Nacho Libre wrestler dies in ring
Silver King fans are grappling with shock after the Mexican wrestling sensation died in the ring Saturday night in front of thousands of fans in London.
César Cuauhtémoc González Barrón, whose best-known stage name was Silver King, collapsed during an event at the Roundhouse in London and died, according to the Lucha Libre wrestling federation he represented.
“Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide joins the grief that the Luchistica family has for the death of César Cuauhtémoc González Barrón ‘Silver King’,” Lucha Libre announced on Twitter.
Fans outside the wrestling community best knew the 51-yearold Barrón for the heel character Ramses he played opposite Jack Black in the 2005 comedy “Nacho Libre.”
In addition to a successful international solo career, Barrón and his brother, Juan, competed as a tag team called Los Cowboys. At the time of his death, Barrón was performing as the Ramses character.
Black bid farewell to his former co-star in Spanish on Instagram.
“César González…vaya con dios, hermano,” he wrote, which translates to “Go with god, brother.”
U.S. wrestling outfit WWE expressed its sympathy to the performer’s survivors in a tweet.
“WWE extends its deepest condolences to Silver King’s family, friends and fans,” WWE wrote.
Wrestler El Hijo del Santo, who performed with Barrón on Saturday, posted a photo of the wrestlers from that event before it got underway.
“I share this wonderful photo of the whole team before the pitched fight … we were very happy! Silver King King fought as Silver and as Ramses!” he wrote.
Early indications were that it was a heart attack that killed Barrón, according to multiple reports. No official announcement has been made regarding his cause of death.