Viva Los Gringos Locos

I’m in the process of cleaning out my late mother’s house. It’s a very sentimental journey. A lot of stories come to mind.

Among them:

Before I did color commentary on Nitro, WCW did internet audio broadcasts of sold-out house shows during the nWo boom period. I worked those, usually with Gene Okerlund, Chad “Deli Boy” Damiani or the late Lee Marshall.

Before one such show, in San Diego, I was sitting with Eddie Guerrero. He asked me if I saw “When Worlds Collide,” a 1994 PPV from LA. Of course I had. It was great. It featured talent from Mexico’s AAA promotion, and one of the main events was Los Gringos Locos – Eddie and Art Barr – against Santo and Octagon. Double hair vs. double mask. The crazy Americans vs. two Lucha Libre icons.

Eddie and Art had nuclear heat in AAA. They had nuclear heat times 10 in that match. El Hijo del Santo losing his mask was unthinkable. But that match was so good – five stars, easy – that you really believed it could happen.

It didn’t. Eddie and Art lost. In a show of solidarity that reflected their real-life friendship, they cut each other’s hair.

Art passed away a few weeks later. We lost Eddie in 2005.

When Eddie and I spoke in San Diego, he really opened up about that match as a turning point in his career. Eddie talked about how he always wrestled for Art, that he would always have Art in his heart. Eddie was very emotional. Very loyal.

I was at ringside later that night. Eddie came to the ring wearing a Gringos Locos T-shirt. He pounded his chest – his heart – and threw me the shirt.

On Saturday, at my mother’s, I found that shirt. Cut sleeves. Game-worn.

The memories came flooding back. So did some tears.

A few days before, I found a Brian Pillman Rogue Horseman T-shirt. More tears.

I miss Eddie. I miss Brian.

Go to YouTube NOW. Watch Eddie and Art vs. Santo and Octagon. It’s AMAZING. There’s nothing like that in today’s wrestling. Or even close.

If you ever get mad because I’m so hard on wrestling’s current state, remember: Eddie told me to always tell the truth. Arn Anderson always said that, too.

Viva la raza. Viva Los Gringos Locos.

Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX