A professional wrestler was arrested in Mexico after executing a move that allegedly killed a referee.
German Pineda, 75, died after being dropped to the mat on his head by grappler Hijo de Fishman, according to USA Today.
Wrestling organization El Patron Espectaculos Lucha Libre released a statement confirming the official “unfortunately lost his life” during the incident that’s under investigation.
The luchador is said to have applied a double underhook piledriver on the referee. That move put the victim’s head between the knees of Hijo de Fishman, who then dropped into a seated position causing Pineda to crash to the ground head first.
Pineda reportedly laid motionless after the violent maneuver was executed. Medical staff rushed into the ring. The septuagenarian referee was later pronounced dead.
Hijo de Fishman, 36, was arrested Wednesday and charged with manslaughter.
USA Today described the incident as “part of the events” that included a match between Fishman and wrestler Mascara Sagrada.
Lucha Blog, which covers wrestling in Mexico, reported that Pineda laid still unattended “for minutes” after being slammed. Fans appeared to believe that his injury was part of the act.
Hijo de Fishman is the son of former Lucha Libre champion José Ángel Nájera Sánchez — known professionally as Fishman —who started wrestling in the 1980s and remained largely active before his death in 2017.
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