Wrestler arrested after referee dies from alleged piledriver during match

Covered by New York Post, TMZ and 10 more since

  • Fishman (wrestler)
  • Hidalgo (state)
  • Mineral de la Reforma
  • Mexico
  • Máscara Sagrada
  • Gonzalo Pineda
  • El Hijo del Santo
  • Rio de Janeiro
An empty wrestling ring in a dim, quiet arena, lit by a single spotlight and surrounded by vacant folding chairs.

What happened

A 75-year-old referee, Gerardo Germán Pineda, known as El Búho, died after taking a piledriver from wrestler El Hijo de Fishman, 36, at an independent lucha libre show in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, Mexico, early on Wednesday, October 7. Fishman was arrested and is being investigated for culpable homicide, which is similar to manslaughter.

Summary

Gerardo Germán Pineda spent decades in Mexican wrestling. He wrestled for about 15 years as El Búho Negro II, then refereed in Hidalgo for nearly three decades. He died early Wednesday, October 7, at age 75. He was refereeing the main event of a show at the Centro Deportivo Cultural 11 de Julio in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, between El Hijo de Fishman, 36, and Máscara Sagrada NG. Fishman hit Pineda with a piledriver, called a martinete in Mexico. Pineda never got up. Paramedics found no vital signs, and he was pronounced dead at the venue. [1] [2] [5] [8] [10] [11]

Accounts differ on key details. Some outlets say the move came during the match, and WrestlingHeadlines.com calls it planned. 411mania and Wrestlezone, citing Mediotiempo and False Finish, report that Fishman came back to the ring after the match ended and allegedly hit the move without Pineda's consent. Wrestling Inc. says that has not been confirmed. Local reports shared by the site Luchablog say Pineda lay still for minutes because people thought he was pretending to be hurt. The same reports say no ambulance or medics were on hand, even though Hidalgo shows require them. A witness told The Daily Star that the crowd assumed it was part of the show. [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [10] [12]

Police held Fishman and handed him to prosecutors. The Hidalgo State Attorney General's Office is investigating the death as possible culpable homicide. Some outlets describe him as already charged with manslaughter. Others, citing Super Luchas, say a judge has 48 hours to decide whether he is charged or released. Ringside News notes that his detention does not by itself establish guilt. If convicted, he could face five to 15 years in prison. The promotion, El Patrón Espectáculos, referred to the "unfortunate events" and said it is providing Fishman with legal help, is in contact with Pineda's family, and stands in solidarity with his loved ones. [3] [5] [6] [8] [11] [12]

Summary written by Vox Populi News from the 12 sources below. See all sources

Key questions

What is a piledriver in wrestling?

It is a move where one wrestler lifts another upside down and appears to drop them on their head. The wrestler doing the move is supposed to take the impact so the other person's head never really hits the mat, and the move was banned in WWE for years because of the injury risk. [1] [3]

Has El Hijo de Fishman been charged?

Reports differ. Some outlets say he has been charged with manslaughter, while others say he is in custody awaiting a hearing within 48 hours that will decide whether he is formally charged or released, and a conviction could bring five to 15 years in prison. [3] [5] [8] [11] [12]

Is there video of the piledriver?

TMZ says the incident was caught on video. The New York Post and BroBible say only footage of an earlier body slam has surfaced, along with a photo of the alleged piledriver whose authenticity is unclear. [1] [2] [12]

Sources 12

  1. 1New York Post

    Wrestler arrested after referee dies from alleged piledriver during match

    A professional wrestler in Mexico has been arrested and is facing a manslaughter charge after the death of a longtime referee during his match.

    Justin Tasch

    Read on New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2TMZ

    Wrestler Arrested After Referee Dies From Piledriver, Charged With Manslaughter

    A wrestler in Mexico was arrested and hit with criminal charges after he slammed a referee to the canvas during a match and apparently killed him ... and it's all on video.

    Read on TMZ (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3Us Weekly

    Pro Wrestler El Hilo de Fishman Arrested After Piledriver Allegedly Kills Referee During Match

    Professional wrestler El Hilo de Fishman has been arrested and faces a potential manslaughter charge after a move he executed during a match resulted in the death of a referee.

    Russell Steinberg

    Read on Us Weekly (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4Wrestling Inc.

    Luchador El Hijo Del Fishman Arrested Following Death Of Referee

    The professional wrestling world has been rocked by another death this week, this time from an incident that occurred in the ring during an independent show in Mexico.

    Eric Mutter

    Read on Wrestling Inc. (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5Cageside Seats

    El Hijo de Fishman arrested in Mexico after piledriver allegedly kills referee

    Cain A. Knight is a hardcore number-cruncher who has analyzed and covered pro wrestling for Cageside Seats since 2014, and followed the sport as a fan going back to the 1980's.

    Cain A. Knight

    Read on Cageside Seats (opens in a new tab)
  6. 6WrestlingHeadlines.com

    Hijo De Fishman Arrested Following Referee's Death, Wrestling Promotion Issues Statement

    Mexican professional wrestler Hijo de Fishman has reportedly been arrested and charged with manslaughter following the death of referee Gerardo Germán Pineda, known in the wrestling business as "El…

    Matt Boone

    Read on WrestlingHeadlines.com (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7411mania’s Comment Policy

    El Patrón Espectáculos Lucha Libre Issues Statement After Wrestler Arrested In Death of Referee | 411MANIA | Wrestling News, WWE & AEW Results

    El Patrón Espectáculos has issued a statement after a referee died at their show, allegedly the result of an attack by a wrestler in the ring.

    Read on 411mania’s Comment Policy (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8ClutchPoints

    El Hijo de Fishman Arrested And Charged With Manslaughter

    36-year-old Mexican luchador, El Hijo de Fishman, was recently placed under arrest in Hidalgo, Mexico, after he delivered a piledriver to a referee during his recent match that killed him.

    Shounak Chakrabarti

    Read on ClutchPoints (opens in a new tab)
  9. 9eWrestlingNews.com

    El Patron Lucha Libre Issues Statement On Hijo de Fishman's Arrest And El Búho's Death

    El Patron Lucha Libre has issued a statement following the arrest of Hijo de Fishman in connection with the death of referee Gerardo German Pineda, known professionally as "El Búho." Hijo de Fishman…

    Ryan Clark

    Read on eWrestlingNews.com (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Wrestlezone

    Hijo de Fishman Arrested Following Referee's Death, El Patron Lucha Libre Releases Statement

    A tragic incident at a Mexican independent wrestling event has led to the death of referee Gerardo Germán Pineda, known professionally as El Búho. Wrestler El Hijo de Fishman has now been arrested.

    Bibon Sinha

    Read on Wrestlezone (opens in a new tab)
  11. 11Ringside News

    Hijo de Fishman Detained After Referee El Búho Dies During Wrestling Match

    A wrestling show in Hidalgo, Mexico, turned into a death investigation after longtime referee Gerardo Germán Pineda, better known as "El Búho," collapsed in the ring and died following a spot…

    Steve Carrier

    Read on Ringside News (opens in a new tab)
  12. 12BroBible

    Pro Wrestler Arrested On Manslaughter Charge After Referee Dies Following Piledriver In Ring

    A referee has died after a piledriver during a match in Mexico, leading to the arrest of wrestler El Hijo de Fishman on manslaughter charges.

    Douglas Charles

    Read on BroBible (opens in a new tab)