Listen up because these pro wrestlers on the list have something to tell the entire world. Not a lot of people are aware that they are part of the LGBTQ community! They are not only breaking records in the industry, but they are also breaking barriers outside of the ring. Let us take a look at these wrestlers and their inspiring stories about coming to terms with their sexuality and how they came out of the closet! We hope that their stories are going to inspire you to take pride in who you really are no matter what sexual orientation or gender you identify as.
These Pro Wrestlers Take Pride In The Fact That They Are Members Of The LGBTQ Community
Darren Young
Born Fred Rosser, Darren Young revealed his sexuality in 2013. What made it such a big deal was that he came out as gay while he was working in WWE. This was the first time that anything of that sort has happened in the industry. He was aware that he had a huge platform as a big athlete, so this in itself did wonders for the community. He is a huge advocate for LGBTQ rights and even started a campaign known as “Block the Hate” in an effort to end discrimination against its members. On top of that, he also tends to integrate his sexuality into his work, even adding a rainbow flag to his presentation in the ring. It is already brave of him to accept who he is, but it is impressive that he decided to share it with the world!
Darren Young
Paige
Since she has been wrestling for quite some time now, Paige is no stranger to the limelight at all. She only recently admitted that she is bisexual, however. She is a cast member of Total Divas, which is a reality show that follows the lives of pro wrestlers. In one episode, she let the whole world in on something big about herself. When Rosa Mendes, another LGBTQ wrestler, kissed her, she said, “I feel like it’s ok to do these days. It’s like the 21st century.” When Rosa asked her if she had been with other girls in the past, this was what she answered: “Well yeah, it’s the 21st century — I just said that.”
Paige
Mike Parrow
We daresay that no one knows how to do a 180 in life better than Mike Parrow does. Among other things, he has appeared in a number of All Japan Pro Wrestling events. He assumed that he was straight for the longest time. When Good Morning Britain talked to him, here was what the popular athlete told the host: “I tried to cure my homosexuality.” He eventually accepted himself for who he was and took it several steps further. As an ode to his personal journey, his wrestling outfit now comes with glints of the rainbow. We hope that his incredible story can help people who are in the same boat!
Paige
Nyla Rose
This powerhouse of an athlete has taken the world by storm in the past couple of years. Nyla Rose made a name for herself as the victor of the AEW Women’s World Championship. She also made history as the first American transgender female wrestler! Even though there are other athletes in the community who decided to use their sexuality a part of their persona onstage, she is not one of them. While she likes to separate this part of her life from her career, she is very vocal outside the stage. In a 2019 Pride and Joy event, she was seen sporting a rainbow wardrobe alongside Sonny Kiss, her fellow LGBTQ pro wrestler.
Mike Parrow
Sonya Deville
Born Daria Berenato, Sonya Deville is another young and gifted individual who is slaying it in the world of sports. Did you know that she is the first WWE wrestler who has ever come out as a lesbian? We are sure that she is not going to be the last one either. She has not looked back since then and even used her sexuality to amplify her ring persona. When she first appeared in WrestleMania 2018, she sported an outfit that had a rainbow theme. Considering just how big of an event it was, she was very brave to do such a thing. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she has inspired others by doing this.
Nyla Rose
Jake Atlas
When it comes to the independent wrestling world, Jake Atlas is a familiar face. If you have watched him in the past, you must already know that he is a part of the LGBTQ community. He has no qualms hiding his sexual orientation. As a matter of fact, his onstage persona reflected this part of his life throughout the early days of his career. But it would seem that he got less comfortable about donning rainbow getups as he started to get bigger. Despite this, let us not forget that WWE wrestlers like Darren Young have already paved the way for a new generation of wrestlers. We are sure that he has nothing to fear!
