WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley has shared a personal ritual he has maintained for years in support of former WWE star Zelina Vega, now known as Xelina. Speaking on his YouTube channel while reflecting on the first live episode of WWE SmackDown held after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Dudley said that he makes sure to call Xelina every year on the anniversary.
Xelina’s father, Michael Trinidad, died in the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. She has spoken openly about that loss throughout her wrestling career and has continued to honor her father publicly each year. Dudley said learning about Trinidad’s death motivated him to ensure Xelina and her family knew they were in his thoughts on a day that remains especially painful.
“When I found out that her father had passed away in September 11th, I made in a duty from that point on... to give her a call and let her know that I was thinking about her and her family and that my prayers and thoughts go out to them,” Dudley said on YouTube.
The comments came as Dudley discussed the weight surrounding WWE’s return to live television in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. The events of September 11 changed the country in ways that extended far beyond wrestling, but performers, fans, production staff, and everyone connected to live entertainment were also navigating grief, uncertainty, and the challenge of trying to move forward.
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For Xelina, the anniversary carries an intensely personal meaning. Michael Trinidad was among those killed when the World Trade Center towers collapsed in New York City. The attacks also targeted the Pentagon, while United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers. The loss of life devastated families across the United States and around the world, with each anniversary serving as a reminder that the consequences were not limited to history books, news coverage, or memorial ceremonies.
Dudley’s remarks focused on that human reality. As a father himself, he explained that his perspective on the tragedy has become even more emotional as he considers what it meant for a young child to lose her father.
“I’m feeling it now, because I can’t imagine what she went through. She was a baby. Now I got three little ones, to know that they will never see their father again. The man that provided, that took care of them, that was their rock, is no longer here, because of some radical idiots out there that decided to do what they did, that broke my heart.”
The WWE Hall of Famer’s comments underline the importance of the relationships formed around the wrestling business. Fans often see performers through storylines, rivalries, championship pursuits, entrances, and character work. Behind that presentation, however, there are personal histories and moments of loss that can shape how wrestlers, coaches, veterans, and colleagues relate to one another.
Dudley did not frame the annual call as a public gesture. Instead, he described it as a duty he felt after learning about Xelina’s family tragedy. That distinction matters. September 11 is observed nationally, but for surviving relatives, the day is also a private anniversary marked by the absence of a parent, spouse, child, sibling, friend, or colleague. A direct phone call can be a simple act, but its meaning can be significant when it comes from someone who remembers why the date is difficult.
Xelina Has Repeatedly Honored Her Father
Xelina has never avoided discussing the effect her father’s death had on her life. Her annual tributes have ensured that Michael Trinidad’s memory remains present for her audience, even as the years continue to pass. In 2023, on the 22nd anniversary of his death, she said that the loss does not become easier with time.
That sentiment is familiar to many families affected by September 11. Time can change the form of grief, but it does not erase the importance of the person who was lost. For someone who was very young when tragedy struck, there can also be the lasting reality of growing up without opportunities to know a parent through the ordinary moments that so many other families take for granted.
Within wrestling, Xelina’s willingness to speak about her father has given added context to a career built on resilience and ambition. Her work in WWE made her a recognizable performer, but her tributes have shown another side of her life beyond the ring and beyond television. They have also connected her story to the broader remembrance of every family that was changed on September 11, 2001.
The annual posts are not simply reflections on a historical event. They are messages from a daughter remembering her father. Dudley’s decision to reach out each year recognizes that personal dimension, rather than treating the date only as a moment on the calendar.
Dudley Reflects on a Difficult Time for WWE
The first live SmackDown following the attacks remains an important moment in WWE history because it took place during a period of national mourning. Wrestling programming is typically defined by escapism and spectacle, but the aftermath of September 11 demanded a more serious and sensitive approach from everyone involved.
Dudley’s recollection places that television moment alongside the stories of those who were personally affected. The industry was not separate from the trauma felt across the country. Wrestlers and employees had families, friends, and communities touched by the attacks, while viewers brought their own grief and anxiety to the broadcast.
Over the years, WWE has often returned to the importance of community in difficult moments. That spirit is reflected in Dudley’s account. His decision to contact Xelina is not connected to an angle, a promotional campaign, or a public appearance. It is an individual commitment made because he understands that remembrance requires more than broad statements.
His words also demonstrate how becoming a parent can alter the way someone processes another person’s pain. Dudley specifically spoke about his three children and the thought of them having to grow up without their father. It was that perspective that made him emotional while discussing what Xelina endured after losing Michael Trinidad as a child.
Remembering the People Behind the Date
Each September 11, public observances honor the victims of the attacks and recognize the heroism shown by first responders, survivors, passengers, and ordinary people placed in unimaginable circumstances. For those with direct connections to the victims, though, remembrance is inseparable from family.
Xelina’s continued tributes and Dudley’s yearly calls both speak to that reality. One is the ongoing remembrance of a father by his daughter. The other is the support of a fellow member of the wrestling community who has chosen not to let the anniversary pass without offering his prayers and letting the family know they are being remembered.
There is no suggestion in Dudley’s comments that a phone call can solve grief or make a day like September 11 easier. In fact, Xelina’s own words from 2023 make clear that the pain does not simply disappear as years go by. But the gesture reflects a kind of compassion that can matter precisely because it does not pretend to have a solution.
Professional wrestling regularly celebrates loyalty, toughness, and the bonds created through shared experience. Dudley’s comments offer a quiet example of those values away from the spotlight. By continuing to call Xelina every year, he has made sure that the memory of Michael Trinidad and the impact of his loss are not forgotten within the WWE community.
For Xelina, September 11 will always be the date she lost her father. For Dudley, it is a day to make contact, offer support, and acknowledge a pain he knows cannot be fully understood by anyone who did not live it. His reflection serves as a reminder that acts of remembrance are often personal, ongoing, and most meaningful when they are sustained long after the cameras are gone.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.