![]() ![]() Embracing the opportunity to steal the show with an equally motivated young star, Guerrero pulled everything out of his arsenal, including a sunset flip powerbomb. For Guerrero, it was the September 26, 2002, No Disqualification Match against Edge on SmackDown.Ī physical, hard-hitting bout, it was a coming-out part for Guerrero, who had returned to the company earlier in the year. ![]() There are certain instances in a wrestler's career that one can point to as the match or moment that they began their journey to the top of the card. That he was able to make Cena look even better than he was entering the match only helped elevate Guerrero's stock at a time when fans, insiders and company officials were debating his value as a potential top star. In hindsight, Guerrero had better, more traditional matches over the course of his run with the company, but the Parking Lot Brawl was evidence that he could deliver under any circumstance, an absolute must for any main event performer in McMahonland. With stakes high for both men, they delivered a physical battle that saw Guerrero silence the Doctor of Thuganomics with a frog splash off the top of a minivan on to the hood of a car. For Guerrero, it represented another opportunity to show that he could perform at the highest level of competition as he built momentum for a potential main event run. For the challenger, it was the latest opportunity to prove himself against an established star. The Parking Lot Brawl against John Cena for Guerrero's United States Championship carried considerable implications for both men. Speaking of elevating fresh faces to his level. That never would have happened had Guerrero not embraced the challenge of creating a brand-new main event star out of Layfield and succeeded in doing just that. By the time Great American Bash rolled around, there was no questioning that Layfield was ready for a run at the top of the promotion. The dynamic of the rivalry, Layfield's desire to succeed and Guerrero's determination to present his dance partner as a top star made for storyline magic. In between, he portrayed the proud Mexican-American fighting against the bigoted, loudmouthed New York City transplant. ![]() Then he bled buckets in an intensely personal championship defense at Judgment Day 2004. And he did.įirst, he offered up his mother for a red-hot angle in El Paso, Texas, in which JBL caused her to have a heart attack. Guerrero respected the big Texan and set out to prove he could elevate his star and create a viable main event attraction out of him. That man? Longtime undercard and tag team performer John "Bradshaw" Layfield. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, almost to his detriment, the decision was made to transition the title off him and on to a new main event competitor. McMahon's traveling combat circus was in the process of building new stars and presenting new feuds fans could invest in after the departures of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. As WWE champion, Guerrero faced incredible pressure to carry the company at a time when it was in transition. ![]()
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