Jake Atlas
Rosa Mendes
The world found out about her sexuality in a pretty unusual way! It happened during a 2014 episode of a reality TV show called Total Divas, which follows a number of young female wrestlers. This was how she came out as bisexual! Despite this, she let everyone know that defining her identity is not simple for her. She even said that even though she has experience with women, she is really “more into guys.” On top of this, she used to have a long-term relationship with a musician by the name of Bobby Schubenski. They even have a kid together! At any rate, she is still a huge part of the LGBTQ community.
Rosa Mendes
Charlie Morgan
We have another wrestler that decided to come out of the closet in a very brave way. Charlie Morgan had been a marquee name in an event held by Pro Wrestling: EVE in late 2017. Millions of people had been watching the show when she revealed that she is into girls! You might want to think twice if you think that there is nothing hard about what she did. As a matter of fact, she even said that she felt very nervous before she did this. We bet that she was glad that so many people have been supportive of her!
Charlie Morgan
Cassandro
Also known as the “Mexican Sensation,” he went through an epic journey as he looked for meaning in the public eye. Cassandro started out using the stage name Mister Romano, but no one knew that he was gay during that point in his career. It was only later on that he chose to step outside his shell with the encouragement of Baby Sharon, his fellow wrestler. Today, he is known as the face of exótico. This is a wrestling style that involves dressing up in drag! Aside from that, he is also a pioneer when it comes to self-expression in an industry like this one. We hope that he continues to be an inspiration to others!
Cassandro
Lola Starr
Even though Lola Starr was not the first openly trans person in the industry, she was one of the first people in the wrestling world to come out in public. It must be a lot easier to stand out since the LGBTQ community is not that big in this industry. This is the reason her decision to come out is considered to be a bold move. She is a pioneer in the independent wrestling community in more ways than one! There is no doubt in our minds at all that we will hear more about this brave and inspiring wrestler in the future.
Lola Starr
Shayna Baszler
Every single one of us has a dream, but not everyone is brave enough to go after it. How far are you willing to go for your goal? For Shayne Baszler, it is less about how far she is willing to go and more about what she is willing to ignore. LGBTQ wrestlers are not exactly abundant in the world of wrestling. What makes it even worse is the fact that their gender orientation and sexual identity usually get swept underneath the rug. We are glad that there are people like Baszler who are not afraid to hide their true selves but let us just say that her employers could be more enthusiastic about it. At any rate, she has played a part when it comes to raising awareness for many people in the sporting world.
Shayna Baszler
Diamante
Also known as Priscilla Zuniga and Angel Rose, Diamante is best known for working under Impact Wrestling. It was there that she made waves as a queer woman in the world of sports. There are many LGBTQ wrestlers who have been unable to express themselves, but she is a little luckier than most. You see, she is dating Kiera Hogan, who is her fellow female LGBTQ wrestler. We are sure that it is much easier to have someone from the same field as your partner. After all, they probably understand the difficulties of the job, as well as the struggles of being an LGBTQ person in the industry.
Diamante
Kiera Hogan
We are not surprised to hear that Diamante and Kiera Hogan connected with one another since they are both Impact Wrestling wrestlers. Hogan is one of the most prominent voices when it comes to the LGBTQ community in the wrestling world. Let us take a look at how she recounted her experience. “On this final day of Pride Month, I first want to start by saying, look how far we’ve come. Growing up I was bullied and having my life threatened just for being me,” she said. She then added, “This year I vowed to myself that I was going to be unapologetically me. To be happy with who I am.” What a lovely message!
Kiera Hogan
Mercedes Martinez
In July 2019, Mercedes Martinez decided to come out as a lesbian. By then, the WWE wrestler has already made a name for herself in this tough industry. She never fails to deliver when she is on the ring, so she had no problems in terms of job security. We doubt that there is any network out there that would think twice about hiring her! The pro athlete has already appeared in promotions such as World Xtreme Wrestling, Shimmer Women Athletes, and Women Superstars Uncensored. The members of the LGBTQ community must be glad that they have someone like her speaking up about their struggles.
