World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his Minneapolis hotel room this morning, according to the WWE.

Guerrero, who was born in 1967, was at the Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis and in town for Sunday night's "WWE Supershow" at Target Center.

Authorities have not released details about the nature of his death.

Guerrero became WWE champion in February 2004, when he defeated Brock Lesnar, a former University of Minnesota wrestling standout. Guerrero lost the title four months later.

Guerrero was featured on the UPN series "WWE Smackdown!" and was the son of Mexican wrestler Gory Guerrero, according to WCCO. He is survived by his wife Vickie and daughters Shaul, 14, Sherilyn, 9, and Kaylie Marie, 3.

In May 2004, UPN aired the special "Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story." The one-hour program chronicled his childhood and his struggle with drug addiction that almost cost him his job, family and life before his recovery and eventual capture of the WWE championship.

Guerrero was born into Mexico's first family of professional wrestling, and his father, Gory Guerrero, and grew up in El Paso, Texas. Eddie and his three older brothers were all wrestlers.

His drug escapades as an adult included while on liquid ecstasy flipping his car going 130 miles per hour. Doctors told the family that it was unlikely he would survive. From there, he went numerous binges abusing cocaine, alcohol and pain killers. He was fired by the WWE, his wife filed for divorce, and the IRS seized his wages.

After recovery, he remarried his wife, reclaimed his job and became the second wrestler of Hispanic heritage to be WWE champion.

While a cause of death for Guerrero wasn't immediately known, the pro wrestling profession has seen numerous premature deaths in recent years, some tied directly to steroid use.

In a March 2004 report, USA Today said that since 1997, at least 65 wrestlers died in that time, 25 from heart attacks or other coronary problems. Many had enlarged hearts. In five of the 25 deaths, medical examiners found that steroids might have played a role. Excessive steroid use can lead to an enlarged heart. In 12 others, coroners cited evidence of use of painkillers, cocaine and other drugs.

Steroids played a role in the deaths of several pro wrestlers since 1997, USA Today reported, citing medical examiners, family members and the wrestlers themselves. Among them:

Curt Hennig, 44, died of acute cocaine intoxication in 2003. His father said a lethal combination of steroids and painkillers contributed to his death.

(The British Bulldog) Davey Boy Smith, 39,died in 2002 of an enlarged heart with evidence of microscopic scar tissue, possibly from steroid abuse, a coroner said.

Louie (Spicolli) Mucciolo, 27, died from coronary disease in 1998. Investigators found an empty vial of the male hormone testosterone, pain pills and an anxiety-reducing drug.

Richard (Ravishing Rick Rude) Rood, 40, died from an overdose of "mixed medications" in 1999.

(Flyin') Brian Pillman, 35, was taking painkillers and human-growth hormone when he died from heart disease in 1997, his widow said.

Staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this report.

Chao Xiong is at

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