Chavo Guerrero Slams Tribalism Among Wrestling Fans: ‘Wrestling’s Wrestling

Chavo Guerrero, a former WWE wrestler and current AAA producer, criticized the tribalism among professional wrestling fans during a June 14, 2026, interview with Gabby AF. Guerrero argued that fans often dismiss performers based on their promotion rather than their skill, stating that a damn good match is valuable regardless of whether it occurs in WWE, AEW, TNA, AAA, or on the independent circuit.

The conversation began while Guerrero discussed a hypothetical crossover scenario featuring a match between the WWE Champion and the AEW Champion. He noted that such an event is often hindered by a fan culture where supporters of one promotion actively hate another.

Why does Chavo Guerrero oppose wrestling tribalism?

Guerrero stated he does not understand why fans criticize athletes simply because they do not like the brand the athlete represents. He acknowledged that while it is normal for fans to prefer one organization over another, he believes the quality of the performance should be the primary metric for praise.

I don’t understand that, why people do that. I get that you have people like WWE more, AEW more, whatever. But wrestling’s wrestling. I don’t like when the fans criticize somebody else just because they don’t like the brand. If it’s a damn good match, I don’t care if it was on TNA, in New Japan [Pro Wrestling], AAA, I don’t care if it’s an indie show. If it’s a good match, it’s a damn good match.

Chavo Guerrero via Gabby AF

This perspective positions Guerrero against the common social media trend where fans use brand loyalty as a proxy for quality. He suggested that this mentality prevents fans from appreciating talent who remain exclusive to one company.

How do John Cena and Rey Mysterio differ in fan perception?

To illustrate the impact of brand exclusivity, Guerrero compared the career paths and fan receptions of John Cena and Rey Mysterio. He observed that some fans of non-WWE organizations dislike Cena specifically because he spent his career as a WWE guy and never competed in AEW or TNA.

In contrast, Guerrero attributed the widespread appeal of Rey Mysterio to his history of wrestling in various promotions. According to Guerrero, Mysterio’s willingness to work in different environments helped him build a more diverse and inclusive fandom.

There’s people like John Cena who was only a WWE guy. If people who like other organizations, they don’t like John Cena. I’m like, ‘Why?’ Because he never wrestled in AEW or TNA or whatever. If he puts on a good match, he puts on a good match. There’s a reason why people really love Rey Mysterio is because he’s kind of wrestled everywhere. He’s gone other places. He came from different places. So he’s got his fandom, people love him.

Chavo Guerrero via Gabby AF

What did Guerrero say about AEW’s MJF?

Guerrero applied this same logic to current AEW performer MJF. He urged WWE fans to avoid hating MJF simply because he is primarily associated with the AEW brand, describing the wrestler as great.

By citing MJF, Guerrero highlighted a current tension in the industry where top stars in competing promotions are often polarized by the audience. He maintained that talent should be recognized on an individual basis regardless of the corporate logo on the ring apron.

But guys like MJF, MJF is really an AEW guy. So don’t hate on him when you’re a WWE person. He’s pretty damn good. He’s great.

Chavo Guerrero via Gabby AF