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Bay Area wrestlers riding WrestleMania wave
Josh Cascio reports
YBOR CITY, Fla. - For independent or "indy" wrestlers like 22-year-old Daniel Garcia, smaller shows like the ones in Ybor City this week are his moment in the sun.
"Stuff like this, it is not about the big arenas, I promise you. The best matches of the weekend are going to be happening at small intimate shows like this," Garcia said. "The excitement level is great. We have a bunch of smaller indy shows going on and it's the biggest wrestling week of the year so there's so many shows in one area."
Unlike this weekend's WrestleMania, where 20,000 fans per night will pack Raymond James Stadium, the indy shows popping up this week will see a few dozen to a few hundred in the crowd. That's just how they like it.
"It is so much fun because they put their heart and soul into this and they really interact with the fans they really care about how we feel about their matches," said fan Hunter Bronkar.
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WWE Bianca Belair ready to take down Sasha Banks in WrestleMania match
Bianca Belair describes her excitement for the return of fans ahead of WrestleMania 37 in Tampa. This weekend, she will make history when she takes part in the first WWE title match featuring two Black women.
For most of these fans, the indy shows are the appetizer before the WrestleMania main course.
READ: Tampa’s history in pro wrestling played vital role in developing superstars – past and present
"Just seeing all the independent wrestlers then going to see WrestleMania in a bigger venue, you get the best of both worlds," said wrestling fan Jake Collins.
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Special Olympics athletes meet WrestleMania stars
In the run-up to WrestleMania, stars of the WWE are out connecting with the community. Kalisto, Mojo, and Peyton Royce spent time with Special Olympics athletes Wednesday. It was tough to tell who was having more fun, the kids or the wrestlers.
And for the performers, the smaller stage may one day get a lot bigger.
"We go much harder than everyone else. People like this are ready to prove themselves and earn their spots," Garcia said.
'Power to put smiles on people's faces': Titus O’ Neil excited to host WrestleMania 37 in his hometown
Tampa resident Titus O’Neil may have hosted last year’s WrestleMania, but this time around it will be different: he will be hosting in the city he calls home.
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From 2006: Florida Championship Wrestling prepares to train WWE hopefuls in Tampa
In 2007, the WWE launched Florida Championship Wrestling in Tampa as a developmental program for potential WWE wrestlers. FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers previewed the new facility in this 2006 report.