Mexico: Wrestler died almost instantly from injury in ring

MEXICO CITY — An autopsy has found that "lucha libre" wrestler Pedro Aguayo died almost immediately of injuries suffered in the ring over the weekend, Mexican authorities said Wednesday.

Aguayo, the 35-year-old son of retired wrestling legend Pedro "Perro" Aguayo, had three fractured vertebrae and was dead by the time he reached a hospital, said Gilberto Cota Alanis, deputy prosecutor for Baja California state.

Medical staff there tried for 90 minutes to revive Aguayo, Cota Alanis said.

Aguayo was injured during a match in Tijuana, apparently after being launched out of the ring and then, soon after, receiving a flying kick to the shoulder and neck from fellow wrestler Oscar Gutierrez, better known as Rey Mysterio Jr.

Video footage showed Aguayo hanging motionless from the ropes unattended as the bout continued for about two more minutes before other wrestlers and the referee realized he was seriously injured.

He was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead around 1 a.m. Saturday.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation, and Cota Alanis said the four other wrestlers involved in the match would be questioned about the incident as well as Wrestling and Boxing Commission officials who handled Aguayo's body and the medical workers who attended to him.

Aguayo's funeral was Sunday.