Mercedes Martinez
Dave Marshall
Before he entered the ring, he was a personal trainer first. Two years into his career as a pro wrestler, he told his girlfriend of the time that he is bi. However, he eventually came to terms with his real sexual identity and let the world know that actually identified as gay more than he did as bi two years later! He was glad to get more support than he thought he would. He said, “My family, even a very homophobic uncle, were all very supportive.” Since then, he has been vocal about how important it is to be accepted since the LGBTQ community and society at large is seeing higher rates of anxiety and depression.
Dave Marshall
Piper Niven
Thanks to Piper Niven, we can see what a Scottish wrestler can do when they have their eyes on the prize! She made a lot of noise in the industry for several years until she landed a gig with WWE under the NXT UK brand. This was when she started to go by Viper. In 2019, she came out of the closet as bisexual on September 23. It was an appropriate date because it was Celebrate Bisexuality Day! A month after that, she let the world know that her boyfriend proposed to her. Fans were thrilled to know that she said yes. We can’t wait to see what life has in store for this talented wrestler.
Piper Niven
Kris Wolf
Born in the early ‘80s, Kris Wolf might not technically be a millennial, but she has utilized their platforms to further the causes she believes in. She has since retired from wrestling but remains vocal online about her advocacies. One of these things would be LGBTQ rights. If you were wondering, the wrestler identifies as a lesbian. In January 2019, she announced that she is now married to her partner. You should check out her Instagram page if you want to see photos of them together! We bet that you will see why her fanbase continues to grow. There is something special about her contagiously positive vibe!
Kris Wolf
Orlando Jordan
All wrestlers, regardless of gender and sexual orientation will have to deal with storyline problems about their characters. Pro wrestling, if you did not already know, is scripted. This means that promoters need to find someone with a lot of stage presence but can fit into the act. This bisexual athlete did not always fit the big picture that the executives at WWE are going for. For a while, Orlando Jordan was able to hold down a steady gig with them until he decided to pursue a career in independent wrestling. He then saw that it was not that much easier there, so he decided to simply start his own wrestling schools.
Orlando Jordan
Sonny Kiss
We are sure that anyone who goes up against Sonny Kiss prays that he does not use “Sonny-Side Up” On them. After all, his signature move is quite a destructive blow. A part of All Elite Wrestling, he is another rising LGBTQ star in this competitive industry. It is interesting to watch him in the ring since his moves have been influenced by his extensive dance background. As you can imagine, fans enjoy seeing him in action for this very reason! Aside from that, his fans are also fascinated by his long-term relationship with Killian McMurphy, another wrestler. The two of them have been together since 2017.
Sonny Kiss
Jack Sexsmith
It is always fun to watch the members of the younger generation make their own way in the world after using the paths paved by the ones who came before them. As for Jack Sexsmith, he has laid his cards out on the table from the start. The promising wrestler is not afraid to hold back on anything and is proud of this. Nearly every single thing about his persona is provocative. He has taken to Twitter to talk about his sexuality. “I’m not gay, I’m not straight, I’m not even bi,” he said and then added a clarification with the use of a Marvel reference. “I’m pansexual! Essentially, I’m the Deadpool of the wrestling world.”
Jack Sexsmith
Matt Cage
Darren Young shocked the world by coming out of the closet. Something tells us that Matt Cage would not have done the same thing if the older man had not. A part of IWA Mid-South and Dragon Gate USA, Cage realized that he had the ability to do good by letting people into his world. This was not the only internal issue that he was going through, however. He later admitted, “For the longest time, I claimed that I was bisexual. However, I have no real intentions of pursuing females at this stage of my life. Sorry, ladies. I’m officially pulling myself off of the market. Don’t hate me too bad.”
