"Thought It Was Staged"... Mexican Pro Wrestling Referee Dies After Wrestler Uses Banned Move on Him

Former professional wrestler and 75-year-old referee dies
Wrestler uses a "piledriver" move

A referee in his 70s died after collapsing in the ring during a Mexican professional wrestling match after a wrestler performed a dangerous move on him.

Jose Angel Najera (standing) during a match. Screenshot from Instagram account "hijodefishman."

According to a report by the U.S. entertainment magazine People, citing local media, the incident occurred on October 6 during a professional wrestling match in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, Mexico.

During the match, wrestler Jose Angel Najera, whose ring name is "Son of Fishman," performed a "piledriver" (martinete) on referee Gerardo German Pineda, 75. The dangerous move involves lifting an opponent and driving their head into the mat. It is known to risk injuring an opponent's head and neck and is banned by professional wrestling commissions in many parts of the world.

Video released after the incident shows Pineda approaching and shoving a wrestler during the match, possibly as part of the staged action. Najera then lifted Pineda and drove him into the ring mat. Pineda did not move after hitting the mat, and the match was soon stopped. Medical personnel rushed to the ring, but Pineda was pronounced dead.

Pineda was a former professional wrestler known in the wrestling world by the ring name "El Buho," meaning "the Owl." He wrestled for about 15 years before becoming a referee, bringing his total career in wrestling to about 30 years. Some local reports said his death was not caused by the piledriver. TV Azteca reported that its analysis of footage from the match, released on October 8, found no scene in which the referee was subjected to a typical piledriver. The exact cause of Pineda's death is expected to be determined through an autopsy and investigation.

Najera was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide but was soon released. Local media reported that he was released after reaching a settlement with Pineda's family. The specific terms of the settlement and the compensation amount were not disclosed.

The organizers said in a statement, "We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and Pineda's colleagues in the wrestling community," adding, "We are arranging legal assistance for Najera and are in contact with Pineda's family."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.