The world changed for everyone 17 years ago today. For WWE Superstar Zelina Vega, that change was incredibly personal, and the magnitude of what happened on Sept. 11, 2001 greater than it was for most.
Vega’s father was at the World Trade Center that Tuesday, in the North Tower on the 103rd floor - above where the plane hit. Michael Trinidad had time to call his ex-wife and say goodbye before he died; to speak to his children’s step-father to say he trusted him to love and protect his son and daughter as if they were his own.
In the above interview with Renee Young, Zelina (real name Thea Trinidad) talks about that day, and the guilt she felt for years over not asking to say goodbye to Michael herself. She also discusses sharing a love of pro wrestling, WWE and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with her father, and how her career as a SmackDown Superstar and relationship to Johnson are her way of paying tribute to one of the 2,996 people who died on that horrible day - one she called “Dad”.
On a day where the world reminds itself to “Never Forget”, watch Vega explain how every time she steps in a ring to entertain us, she remembers.