Mexican wrestling star dealt fatal blow in the ring in front of thousands of people... and the show kept going as he remained motionless on the mat for two minutes

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo, 35, was dueling former WWE star Rey Mysterio Jr. in Tijuana, Mexico, when a kick he received caused a grave injury
Television images show the wrestler known as Hijo del Perro Aguayo going limp on the ropes after the blow from Mysterio
The match continued for almost two minutes before the other wrestlers and the referee realized what had happened
Star wrestler was taken to the hospital and died around 1.30am Saturday
Aguayo, 35, had wrested for 20 years and was a decorated AAA star
He was the son of legendary lucha libre wrestler Pedro 'Perro' Aguayo

By Alexandra Klausner and Evan Bleier

A Mexican wrestling star suffered a fatal blow in the ring on Friday night in front of the thousands of fans in attendance - and the fight continued for nearly two minutes as he lay motionless on the mat.

Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, known as Hijo del Perro Aguayo, went limp on the ropes after a flying kick from one of his opponents, Oscar Gutierrez, known as Rey Misterio, Jr., hit his neck.

The team match continued for almost two minutes before the other participants and the referee realized Aguayo was seriously injured and tended to him, according to video shot in a municipal auditorium in Tijuana, Mexico.

The wrestler lost consciousness and never recovered, reports San Diego Red.

The Baja, California, state prosecutor's office said he was taken to a hospital a block away and died about 1:30am on Saturday morning.

The prosecutor's office said it has opened an investigation into possible manslaughter.

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.

Joaquin Roldan, the director of the AAA wrestling federation, said on Twitter: 'I have no words for this terrible news.

'My sincerest condolences for the Aguayo Ramirez family.'

Aguayo was one of the most decorated and popular stars in the AAA.

He was a three-time Mexican National Tag Team champion, a former Mexican National Light Heavyweight champion, and a Mexican National Atomicos champion.

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Didn't go without a fight: Before his untimely death El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo gave a spectacular performance

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Crowd favorite: Fans cheered as El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo took his opponent to the ground

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Celebration turned tragedy: Friday's match (not pictured) was supposed to be a celebration and it was Mysterio's first time fighting for the AAA since 1997 after leaving the WWE

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Decorated wrestler: El Hijo del Perro Aguayo was a three-time Mexican National Tag Team champion, a former Mexican National Light Heavyweight champion, and a Mexican National Atomicos champion

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

The elder Aguayo was a lucha libre sensation from the 1970s to 1990s.

The younger Aguayo began wrestling in his teens and also was very popular, leading a group called 'Los Perros de Mal,' or the bad dogs.

Bleacher Report writes that Friday's match was supposed to be a celebration and it was Mysterio's first time fighting for the AAA since 1997 after leaving the WWE.

Wrestler Hijo del Santo said: 'It makes me very sad because he was a professional colleague and I have great affection for his father.

'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.'

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A star: El Hijo del Perro Aguayo was the son of retired wrestler Pedro 'Perro' Aguayo, a lucha libre sensation from the 1970s to 1990s and was one of the most popular wrestlers in Mexico