Wrestling referee dies in Mexico after luchador's martinete move, wrestler arrested
Gerardo German Pineda, 75, known as 'El Búho', was declared dead at a lucha libre venue in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, and prosecutors are investigating wrestler El Hijo de Fishman, who was detained.
The bout
On the night of 6 to 7 October, during the main event of a lucha libre card at the Deportivo 11 de Julio in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, referee Gerardo German Pineda, 75, was struck by the martinete move. The main bout pitted El Hijo de Fishman against Máscara Sagrada NG, and Pineda was officiating the count. A video circulating on social media shows Pineda pushing the wrestler, after which Fishman lifted him upside down and threw him onto his back on the mat. Pineda grimaced in pain, tried unsuccessfully to get up and lay motionless for several minutes before medical staff entered the ring.
The martinete, in which an opponent is held head down and dropped onto the canvas, is banned in Mexico according to 20 Minuten. EL PAÍS reports that the move is also prohibited by several wrestling commissions worldwide because it can cause serious cervical injuries. The move is described by outlets as a high-risk maneuver that can damage the neck and spine.
Death and cause under review
The wrestlers Hijo de Fishman and Mascara Sagrada NG stopped the bout and called paramedics, and the referee was declared dead on site. Forensic staff arrived at the venue around 6 a.m. on 7 October to secure the body and begin their work. No official cause of death has been established so far. The autopsy is meant to show whether injuries sustained during the fight caused the death. Pineda had been a well-known figure in the Hidalgo wrestling scene, described as respected and loved by fans.
Arrest and investigation
Police detained El Hijo de Fishman and handed him over to prosecutors on suspicion of negligent homicide (homicidio culposo), according to EL PAÍS and 20 Minuten. Prosecutors plan to review footage from the event, question witnesses and establish the exact sequence of events. The Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Hidalgo will handle the investigation, according to La Jornada Hidalgo. Local media report that the sports complex was partly closed after the incident because it did not have a permit for the event. The promoter El Patron Espectaculos said it would provide legal assistance to the wrestler and stay in contact with Pineda's family and legal representatives.
- Martinete applied during the main bout, and the referee lies motionless on the mat
- Forensic staff arrive at the venue and secure the body
- El Hijo de Fishman detained and handed to prosecutors on suspicion of negligent homicide
Pineda's career
Pineda wrestled for about 15 years under the name El Búho Negro II before becoming a referee, according to Przeglad Sportowy and Sportowe Fakty. He then worked as a referee for nearly three decades, officiating bouts featuring some of the biggest names in Mexican wrestling. ABC describes him as a pillar of lucha libre in Hidalgo with more than three decades in the sport. His death has been mourned in the local wrestling community, where he was known to fans as 'El Búho'.
