Florida independent wrestler Frankie “Francisco” Ciatso passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 48.
Ciatso had been wrestling since the 1990s, appearing in Florida promotions IPW, FIP, Ring Warriors, D1PW, ACW, WWN, AIWF, NWA Florida, FW, Vintage Wrestling, CCW, and more.
Ciatso also wrestled for Georgia promotions like Lariato Pro Wrestling. He was trained by Adrian Street and the WCW Power Plant.
IPW promoter Ron Niemi said, “I can’t imagine wrestling without Francisco Ciatso. After over 20 years of running the road together we had been estranged brothers for the last couple years until wrestling thankfully brought us back together again in 2023. Thanks for the memories Frankie and I hope you know how much you will be missed.”
WWE writer Gabe Sapolsky tweeted, “RIP Francisco Ciatso. Thank you for everything. Condolences to his friends and family. An unsung hero of the WWN crew. Could always depend on Frankie and he loved the business. You will be missed.”
Ciatso also used the ring name Frankie Capone during the very early days of NWA: TNA on Impact and Xplosion. He also worked for Deep South Wrestling when it was used as WWE developmental, and did enhancement work for WWE and ROH.
Ciatso was scheduled to work Friday’s WWN Proving Ground event but pulled out because he wasn’t feeling well.
Pwinsider reports that it is believed Ciatso passed away in his sleep.
The wrestling world has started pouring in its tributes for Ciatso, and you can check out some of the reactions from the likes of Adam Pearce, Gabe Sapolsky, and more below:
Godspeed, Frankie Ciatso. You were always good to me. I have no words. Another brother gone. Rest well, hermano. 🙏
— Adam Pearce (@ScrapDaddyAP) January 20, 2024
Frankie Ciatso was a guy I’ve known for many years, a Florida/Georgia staple of Independent wrestling. Worked with him many times, whether it was WWN or for Lariato Pro. Dude was always a guy that would make ya laugh have have fun. Sad to hear about his passing. Godspeed and Rest…
— Referee Brandon Tolle (@RefBrandonTolle) January 20, 2024
Frank always greeted you with a smile and took time to help not only me but many others coming up in Florida in any way he could. He LOVED pro wrestling and wanted the best for everyone in it. A good man gone too soon. Rest easy to the king of the southeast, Frankie Ciatso.
— THAT DUDE (@JonDavis817) January 20, 2024
RIP Francisco Ciatso. We didn’t always see eye to eye but he helped me a lot when I was coming up. He was a guy who always gave back to the business, especially the Florida scene. Thanks for everything, Frankie.
— Eric Koenreich (@erickoenreich) January 20, 2024
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Frankie “Francisco” Ciatso, a well-known independent wrestler from Florida, passed away at the age of 48 on Saturday morning. Ciatso had been involved in the wrestling industry since the 1990s and had worked with various promotions in Florida and Georgia.
Throughout his career, Ciatso wrestled for promotions such as IPW, FIP, Ring Warriors, D1PW, ACW, WWN, AIWF, NWA Florida, FW, Vintage Wrestling, CCW, and more. He was also trained by Adrian Street and the WCW Power Plant, showcasing his dedication to honing his craft.
Ron Niemi, the promoter of IPW, expressed his grief over Ciatso’s passing and highlighted their close bond. He mentioned that despite some estrangement in recent years, wrestling brought them back together in 2023. Niemi thanked Ciatso for the memories and emphasized how much he will be missed.
Gabe Sapolsky, a WWE writer, also paid tribute to Ciatso on Twitter. He referred to him as an unsung hero of the WWN crew and expressed his gratitude for Ciatso’s contributions to the business. Sapolsky acknowledged Ciatso’s love for wrestling and stated that he will be deeply missed.
Ciatso’s career extended beyond independent promotions. He used the ring name Frankie Capone during the early days of NWA: TNA on Impact and Xplosion. He also worked for Deep South Wrestling during its time as WWE developmental and did enhancement work for WWE and ROH.
Tragically, Ciatso was scheduled to participate in Friday’s WWN Proving Ground event but had to withdraw due to feeling unwell. According to reports from Pwinsider, it is believed that he passed away in his sleep.
The wrestling community has begun sharing their tributes for Ciatso on social media. Wrestlers such as Adam Pearce, Referee Brandon Tolle, Jon Davis, and Eric Koenreich expressed their condolences and shared their memories of working with Ciatso. They highlighted his positive attitude, willingness to help others, and love for the sport.
Ciatso’s passing is a significant loss for the wrestling world, and his contributions to the industry will be remembered. Fans can stay updated on all wrestling news on eWrestlingNews.com or follow their Twitter and Facebook pages for the latest updates.