Face (pictured above)
Professional wrestler, Queens
How did you get into wrestling?
I was a very active child. I had a lot of aggression. I played all the sports, but they wouldn’t do it for me, so I started doing martial arts. MMA fighting. I did jujitsu for a few years, boxing for a few years. Then wrestling. This is my second year on the independent circuit.
Why “Face”?
I’m very mysterious. Even my colleagues don’t know my real name. People close to me used to call me that in high school because, believe it or not, I was one of the uglier kids in the group. So “ugly face” is where “Face” comes from.
John “J-Arp” Arpino
Wrestling promoter, Bay Ridge
Jesiah Nazario
Student, Lower East Side
Daniel Blanco
Equipment manager, Sunnyside
Who are you here to see?
Matt Cardona. He’s probably the most popular indie wrestler right now. He worked for WWE, has millions of followers, but now that he’s on the indies, he’s very approachable. I’ve seen him enough times that he kind of knows me by name.
Evan Clippinger
Software engineer, Bushwick
Is this your first time here?
Yes. My friend James and I had been looking for something entertaining and chaotic, and other people have said this is one of their favorite New York experiences. So we had to come. I had such a low bar going in, and now I want to go to every single wrestling event.
Joe “The Ecuadorian nightmare” Llerena
Professional wrestler, Park Slope
Lesley Ongyaco
Speech pathologist, Upper East Side
George “Savage from Whitestone” Kanakarakis
Wrestling talent agent, Whitestone
Emmanuel Pichardo
Hairstylist, Ridgewood
Nestor “Nastyness” Castro
Professional wrestler, Jersey City, New Jersey
Richie Allocco
Community ambassador, Glendale
Sean Nazario
Ring announcer, Lower East Side
Daphane Love
Art-store buyer, East New York
Have you always liked wrestling?
My dad would take me to wrestling events as a kid, but in high school, it wasn’t cool or whatever, so I just stopped. In 2021, my friend had an extra ticket to an AEW show, and I was fucking blown away. It was so good. Ever since that show, I’ve been watching it nonstop.
Amber Ardolino
Broadway performer, Midtown West
Why are you here tonight?
I’m in The Last Match, a pro-wrestling-themed rock musical. It’s a touring show, but I came tonight to just do one song. My co-stars, Matt Cardona and Ramin Karimloo, ended up wrestling, and I jumped in mid-fight, which was unexpected. I technically made my indie wrestling debut.
Anthony “Big Ant Gracia” Jeter
Professional wrestler, Elizabeth, New Jersey
James Hartnett
Freelancer, Bushwick
Ron Bosch
Video editor, Hell’s Kitchen
Giuseppe De Caro
Referee, Jackson Heights
What’s it like being in the ring?
It gets pretty intense. As a referee, you’re moving just as much as they are, and you have to keep up. You’re also the narrator for the story. The athletes are doing the moves, but it’s my job to let the audience know what’s happening. We’re on the ground to convey who’s got the upper hand and that sort of thing.
Michael Kanik
Wrestling-toy-company owner, North Bergen, New Jersey
John “J-Arp” Arpino
Wrestling promoter, Bay Ridge
Jesiah Nazario
Student, Lower East Side
Daniel Blanco
Equipment manager, Sunnyside
Who are you here to see?
Matt Cardona. He’s probably the most popular indie wrestler right now. He worked for WWE, has millions of followers, but now that he’s on the indies, he’s very approachable. I’ve seen him enough times that he kind of knows me by name.
Evan Clippinger
Software engineer, Bushwick
Is this your first time here?
Yes. My friend James and I had been looking for something entertaining and chaotic, and other people have said this is one of their favorite New York experiences. So we had to come. I had such a low bar going in, and now I want to go to every single wrestling event.
Joe “The Ecuadorian nightmare” Llerena
Professional wrestler, Park Slope
Lesley Ongyaco
Speech pathologist, Upper East Side
George “Savage from Whitestone” Kanakarakis
Wrestling talent agent, Whitestone
Emmanuel Pichardo
Hairstylist, Ridgewood
Nestor “Nastyness” Castro
Professional wrestler, Jersey City, New Jersey
Richie Allocco
Community ambassador, Glendale
Sean Nazario
Ring announcer, Lower East Side
Daphane Love
Art-store buyer, East New York
Have you always liked wrestling?
My dad would take me to wrestling events as a kid, but in high school, it wasn’t cool or whatever, so I just stopped. In 2021, my friend had an extra ticket to an AEW show, and I was fucking blown away. It was so good. Ever since that show, I’ve been watching it nonstop.
Amber Ardolino
Broadway performer, Midtown West
Why are you here tonight?
I’m in The Last Match, a pro-wrestling-themed rock musical. It’s a touring show, but I came tonight to just do one song. My co-stars, Matt Cardona and Ramin Karimloo, ended up wrestling, and I jumped in mid-fight, which was unexpected. I technically made my indie wrestling debut.
Anthony “Big Ant Gracia” Jeter
Professional wrestler, Elizabeth, New Jersey
James Hartnett
Freelancer, Bushwick
Ron Bosch
Video editor, Hell’s Kitchen
Giuseppe De Caro
Referee, Jackson Heights
What’s it like being in the ring?
It gets pretty intense. As a referee, you’re moving just as much as they are, and you have to keep up. You’re also the narrator for the story. The athletes are doing the moves, but it’s my job to let the audience know what’s happening. We’re on the ground to convey who’s got the upper hand and that sort of thing.
Michael Kanik
Wrestling-toy-company owner, North Bergen, New Jersey
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