One of the most infamous matches in WWE history is still etched in JBL’s memory—his brutal Judgment Day 2004 clash with Eddie Guerrero. Speaking with Monopoly Events’ Jamal Niaz at the For The Love of Wrestling 2025 convention, the former WWE Champion revisited the unforgettable bout and its shocking level of violence.
“I knew there was a lot of blood, but watching it back—it was just puddles of blood. It was unbelievable how much Eddie lost that night,” JBL recalled.
The match, which saw Guerrero bleed profusely after an errant chair shot, remains one of the most graphic displays of bloodshed in WWE history. Despite fan speculation over the years, JBL clarified that Guerrero never went into shock but did require medical attention.
“People have said all kinds of things—that he went into shock and all that. He did not. He lost a lot of blood, he did go to the hospital, but it was unbelievable to witness,” JBL explained.
JBL also credited Guerrero as the key reason his main-event run took off, saying the late WWE Hall of Famer made him a legitimate star.
“If it hadn’t been Eddie Guerrero, it would’ve been a one-off. You wouldn’t be interviewing me now,” JBL admitted.
JBL and Eddie Guerrero’s Classic Rivalry
The rivalry between JBL and Eddie Guerrero in 2004 stands as one of WWE’s most intense and personal feuds of the Ruthless Aggression era. Following JBL’s transformation from his role in the APA tag team, he targeted WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero in a storyline that pushed boundaries.
The feud became notably controversial, particularly during segments involving Guerrero’s family and a staged storyline where his mother suffered a kayfabe heart attack.
The rivalry reached its peak at Judgment Day 2004, where their match became infamous for its brutality, particularly after Guerrero sustained a severe cut that led to significant blood loss during the bout.
Despite their heated on-screen rivalry, JBL and Guerrero maintained a close friendship behind the scenes, with Guerrero even serving as a groomsman at JBL’s wedding.
Tragically, Guerrero passed away on November 13, 2005, at the age of 38. His legacy endures as one of professional wrestling’s greatest performers, with contemporaries like Kurt Angle considering him the second-greatest wrestler of all time, behind only Shawn Michaels.