Xelina Speaks Out After Vandalism Of 9/11 Memorial Tied To Her Father

Xelina, the wrestler formerly known in WWE as Zelina Vega, has spoken out after this week’s vandalism of the 9/11 Memorial in New York City — an incident that hit close to home given that her father was among those killed in the September 11 attacks.

The controversy began when gun regulation activist Johnathan Tijerina defaced the memorial with red spray paint, sparking immediate backlash across the city and beyond. For most observers, the vandalism was simply a shocking act against a solemn national landmark. For Xelina, it was personal, striking at a site that bears direct connection to the loss of her father.

While specifics of her full response have not been detailed, the fact that she felt compelled to address the incident publicly underscores just how real the pain of that day remains for families of 9/11 victims, even 25 years later. Memorials like the one in lower Manhattan serve as permanent, physical tributes to those lost, and any act of desecration — regardless of the vandal’s stated political motive — reopens wounds for the people who still carry that grief.

Xelina has long been open about her father’s death being one of the defining tragedies of her life, something she has referenced in interviews away from the wrestling ring over the years. It’s a layer of her story that fans may not always associate with the in-ring persona built during her time in WWE, first as a manager and valet for Andrade and later as a performer and on-screen figure in her own right before her exit from the company.

This story sits outside the usual world of storylines and championships, but it’s a reminder that wrestlers are public figures whose personal lives intersect with national news in ways that can’t be scripted. How Xelina continues to process and speak about the incident in the days ahead will likely resonate with fans well beyond the wrestling audience, given the broader public attention already on the vandalism and the activist responsible for it.

PW Exclusive will continue to follow any further comment from Xelina as this story develops.