CHAVO GUERRERO Sr.

　　MAGAZINE　ARTICLES　17　　

CHAVO

Regains The Americas Belt

( from April 1977 issue of "Wrestling Training" magazine )

　The Alamo City was the scene recently of a major title showdown pitting the reigning.　Americas champion

　Roddy Piper against his number one challenger, Chavo Guerrero.　Piper and Guerrero have been going at it

　hot and heavy all over the California coast and in each encounter neither man has really scored a clean-cut

　victory over the other.　In this time period the Americas title has passed back and forth so many times it was

　getting next to impossible to keep up with the current titleholder.　This mixup was cleared up for the time

　being when Roddy Piper and Chavo Guerrero clashed head on in the San Antonio Coliseum.

　San Antonio was chosen as the site for this sensational battle when neither Guerrero nor Piper could agree

　on an acceptable California site.　When San Antonio was suggested, both Guerrero and Piper readily agreed,

　having their own personal reasons for this choice.　" I grew up in Texas and I have many faithful fans right

　here in this city," Chavo stated on the night of the battle.　" I don't think Piper knew this when he agreed to

　wrestle here.　In San Antonio there is a very large Mexican population and I will be in there battling for them.

　Besides this, the TV tape from the Olympic comes into this area and all my friends know how bad I want to

　get back at Piper.　He's been a thorn in my side and it's about time that I finish him off for good.　My father,

　the great Gory Guerrero. was the top man in this area and I myself am hoping to come here very soon and

　pick up where he left off."　

　Besides Guerrero, Roddy Piper also had his own reasons for wanting to come to San Antonio.　It seems that

　Piper wrestled in Texas when he first broke into the sport and his first match in the Lone Star State took

　place right in the San Antonio Coliseum.　"Boy, do I remember that match ! "　Roddy chuckled.　"In my first

　match here I wrestled Mad Dog Vachon.　Just think, Mad Dog Vachon going against a 17 year-old.　He beat

　the living daylights out of me, but that was before I learned the ropes.　Now that I'm on top I wanted to come

　back here to show the people how much I have progressed.　It's really something to be introduced as the

　Americas Champion.　When the match is over I know that I will walk back to the dressing room still holding

　this Americas belt."

　Finally the time had arrived for the championship match.　Chavo Guerrero was first in the ring, and the

　ovation that the good-looking Mexican received from the crowd was deafening.　Shortly afterwards, in the

　distance one could hear the faint sounds of bagpipes.　In the corner of the arena one could see Roddy Piper

　making his way to the ring, blowing his bagpipes.　Once in the ring, Roddy, decked out in his kilts and plaid hat,

　motioned for the crowd to be quiet so that they could better hear the sound of his instrument.　This infuriated

　the pro-Guerrero crowd even further as they continued to rant, rave and boo the Scotsman.

　Finally, in disgust, Roddy Piper put away his bagpipes, took off his kilts, and was ready for action.　The second

　the bell rang, Chavo Guerrero took control.　With a series of arm drags he flipped Piper from one end of the

　ring to the other.　As quick as a cat Chavo jumped on Piper and began to apply pressure to Piper's legs.　

　Guerrero was all over Piper switching from leg locks to arm locks to a scissor hold.　It was clearly evident that

　Piper didn't know what hit him.　Guerrero was in complete control and at the six-minute mark Chavo rolled

　the Scotsman into a small package and applied the pin.

　The partisan crowd went wild as Chavo's hand was raised in victory.　In the second fall Piper came out swing-

　ing.　A vicious forearm smash by the Scotsman stunned Guerrero.　Piper then picked up the popular Mexican

　and deposited him out of the ring.　Roddy strutted around as Chavo lay helpless on the floor.　Piper then went

　after Guerrero and the two combatants began to swing it out on the floor.　Moving back into the ring, Piper

　caught Guerrero by surprise and executed a beautiful pin, capturing the second fall.

　With all the falls all even, and the Americas title hanging in the balance, both men went all out for the victory.

　Chavo took the opening advantage, executing a succession of quick takedowns and leg locks.　Chavo applied

　pressure as Piper yelled in pain.　Making his way to the ropes, Piper forced a break, and in doing so the Scots-

　man kicked Guerrero out of the ring.　Both men then went at it hot and heavy.　Piper was definitely getting

　the better of the popular Mexican as he moved back into the ring mocking the fallen Guerero.　Chavo tried to

　get back into the ring three times, but each time Piper kicked him back to the floor.　Finally Chavo tried once

　again, but this time Guerrero jumped completely over him and executed a beautiful reverse back flip.

　The referee counted, and on the count of three Chavo had finally succeeded in regaining that prized Americas

　Heavyweight title.

　Finally after several long weeks and many thousands of miles Chavo Guerrero had gained a small measure of

　revenge against the Scotsman, Roddy Piper, in the Alamo City - San Antonio, Texas.　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　( Story and Photos by George Napolitano )