On Thursday September 20, the TNA Impact Wrestling World Tour will stop in Salem, VA, and a member of one of the sport’s most prominent professional families in history will be there. I had the opportunity to speak with Chavo Guerrrero Jr. and learn a bit about this man who has been working in the field since he was a toddler.
The Guerrero family has racked up more championship titles and accolades than any other family in wrestling. Chavo Jr. is the grandson of Gory Guerrero; one of the most famous wrestlers in Mexican history, and so many of the Guerreros are in the business of wrestling it’s hard to name them all. His father Chavo Guerrero, Sr. enjoyed a successful career both as a wrestler and manager with the WWE, and he is the nephew of the late, great Eddie Guerrero. Although Eddie was his uncle, they are only 3 years apart in age, and Chavo and Eddie grew up together, often playing in a wrestling ring built in the back yard. As young children, Chavo Jr. and Eddie performed at intermission in the matches of Chavo Sr. until the management realized the boy’s popularity was having an adverse effect on refreshment sales!
Having competed worldwide for various major promotions, Chavo has won countless individual and tag team championships, including many with Eddie. Guerrero joined TNA Impact this past summer after being drawn to the opportunity to work with TNA’s great lineup of talent. Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode and others working with TNA present new challenges for Chavo, who has not yet met them in the ring.
Chavo is married with two children, and admits this career is better suited to a young single person due to the travel involved. For years he was on the road 280 days a year, during which time he reminded himself that travel is short term. When I asked what he misses most when traveling, without hesitation he said his wife’s cooking.
This active California family enjoys being outdoors. They enjoy riding bicycles and dirt bikes, wakeboarding, and camping. Both children are involved in a variety of sports, and you might find this family tossing a football in the yard, or playing with the family dog, a terrier mix that was rescued from the pound. The Guerreros are big dog lovers, and also have a variety of other pets including turtles, fish, and hamsters.
In addition to the strenuous training you might expect a wrestler to participate in; Chavo takes yoga and stretches regularly to keep limber. “As you get older, you get smarter about taking care of your body” he explained. In addition to his family and wrestling career, Chavo found time to launch a company called Viva La Raza Shop last year. Viva La Raza is aimed to promote clothing with positive Latino messages for all people. He also supports several charities, and the Make A Wish Foundation and the Human Society are two of his favorite organizations.
When I asked if his children may be the 4th generation of professional wrestlers in his family he laughed and said he would support them, but not until after they complete college. Chavo Guerrero Jr. will be featured at the Impact Wrestling World Tour in Salem on September 20, and you can catch him on October 14 with Bound for Glory via pay per view. Follow him on twitter at @mexwarrior.
