Hijo del Perro Aguayo dead: 'Lucha libre' wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez dies after hit in the ring

The fight continued for almost two minutes before it was realised that Aguayo was seriously injured

Mexican wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, known as Hijo del Perro Aguayo, died from a hit suffered in the ring in Tijuana (AP Photo/Enrique Ordonez-CUARTOSCURO)

An investigation into possible manslaughter has been opened after the son of a Mexican wrestling legend died from a blow suffered in the ring, the Baja California state prosecutor's office has said.

Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, known as Hijo del Perro Aguayo, fell unconscious on the ropes, seemingly after he received a flying kick from fellow wrestler Oscar Gutierrez, known as Rey Mysterio Jr., according to video of the match.

The fight continued for almost two minutes before it was realised that Aguayo was seriously injured.

He was taken to a nearby hospital but died around 1.30 am on 22 March, prosector’s spokesman Raul Gutierrez said.

Aguayo, 35, had wrestled for 20 years and was the son of the legendary Pedro "Perro" Aguayo, now retired and a member of the Aztec lucha hall of fame.

He had won numerous titles, including national pairs with his father, a national heavyweight championship and the Consejo Mundial Lucha Libre world trios championship.

Mexican wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, the son of a wrestling legend, died from a hit suffered in the ring in Tijuana, the Baja California state prosecutor's office said (AP Photo/Ezequiel Tlaxcala-CUARTOSCURO.COM)

"Lucha Libre of Mexico is in mourning for one of its star talents," read a statement by the group Lucha Libre AAA.

Wrestler Hijo del Santo told Associated Press: "I think the fans in Japan, the US and Mexico of course, where he was very popular, must be in mourning, especially because of his youth. He had much ahead of him."

Mexico is famous for its colorful characters and costumes in professional wrestling, known popularly as lucha libre.

"I have no words for this terrible news," Joaquin Roldan, director of the AAA wrestling federation, said through his Twitter account. "My sincerest condolences for the Aguayo Ramirez family."

The state prosecutor's office said the cause of death, based on the autopsy, was trauma to the neck and a cervical fracture.

Additional reporting by AP