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Mexican professional wrestling experienced a tragedy on Wednesday night in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, where 75-year-old referee Gerardo Germán Pineda, known as "El Búho," passed away after allegedly receiving a piledriver from wrestler Hijo de Fishman.
According to various media outlets, following the referee's death, Hijo de Fishman was detained and placed at the disposal of the Attorney General's Office of the State of Hidalgo, the institution investigating the incident.
But what is the piledriver in professional wrestling? Why is it dangerous and where is it banned? Here, we tell you.
What is the piledriver in professional wrestling?
According to Wrestling Inc., the piledriver is a wrestling move that, in its most basic form, consists of placing the opponent headfirst and executing a drop to the mat, either from a seated or kneeling position.
There are different variants of this move, such as the Tombstone Piledriver, popularized by WWE wrestler The Undertaker. In Mexico, Abismo Negro was also known for using the piledriver.
Why is the piledriver dangerous?
The piledriver is considered one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling, as it can cause serious head and spinal cord injuries and even lead to death.
Doctor Chris Amann, a WWE physician, explained that the Tombstone Piledriver, one of its variants, can fracture vertebrae and cause serious injuries.
"The most concerning aspect of that maneuver [the Tombstone Piledriver] is the compressive force it exerts on the cervical spine, which does have the potential to fracture several vertebrae and cause serious injury."
Is the piledriver banned in Mexico?
In Mexico, the piledriver is not banned in a general sense at the national level; rather, its regulation and potential penalties depend on local provisions.
For example, Article 156 of the Professional Boxing and Wrestling Regulations of the Municipality of Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, establishes that a wrestler can be disqualified for applying the piledriver or any of its variants.
However, the death of referee Gerardo Germán Pineda occurred during a wrestling event in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, not in Pachuca de Soto.
Why did the WWE ban the piledriver?
According to Wrestling Inc., the WWE banned the piledriver in the year 2000 for safety reasons, primarily due to the risk of head and neck injuries to the wrestlers.
However, the company allowed exceptions for veteran figures like The Undertaker and Kane, who continued to use some variants of the move.
According to the media outlet, the correct technique for this move consists of ensuring that "the opponent's head is tucked between their legs before falling onto the mat."
[Publicidad]