Frank Caiazzo (November 5, 1975 – January 20, 2024), better known by his ring name Francisco Ciatso, was an American professional wrestler, known for his time with the National Wrestling Alliance, Deep South Wrestling, and brief appearances with the WWE and TNA.[1][2][3]
| Francisco Ciatso | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Frank Caiazzo |
| Born | November 5, 1975 Oyster Bay, New York, U.S. |
| Died | (aged 48) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Francisco Ciatso Frankie Ciatso Mike Ciatso King Ciatso Frankie Capone Francisco Capone Frankie Coverdale |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Billed weight | 222 lb (101 kg) |
| Trained by | Adrian Street WCW Power Plant |
| Debut | 1996 |
Life and career
editCiatso began his career on the independent circuit in 1996. On May 25, 2001, he made his NWA Florida debut, losing to Chris Layton. In the fall of 2005, he started working for Deep South Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory. On March 6, 2006, he made his WWE debut, losing to Matt Striker on WWE Heat. He also wrestled Tatanka on March 7, 2006, on WWE Velocity.[4]
In 2019, a documentary titled Journeyman was released, documenting his career.[5][6][7][8]
Ciatso died on January 20, 2024, at the age of 48.[9][10][11]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- American Combat Wrestling
- ACW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gus De La Vega
- Allied Independent Wrestling Federations
- AIWF America's Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- AIWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- AIWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Eric Wayne
- AWA World-1 South
- AWA World-1 Southern Championship (1 time)
- Coastal Championship Wrestling
- CCW Florida Heavyweight Championship
- CCW Light Heavyweight Championship
- CCW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Wet Willie
- Extreme World Wrestling
- EWW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Great American Wrestling Federation
- GAWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- IPW Hardcore Wrestling
- IPW Television Championship (1 time)
- IPW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- IPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Python
- Lariato Pro Wrestling Guild
- Lariato Pro Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Storm Thomas
- NWA Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Marcus Dillon
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 498 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2002
- PWI ranked him # 468 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2003
- PWI ranked him # 407 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2004
- PWI ranked him # 392 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2005
- PWI ranked him # 435 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2006
- PWI ranked him # 286 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2009
- PWI ranked him # 435 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2015
- Pro Wrestling RIOT
- PWR Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shawn Osbourne
- Pro Wrestling Xtreme
- PWX World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Vito LoGrasso
- Southern Championship Wrestling Florida
- SCW Southern Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- USA Pro Wrestling
- USA Pro Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with AJ Jannazzo
- United States Wrestling Alliance
- USWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Simon Sez
- Vintage Wrestling
- Vintage Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Other titles
- CCW Light Heavyweight Championship
- CCW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- SCW Mid Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- UFCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- UWW Florida Championship (1 time)
- UWW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
References
editGeneral
- Plaisted, Ed (June 13, 1997). "'UPTOWN FRANKIE' SAYS IT'S REAL". Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 07A.
- Russo, Ric (October 20, 2000). "HOMECOMING HAVOC". Orlando Sentinel. p. 51.
- Wojcik, Alan (2003). "Interview with "Uptown" Frankie Capone & Double Deuce Inc". AlanWojcik.com. Alan Wojcik Archives. Archived from the original on January 5, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- Wojcik, Alan (September 23, 2008). "Indie star with some big time experience". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- Wojcik, Alan (2009). "New Francisco Ciatso Interview". AlanWojcik.com. Alan Wojcik Archives. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- "Big Vito forms alliance with Francisco Ciatso - Get ready for Da Bada Bing Boys". Miami Herald. December 2, 2010.
- Darragh O'Connor (January 23, 2024). "Episode 160: Remembering Francisco Ciatso with Special Guest "The Power" Andy Knowles, Seth Rollins Update, and TNA Wrestling News!". The Wrestling Rewind (Podcast). Soundcloud.com. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
Specific
- ^ "411MANIA". USA Pro 29th Anniversary Show Results: Scott Steiner Battles Jerry Lawler. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "Wrestling Information Archive - TNA Xplosion Cards". September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Carter, Harrison (January 20, 2024). "Pro Wrestler Dies Suddenly At 48-Years Old". Wrestling Edge. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "Interview With Independent Wrestler Francisco Ciatso". WrestlingNewsSource. March 4, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Steward, Paul (March 28, 2019), Journeyman (Documentary), Stormie Lee Caiazzo, James Carver, Francisco Ciatso, 316 Productions, retrieved January 21, 2024
- ^ Oliver, Greg (January 20, 2024). "'Journeyman' Francisco Ciatso dies". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Flanagan, Neal (January 20, 2024). "Franciso Ciatso, subject of 'Journeyman' documentary, passes away at 48". POST Wrestling | WWE AEW NXT NJPW Podcasts, News, Reviews. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "Journeyman". studiodome.com. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "Francisco Ciatso Passes Away At 48 | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "411MANIA". Florida Independent Wrestler Frankie Ciatso Passes Away, Adam Pearce and Others Pay Tribute. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ gst, chris (January 21, 2024). "Florida Wrestler Francisco Ciatso Passes Away". PWPonderings. Retrieved January 21, 2024.