Mexican wrestler charged with manslaughter after move allegedly kills referee

A professional wrestler in Mexico has been arrested after a referee died during his match. 

Wrestler El Hijo de Fishman allegedly performed a piledriver, in which a performer turns their opponent upside down and drops them head-first onto the canvas, on 75-year-old referee Gerardo German Pineda during a bout on October 6 for the El Patron Espectaculos Lucha Libre promotion. 

The NY Post reported Pineda, also known as El Buho, stayed down after the alleged incident and was later pronounced dead. 

Video of Fishman’s match against opponent Mascara Sagrada in the Mexican city of Mineral de la Reforma has since circulated online, with the 36-year-old seen confronting the referee as part of the show. 

Authorities arrested the wrestler on October 7 and charged him with manslaughter, with the incident being investigated. 

El Patron Espectaculos Lucha Libre released a statement in Spanish which confirmed Pineda had “lost his life”. 

Professional wrestler El Hijo de Fishman has been charged with manslaughter after a referee died from an alleged in-ring move gone wrong. 

“The legal process is still ongoing, therefore, out of respect for the authorities and due process, this company will refrain from issuing additional information that could interfere with or prejudice the facts,” the statement read. 

“We ask the fans, media and members of the guild to act with prudence, discretion and respect, and avoid the spread of rumours or unconfirmed information, so as not to hinder the investigations and out of respect for all parties involved and their families. 

“We deeply regret the loss of a life and express our solidarity with his family, friends and colleagues in the wrestling business.” 

The promotion also said it would provide legal help to Hijo de Fishman and had contacted Pineda’s family and legal representatives. 

Several high-profile wrestlers, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, have suffered injuries because of piledrivers and the move was banned in WWE for many years. 

Earlier this year, American wrestling referee Dallas Edwards suffered an in-ring seizure after he collided with a wrestler who jumped off the top rope. 

Edwards lay motionless on the mat and was checked on by one of the performers, but other performers soon entered the ring and the match continued. 

He then began to convulse in the ring and was moved out of the way by performers before the match came to an abrupt end. 

Edwards later confirmed he had a concussion and a brain bleed, but has since returned to refereeing wrestling matches.