Frankie Kazarian
A high-flying technician of the ring, he helped define the fast-paced, innovative style of modern independent wrestling for over two decades.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: August 4·Generation X
Biography
Frankie Kazarian isn't a mainstream household name, but for dedicated wrestling fans, he is a cornerstone of the indie scene. Debuting in the late 1990s, he honed his craft on the brutal circuit of Southern California, developing a crisp, athletic style that blended technical skill with daredevil aerial moves. His reputation grew in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), where he became a multiple-time champion and helped establish the promotion's identity as a hub for in-ring excellence. This led to major national platforms: he was a founding member of The Addiction in Ring of Honor, a multi-time TNA X-Division Champion, and an original roster member of All Elite Wrestling. While never the perpetual world champion, Kazarian earned respect as the 'wrestler's wrestler'—a reliable, versatile performer who could have a great match with anyone and elevate every show he was on. His career is a map of American wrestling's alternative landscape in the 21st century.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Frankie was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frankie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Frankie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became a one-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion by winning the 2012 Bound for Glory Series.
- Won the PWG World Championship, cementing his status as a top star in the influential independent promotion.
- Captured the TNA X-Division Championship on seven separate occasions.
- Was a founding member of the successful tag team 'The Addiction' with Christopher Daniels in Ring of Honor.
Did You Know?
His ring name 'Kazarian' is a modification of his real middle name, Kazarian.
He is an accomplished guitarist and has performed his own entrance music.
He trained under legendary wrestlers Killer Kowalski and Tony DeVito.
He made a cameo appearance as a wrestler in the 2008 film 'The Wrestler.'
“I'm the king of the indies, and I've been proving it for over twenty years.”
