Wrestler could go to prison for 15 years after referee passes away in the ring
Pro wrestler El Hijo de Fishman (which means Fisherman’s son) was arrested and could face a long prison sentence after being linked to the death of a referee. Fishman was taken into custody on Wednesday in Hidalgo, Mexico, right after his match against Mascara Sagrada for El Patron Espectaculos Lucha Libre.
The trouble started after the match when Fishman was arrested because his actions may have caused referee Gerardo German Pineda, also known as El Buho (The Owl), to pass away in the ring. Local reports say Pineda was hit several times during the match, and some say he may have even suffered an illegal piledriver move. Although there is video showing the 75-year-old referee being hit and slammed down, it’s not clear if the piledriver actually happened.
Right after the match, Pineda was found motionless in the ring. It seems there was no ambulance or medical staff available at the time, and by the time emergency services arrived, it was already too late. Paramedics confirmed that he had no vital signs.
Fishman is still in custody while an investigation is happening. The authorities are looking into what exactly happened and if Fishman could be held responsible. Early reports suggest this could be treated as negligent homicide. They need to figure out if the wrestler’s moves directly caused Pineda’s death, which will be decided through official investigations and expert reports.
According to Superluchas, there will be a hearing in the next 48 hours to decide if Fishman will be released or charged, with manslaughter possibly being considered. If found guilty, Fishman could face five to 15 years in prison.
El Patron Espectaculos, the wrestling company, released a statement saying:
“After the sad events on Wednesday, October 7, in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, during the match with El Hijo de Fishman and referee Gerardo Germán Pineda, ‘El Búho,’ who sadly passed away, we want to inform everyone that our company is following the situation closely. We have arranged legal support for Hijo de Fishman so the process follows the law.
Our lawyer is also in touch with Mr. Pineda’s family and legal representatives to handle everything properly and respectfully. As the investigation continues, we ask everyone—fans, media, and colleagues—to be careful, respectful, and avoid spreading rumors or unconfirmed news so the investigation isn’t affected and the families involved are respected.
We feel deeply sorry for the loss and send our heartfelt support to his family, friends, and everyone in the wrestling community.
Sincerely, El Patron Espectáculos.”
SPORTbible has reached out to El Patrón Espectáculos Lucha Libre for further comments.