Article courtesy Justin Barrasso/si.com

WrestleMania 36 ended the WrestleMania streak for “Ringside Charlie”

WrestleMania is more than merely a wrestling show. It is a cultural milestone among fans, and traveling to WrestleMania is a yearly tradition for much of WWE’s fan base.

Charlie Adorno, better known as “Ringside Charlie,” attended the first 35 editions of WrestleMania, a streak that began in 1985 at the original WrestleMania.

“From Madison Square Garden, right up until last year,” said Adorno, who chose to attend WrestleMania II–which was held at three separate locations in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles–at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. “It was the most local of the three, but I was such a big Roddy Piper fan, and that’s where he was appearing, so it made the most sense for me.”

Adorno’s streak comes to an end in 2020, as WWE filmed without fans on a closed set, and he will instead be watching from the comfort of home in Staten Island. Even with the restrictions caused by COVID-19, Adorno nearly found a way to continue the streak.

“A couple of people internally wanted me to come,” said Adorno. “They even said that if some fans were allowed in, I’d be at the top of the list. So there was definitely talk about the possibility, but with all of the strict guidelines, they were already at capacity for the amount of people they could have in the building. It wasn’t meant to be. If it was possible, I would have been there.”

Those saddened by the end of his consecutive WrestleMania appearances can take solace in knowing that Adorno has another even more impressive streak. He has not missed a WWE show at Madison Square Garden since 1982. And, like The Undertaker following his loss at WrestleMania 30, Adorno will be back for another round.

“I already got my refund from the plane ticket to Tampa, and it’s been credited to my flight to Los Angeles next year for WrestleMania 37,” said Adorno. “I’ll be back next year, ready to go.”