other cities, such as San Antonio, Albuquerque, El Paso and New York.　Also being

　based in L.A., it makes it easy for me to make an occasional trip to Japan.　Actually, someday I would like

　to wrestle in some of the other big cities that I have yet to appear in, but I'm not really rushing things yet.

　I feel I have covered quite a bit of ground in my two years as a professional, and hopefully in the future

　I will continue to grow and learn in this sport."

　Since Guerrero's arrval in Los Angeles, his most persistent challenger has been the man from Scotland,

　Roddy Piper.　Guerrero and Piper have battled numerous times, and in every conceivable type of match,

　with the winner more often than not being the fantastic Guerrero.　"I have to give Roddy Piper credit,"

　Guerrero stated.　"He continually comes up with new tricks to use in that ring and, being young, he's

　continually learning new things.　Because of this,　I never really know what to expect of him when I face

　him in the ring.　But, luckily,　I've been very successful against him, and I hope that I can continue to keep

　one step ahead of him in the learning process, so that I can continue to come out on top."

　Besides Piper,　Guerrero has successfully defeated Crusher Verdue, the Hangman and Ken Mantell to

　regain the Americas belt, and, of these top three men,　Guerrero has had his toughest time against Mantel.

　"That man is really good," Guerrero stated.　"He has a very sound fundamental knowledge of the sport

　and you never know what to expect when you face him.　Mantel and I had several strong battles and in one

　of them I actually cut off his hair.　After this, the man started to wear a wig in the ring and he would protect

　his wig by wearing head gear.　Actually, head gear is a perfectly legal piece of equipment,　but not the way

　Mantel used it.　He would put a piece of metal into it and then use it on his opponent.　But, one night I really

　got even with him,　I managed to pry his head gear off, pull off his wig and toss both into the crowd."

　Every professional wrestler dreams of wearing the World's title belt around his waist, and the young Guerrero

　came very close to fulfilling this dream when Terry Funk held the title.　Funk and Guerrero battled each other

　on five separate occasions, and the outcomes in these meetings have been : two wins for Guerrero, two draws

　and one loss by disqualification.　Quite a feat, but not enough to help the good looking Mexican capture the

　world's title.　"The first time I faces Funk was two weeks before he won the title," Guerrero recalled.

　"In that match I soundly defeated him in the Olympic Auditorium.　Man, was I surprised when I learned that

　he he later went on to win the World's title !　Several weeks after he captured the belt,　I faced him in L.A.

　for the title and my father even came to L.A. to help train me for the match.　In that match, we wrestled to

　an hour draw, and I have to admit that I really had him on the run the whole match.　Many times the champ

　ran out of the ring, just when I had my momentum going and this killed precious time that I needed to defeat

　him.　Afterwards, however, we met in a cage match, and this time there was nowhere for him to run and

　I defeated him.　But the rules in the NWA explicitly state that the title cannot change hands in a cage match,　

　and, because of this,　I lost my opportunity to win the belt.　Another time I even went to Amarillo to face him,

　but in that match he and his brother both attacked me on the outside, and surprisingly "I" was disqualified !

　In our last meeting, I wrestled the man to another one-hour draw, and I must admit that I am sorry that he

　lost the belt, because I know I could beat him.　I came extreamly close to winning that belt from him, but now

　I am just going to keep on trying as hard as I have in the past to win the title from Harley Race.　Right now

　I don't know too much about the man , but you can bet that I'm going to learn everything I can about him.

　I will win the title."

　Chavo Guerrero definitely has a bright future ahead.　With his background in the sport, combined with the

　knowledge that he is gaining daily by meeting the best in his profession , it's safe to say that the sensational

　Mexican will be on top in the wrestling world in a very short time !