Beloved WWE Hall of Famer Referenced in Leonardo DiCaprio’s New Film ‘One Battle After Another’

Wrestling fans and the film industry have been closely linked over the past couple of years. Currently, The Rock is working hard to add an Oscar to his championship haul. His lead performance in the A24 production, The Smashing Machine, is getting rave reviews. A24 also delivered the incredible Von Erich family biopic, The Iron Claw, in 2023.

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns are also mid-production with leading cast roles in the new Street Fighter movie. But a few eagle-eyed fans have spotted a blink-and-you ‘ll-miss-it reference to one of WWE’s most popular wrestlers in Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest film, One Battle After Another.

The film, which also stars fellow Oscar winners Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn, has just been released worldwide to critical acclaim. Directed by celebrated director Paul Thomas Anderson, it should provide direct competition to The Rock and his Smashing Machine cohort during awards season. And while Anderson’s sprawling epic has been the talk of the film industry this week, there’s one fleeting moment in the movie that has earned the respect of the wrestling community.

Just over halfway into the film, Sensei (del Toro) is seen speaking to a character wearing a familiar-looking piece of WWE merchandise – especially if you grew up during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras. The minor character is sporting the iconic Eddie Guerrero Scarface t-shirt that came out in 2004. And for any fans questioning their vision, del Toro’s character even refers to the minor character as ‘Latino Heat’ to double down on the reference.

The shirt’s release capitalized on Guerrero’s peak WWE era, which saw him win his sole WWE Championship the same year. Well known for his cheating and rule-breaking to win matches, even as a face, Guerrero built an incredible following with his comically sly, but resourceful, in-ring antics. Sadly, Guerrero was gone far too soon, passing away in 2005.

The reference to Eddie coincides with the revival of his ‘Lie, Cheat, and Steal’ gimmick through ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio. The Intercontinental Champion, who is the son of Guerrero’s close friend Rey Mysterio, has been using the dark arts to pick up crucial victories in recent matches. Dirty Dom successfully defended his title on WWE Raw this past Monday, using a Guerrero-esque Low Blow. With the referee distracted, the illegal maneuver incapacitated Rusev, allowing Mysterio to roll him up for the win. Eddie would’ve been very proud.

Paul Walter Hauser Praises Guerrero Reference in One Battle After Another Review

And it’s not just fans spotting the Eddie Guerrero reference either. Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film blew away actor and professional wrestler Paul Walter Hauser. But the icing on the cake was that Latino Heat reference. The Golden Globe winner, best known for his roles in Black Bird, I, Tonya, and The Naked Gun, praised the film in a review on his Letterboxd profile, noting the Guerrero easter egg.

“Paul Thomas Anderson, man. Such a bold mfer. I anticipate his films at a pretty high level. Him, Tarantino, there are only a few where it feels like such a big deal when their new film comes out. So fun,” wrote Hauser. “And major points for the Eddie Guerrero t-shirt. That may be the causation for me to bring it from a 4/5 to a 4.5.”