A large wrestling ring, brightly lit by overhead floodlights, sits isolated in an otherwise dark stadium, a beacon of illumination. Inscribed on each side of the oblong ring, in obnoxious, bold letters, is “SMACKDOWN”. Tables with microphones line the outside of the ring, along with screens appearing to be teleprompters. A long walkway leads away from the ring towards a door reading "actors and management only". Attempting to open the door proves futile, as it refuses to budge.
Various wrestling objects lay under the ring, such as steel chairs, ladders, and garbage bins. Small barriers separate the ring from a large expanse of cheap, messy seats, covered in empty bags of food and discarded signs inscribed with chants. A crumpled scrap of newspaper under one of the seats reads as follows when unfolded:
Syracruse.com
Mar. 22, 2015
"Professional wrestler Ray Mysterio Jr. expressed stunned sympathy Saturday after authorities said his blow during a recent wrestling match killed the son of a Mexican wrestling legend.
Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, known popularly as Hijo del Perro Aguayo, fell unconscious on the ropes Friday after receiving a flying kick from Mysterio, according to video of the match in a municipal auditorium in Tijuana, Mexico.
The Baja California state prosecutor's office said Ramirez later died from the blow in the ring. TMZ reported that cause of death appeared to be a snapped vertebrae when Ramirez's head hit the ropes.
The state prosecutor's office said it is investigating whether to file a manslaughter charge, The Associated Press said.
In several tweets posted in Spanish, Mysterio, whose real name is Oscar Gutierrez, said he was left wondering how God allowed such a tragic accident to occur…"
