Thea Trinidad reflects on her father's death twenty-five years later

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 2:52 PM

Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Thea Trinidad reflects on her father's death twenty-five years later
Summary

Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, former WWE champion Thea Trinidad discusses how professional wrestling helped her cope with the loss of her father. Michael Angel Trinidad, a telecommunications analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald, died at age 33 when the World Trade Center's North Tower collapsed in 2001. As a 10-year-old, Thea Trinidad watched her father attempt to evacuate the building before the collapse. She identifies professional wrestling as an environment where she felt seen following the trauma. Lillian Garcia, a WWE ring announcer who performed at a tribute event shortly after the attacks, remains a significant figure in Trinidad's memory of that period. Trinidad later participated in Camp Haze, a program established for children who lost family members in the attacks.

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Key Details
  • Michael Angel Trinidad worked on the 103rd floor of the North Tower.
  • Thea Trinidad was 10 years old when her father died in 2001.
  • Lillian Garcia performed the national anthem at a WWE event following the attacks.
  • Trinidad attended Camp Haze to process the loss of her father.
Latest Updates
  • 2:52 PMYahoo Sports9/11, 25 years later: How Thea Trinidad keeps her father's memory alive through professional wrestling
What they're saying
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A quarter century after losing her father Michael in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, former WWE champion Thea Trinidad still finds solace in their shared passion for wrestling.

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