Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 65: Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Eddie Guerrero (Nitro 9/8/97)

No need for introductions in this match. Both guys rule. Both guys were in a groove by this point with some three hour Nitros giving them time to perform, if not frustrate them with a lack of upward mobility.

You can definitely seem some *ahem* body changes in both men. Eddie more than Rey. Big “Eddie sucks “chant to start, so we know who is over as the heel here. Eddie plays that perfectly thrice in the first minute alone. Great Lucha to start, then Eddie takes over with a hold to sit through a commercial break (which sucks as the first minute-thirty was awesome. The announcers are far more concerned with the NOW and the Four Horseman during this match, but the crowd is heavy into this one. Rey plays the face in peril better with Eddie maybe even more than he does with anyone, including Psicosis (which is saying something). Eddie’s control segments rock as he knew how to work heel perfectly interacting with the crowd at the right moments. Too much to comment on in-ring wise.
Rey hits a high spot to the outside, but favors the knee. Eddie catches him a minute later cuts him off huge. A big power bomb gets a two. Great near falls and crushing back-specific work. Not everything landed in this but nothing looked horrible and Lucha-wise it made sense. Rey wins off his springboard ‘rana in about 7 minutes. 3 ½ and 6.8/10.