As someone who stopped watching wrestling years ago (more specifically: someone dating someone who stopped watching wrestling years ago), how the heck did Eddie Guerrero move from being a mid-carder to being a WWE Champion? Are there conspiracy theories about Mamacita holding him back?

I had to do a little research to figure out how to answer the question. I haven't actually watched any weekly wrestling in a long time now.

Eddie's popularity built for a while when he switched over to babyface somehow. He was part of a tag team with Tajiri for a while before Tajiri turned on him, then he wrestled with his nephew Chavo until Chavo turned on him (I don't know if the WCW Eddie/Chavo/Pepe story is part of continuity here or not).

Eddie won the title from Brock Lesnar at a recent PPV after some helpful interference from Goldberg (which was the reason for the dullest match of the night according to everyone including Wil Wheaton). He's been feuding with Angle lately (I think they were a tag team for a while too) building up to WrestleMania. I don't think Eddie's character has really changed much at all from the old days (he cheated to win the title and to retain the title) but the fans are really getting behind him these days.

More WrestleMania background