Principe Aéreo -- a star wrestler in Mexico -- died at 26-years-old after collapsing in the ring during a match over the weekend.
The tragic scene all went down Saturday at Arena San Juan Pantitlan in Mexico City during a Mexa Wrestling event.
Principe -- real name Luis Ángel Salazar -- was performing in a tag team match ... and everything appeared to be going smoothly.
The luchador was hamming it up for the crowd ... and then took two slaps to the chest and a kick to the stomach -- when suddenly he appeared to faint onto the mat.