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GABE SAPOLSKY PAYS TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE CIATSO, HOW YOU CAN ASSIST CIATSO'S FAMILY

Gabe Sapolsky posted the following tribute to Frankie Ciatso on his Instagram account:

"That smile says it all.

I wasn’t personally that close with Francisco Ciatso, but Frankie was an important behind-the-scenes part of WWN/EVOLVE. This post isn’t about people giving me condolences. I wasn’t in his inner circle. It’s about recognizing Frankie and paying tribute to him, his close friends and family.

Frankie did everything with that smile on his face. He loved pro wrestling. He wanted to be a part of it in anyway he could. No matter how big or small the role, he embraced it with enthusiasm and that smile on his face.

Wrestle on a show in the opening match or main event of a small local indie - The smile was on his face.

Be a manager for younger talent - The smile was on his face.

Get in the van and drive all the production elements 20 hours to a show - The smile was on his face.

Get to a show and help at the merch table or setting up - The smile was on his face.

Book a WWN Proving Ground show in front of 10 fans - The smile was on his face.

Train the next generation - An unselfish, hopeful, proud smile was on his face.

Everytime I saw Frankie in recent years he would say to me that he realized his in ring days were winding down. I’m sure Frankie had dreams and aspirations of being a superstar wrestler in a major promotion. When that didn’t happen, he understood what it meant to make the most of any opportunity to contribute. He didn’t blame others or be resentful, he embraced any chance he could to help.

I always felt good when I saw Frankie. I knew whatever job he had to do would get done. He was an adult in the room. He was dependable. Always with that smile.

I trusted him enough to recommend him to guest coach at the PC. We snapped this photo there to send to Sal Hamaoui because Sal suggested that Frankie earned this shot due to all the quality hard work he put in.

Frankie never looked for praise or recognition. He just loved being a part of the show, a part of the process, a part of the team. If you ever stepped foot in a WWN or EVOLVE ring, you were walking over some of Frankie’s sweat, heart and soul. There is a GoFundMe to assist his loved ones.

When I think of Frankie, I’ll always remember that smile."

***

A GoFundMe Campaign has been launched to assist the family of longtime Florida star Frankie Ciatso, who passed away this weekend.

The campaign was launched to assist his wife in the wake of Ciatso's passing.  Ciatso, 48, passed away from congestive heart failure.

The campaign notes:

Frankie's presence was a source of inspiration not just to his peers in the locker room but to all who encountered him beyond the confines of the ring. Renowned for his kindness and unwavering loyalty, he was deeply committed to nurturing and preserving the spirit of professional wrestling.

Frankie's departure was serene, as he passed away peacefully in his sleep due to congestive heart failure. This sudden loss has left us unprepared, and we find ourselves seeking support to arrange a funeral/memorial befitting the remarkable person he was. I am profoundly grateful for the outpouring of sympathy and support from everyone during this challenging time. The wave of love and solidarity from both within and outside the wrestling community is truly overwhelming and something Frankie himself would have been deeply moved by.

For further details and to donate, click here.

 

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