By The Associated Press via
NBC News
Two wrestlers were found dead last week in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, according to local authorities.
The State Prosecutor's Office explained this Monday that the body of a fighter known as
Maremoto
or
Tidal Wave
was found on Saturday behind a National Guard barracks on Saturday in the city of Irapuato.
He had previously reported the death of another fighter nicknamed
Leprosy
.
Local media identified him as Salvador García and pointed out that he could have worked in the municipal government of the city.
Wrestling, very popular in Mexico, is the second most followed sport in the country, after soccer.
But because it's not well paid, at least locally, many fighters have day jobs.
The professional wrestling company Promociones Freseros Brothers announced the cancellation of a fight scheduled for Sunday "out of respect for the relatives of
Leprosy
and
Maremoto."
Both men were reported kidnapped in Irapuato last week.
[This young Latina disappeared without a trace in California after being last seen in a store. The police suspect a crime]
Over the weekend, photos circulated on social networks of a banner signed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel that was found near one of the bodies.
He accused the two men (along with a third fighter dubbed
Juventud Rebelde
, who was killed in May) of working for a rival gang.
"To the companions of the wrestling profession, the CJNG has nothing against you personally," the banner said, "the events related to
Juventud Rebelde 'Jerry'
,
Lepra
Salvador and
Maremoto
were direct attacks."
Rioting prisoners, burned businesses and massacred civilians: violence takes over Ciudad Juárez
Aug. 12, 202201:38
The banner claimed that they were involved with the Santa Rosa de Lima gang, which has been waging turf battles against the Jalisco cartel in Guanajuato for years.
Wrestling has suffered in recent years, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, when almost all matches were canceled and an unusually high number of wrestlers died of COVID-19.
But unlike norteño musicians, wrestlers had so far been spared the violence of drug cartels.