Matt Cage
DJ Summers
Now making his way to the top of the wrestling latter, DJ Summers is another LGBTQ member in the sport. Even though he is not yet a part of WWE, he is working for Celestial Bodiez. It is a company owned by a former WWE legend by the name of Kaitlyn. Like the other young wrestlers on the list, he is now changing the story for the generations that will come after him. With his boyish charm and lavish outfits, he is challenging the way people view wrestler. You should check out his Instagram page, which he has used to share what it is like to be gay in the wrestling world. Many followers admire him for his efforts!
DJ Summers
Anthony Bowens
Just so you know, Anthony Bowens is not only concerned with giving us a good time when he is in the ring. Even though he always delivers a great show, his contribution to the wrestling world is not limited to his stage performances. In January 2017, he came out as bisexual. This allowed him to be a big voice for the members of the LGBTQ community who have yet to come out of the closet. “For the longest time, I claimed that I was bisexual. However, I have no real intention of pursuing females at this stage of my life. Sorry, ladies. I’m officially pulling myself off of the market. Don’t hate me too bad,” he told Sports Illustrated.
Anthony Bowens
Jim Sterling
In more ways than one, Jim Sterling is not your regular wrestler. Not a member of WWE just yet, he was able to join the world of wrestling in an unexpected way. He started on YouTube by running a show called The Jimquisition. He entertained us by dressing up as various wrestling icons and then parodying them. If there is anything that we know about him, it is that he is one fearless guy. Aside from poking fun at wrestlers, he has also revealed that he identifies as queer and pansexual. This is a great way to make the LGBTQ community more visible in the world of wrestling. Thank god for Jim Sterling!
Jim Sterling
Candy Lee
The lively Candy Lee is another powerful LGBTQ voice in the wrestling community. The New Zealand-based trans woman has gained traction in the field as a two-time champion of the New Zealand chapter of Impact Pro Wrestling. She has a lot of things to say about the journey that she went through and the future of trans people in her field. “When it comes to trans issues, I feel like not enough people listen to actual trans people’s experiences,” she said in an emotional interview. She has also decried the suffering that the trans community goes through by sharing, “There is a line that people shouldn’t cross, and they cross it all the time. People downplay trans people.” She is truly an inspiration to all of us!
Candy Lee
Jordan Blade
The next person on the list is a rising star in the world of underground wrestling. As an openly bisexual woman, Jordan Blade has been making a name for herself in the industry! However, diversity is not the only thing that she brings to the table. A fellow wrestler has said that her ankle lock finishing move “practically guarantees victory.” Well, they do not call her “Anklebreaker” for nothing! This powerlifter does not need a leg up. We are sure that she is going to be even bigger in the future. Just you wait. With her work ethic, we have a feeling that she has what it takes to be a part of WWE!
Jordan Blade
Eddy McQueen
When he found out that wrestlers would pretend to be gay for a wrestling storyline, Eddy McQueen was not thrilled at all. This simply did not sit well with him as a part of the LGBTQ community. “They don’t know what it’s like,” he told Vice magazine. “They haven’t had to deal with the bullying. It’s not authentic, and it’s like a slap in the face.” It might be brave to be a publicly out wrestler, but it is even more admirable to stand up for your community like this. McQueen did not have an easy journey to get to where he is now, but we are glad that he can hold his ground when it comes to such a sensitive topic.
Eddy McQueen
Cassius The Neon Explosion
Let us just get it out of the way that Cassius the Neon Explosion is not Cassius Clay. No, he is a wrestler based in London who uses his razzle dazzle persona to stun opponents before the fight even begins! The openly gay wrestler uses rainbow colors in his getups. This must be his way to show how proud he is in his identity. He usually uses Instagram as a platform to talk about what it is like to be a gay wrestler. We are not shocked to hear that his follower count is only getting higher! The LGBTQ community must be glad to be represented in the wrestling world by someone like Cassius the Neon Explosion!
