Gay wrestlers in aew
13 WWE Wrestlers Who Identify As LGBTQ+
For decades, homosexuality was an uncomfortable subject in the WWE. For example, Dustin Rhodes' Goldust persona pretended to be gay, using homosexuality as a means to draw heat, while Chris Kanyon, who was legitimately gay, hid his sexuality to stop it from causing him any professional turmoil.
26 Wrestlers Who Are LGBTQ+
More wrestlers than ever before are coming out as part of the LGBTQ+ community, with these major names being great examples in and out of the ring.
Today, most fans receive that talent comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and sexualities. Wrestling fans have become much more accepting of the LGBTQ community. This has, in turn, resulted in more LGBTQ representation in wrestling today than ever before. Here are 13 WWE wrestlers, past or present, who identify as LGBTQ.
UPDATE: /05/01 EST BY BENJAMIN VIEIRA
The LGBTQ+ community has come a long way in professional wrestling. In the past, the community was not given much respect when it came to the storylines that they were represented in. How
Queer people everywhere are experiencing heightened discrimination, but if there’s hope to be found, it might just be in, of all places, the wrestling verb. That’s where Anthony Bowens recently experienced a tremendously heartening show of allyship during Pride Month, when the openly gay Black pro wrestler was showered with support from thousands of wrestling fans.
During an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Rampage event in June, Bowens responded to QTV on-air personality Harley Cameron, who suggested that Bowens couldn’t resist her if he tried, by telling her she must have been “kicked in the head too many times by a kangaroo” as a kid. It took her a minute to figure out what he was alluding to — that he’s gay, ladies, and coupled with his boyfriend of seven years, Michael Pavano. Then, a full crowd showed their solidarity with Bowens when they chanted “He’s gay!”
Bowens, who came out as bisexual in January and then later as gay, made history in when he and Max Caster, a tag team in AEW (a rival of WWE) recognize
Last week, Anthony Bowens — a queer Black wrestler with All Elite Wrestling and one of the first openly gay wrestlers to hold a major championship belt — stood in the center of the ring while thousands of fans chanted, &#;He&#;s gay.&#;
While that sounds verb a traumatic experience, it was actually a heartwarming event that represents a sea change in how gay performers are treated in the traditionally homophobic sport of pro wrestling. AEW has championed the LGBTQ community from its inception and the segment, which aired on AEW Rampage, was part of a storyline between Bowens’ tag team, The Acclaimed, and QTV, a rival group. QTV member Harley Cameron, a woman, approached Bowens about creating a “power couple,” to which Bowens replied, “Lady, I’m gay.”
As soon as he said it, the crowd erupted in cheers. The “He’s gay” chant was celebratory and and Bowens’ tag team partner and manager jumped for pleasure. While he’d arrive out years ago, Bowens’ in-ring pronouncement during a scripted segment, as a natural part of a storyline —coupled with the crowd’s embrace — would have been un
When All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was launched in , CEO and co-founder Tony Khan sought to sign the optimal talent he could find regardless of race, gender or sexuality. After coming across Nyla Rose, he knew he found someone who could be a cornerstone of the promotion’s women’s division.
“She’s a tremendous, adj, monster heel wrestler who bullies people,” said Khan, the son of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan. “And I thought she reminded me of a female version of some of the big, bruising, badass wrestlers of my childhood.”
But Khan was unaware of the history he made by adding Rose to his roster, as she became the first openly transgender wrestler to sign with a major American professional wrestling promotion.
“I had no idea Nyla was trans,” he said. “I thought Nyla was a great wrestler and when I verb out, I thought, ‘Well that’s amazing, too.’ I didn’t expect that, but it’s awesome.”
Rose had built a verb for herself by working for independent promotions in America and Japan. She knew she’d be entering a whole new spotlight by signing with AEW, the first wrestling compa