Cassius The Neon Explosion
Tommy Purr
It does not matter who he faces off in the ring because Tommy Purr is not going to let anyone off the hook! In case you did not know, he is quite famous for his frequent feuds and nonstop trash-talking with his fellow wrestlers. An openly gay man, he has also spoken up about straight guys who “act” gay for a storyline. “I don’t necessarily mind or get offended by the gimmicks,” he said. However, he clarified what he meant with that by saying, “I wouldn’t be offended by a gay guy playing a straight character. But what does happen is that gay wrestlers don’t get the opportunity to show audiences that we are athletic and just as tough as the straight wrestlers.”
Tommy Purr
Solo Dyne Darling
We have seen a bunch of wrestlers who identify as gay, bi, or lesbian, but where are the pansexuals? Well, Solo Dyne Darling is one of them! She recently took to Instagram to say, “I am Pansexual, I am Mexican, Puerto Rican & Italian. I am proud, I am a fighter for love. We are unique in all the world.” We agree with her that every single one of us is unique in a different way! It is nice to see someone else take pride in who they are. Hopefully, the fact that she has come out of the closet would inspire other pansexuals to do the same thing. They do not deserve to live in fear of being discriminated against.
Solo Dyne Darling
Rick Cataldo
A self-proclaimed drag queen, Rick Cataldo has given us two cents about the way he feels when straight wrestlers pretend to be gay inside the ring. “There’s a problem when these straight guys who play gay characters. Those guys are just heteros mocking us gays and making coin,” he said when he spoke to Vice magazine. The Brooklyn native uses the stage name Boy Diva, so this is what he is known as in the indie wrestling scene. On Instagram, he describes himself as a New York City socialite, activist, and visionary as well. With all the courage that he has shown over the years, he counts as another win for the LGBTQ community!
Rick Cataldo
Devon Monroe
There are not a lot of people in the wrestling world who climbed the charts as fast as Devon Monroe did. The young athlete goes by the stage name “Black Sexcellence.” He has an incredible charisma that fills the room and is impossible to ignore in the ring! A part of the LGBTQ community, he also wears rainbow colors as he shows off his body-slams and acrobatic feats on the stage. When it comes to his sexual orientation, he is confident about who he is. In the past, he has said on his Instagram page that he is “proud to be living MY truth.” We are happy that he takes so much pride in his identity!
Devon Monroe
Still Life With Apricots And Pears
Mind you, we are not talking about a painting. No, there really is a wrestler who goes by the stage name Still Life With Apricots And Pears. They identify as non-binary, which is why you should refer to them not as “he” or “she” but as “they.” Even though there are several LGBTQ people in the wrestling scene, it is not common to find a non-binary individual. This makes Still Life With Apricots And Pears even braver because they are the first wrestler to come out as one. Aside from that, they also kick butt in the ring by winning accolades such as the Chikara Young Lions Cup title. What do you think they will get up to next?
Still Life With Apricots And Pears
Dark Sheik
One of the best things about wrestling is that you get the chance to reinvent yourself regardless of who you are. There are endless possibilities. Just take a look at Dark Sheik, who is a great example of a person who is living life to the fullest. First, she is a trans woman who is open about her struggles. After that, she also took on the moniker of “undisputed queen of cosplay.” She likes to dress up in elaborate costumes to play fictional characters! It is hard not to see why a cosplayer would be interested in pro wrestling! However, our favorite thing about her is her persistent spirit that continues to intrigue fans.
Dark Sheik
Russell Rogue
Just so you know, Russell Rogue is an appropriate stage name for this guy. He gets up to a lot of chaos inside the ring, after all. Based on what he says on his social media pages, he identifies as bisexual. He might promote acceptance, equality, and peace, but this does not mean that he plans to go easy on his opponents inside the ring. His sinister tendencies are nothing more than a part of his stage character, but it definitely makes for high-quality entertainment. No doubt about it, this up-and-coming wrestler is going to do even greater things in the future! We can’t wait because we are sure that his career is only going to get bigger.
Russell Rogue