Jonathan Coachman discusses homosexuality in WWE

[Steveweiser]

Taken from a submission to F4WOnline.com.

So Jonathan Coachman filled in today on ESPNRadio's Colin Cowherd show. With him was Linda Cohn, a fairly well-known and respected female anchor.

And the topic was Did the NFL had the right to inquire about players possibly being homosexual as part of the NFL combine, it spun out of the Te'o story.

Coachman offered the following perspective. He said spent a decade in the WWE, where several of the wrestlers were openly homosexual and some of the hardcore/old timers were as well. And it was never an issue in his words. He talked about being naked and changing in front of the guys or guys changing in front of each other and it never coming up.

Cohn for her part, sounded very surprised as she said that Coachman had told these stories before (presumably off-air) about how wrestlers or wrestling involved a lot of skin on skin contact and that no one considered it a big deal.

Coachman continued saying they were on the road 5 nights a week and when you're on the road, a person's sexual orientation along with everything else comes out and people grow to accept it and move on. I believe Cohn further compared the situation to that of a family traveling together. They then went to break.

Personal Note: Cohn sounded very surprised when she chimed after Coachman spoke the first time although she had to know what he was going to say for the show's topic. I wonder if she just learned or heard those stories during the show prep.

The segment itself should be on ESPN Radio's Podcenter section for 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd' and it should be labeled as such if you want to go listen.

BTW the personal note was from the guy who sent it in, not from Meltzer or Alvarez.

[Legion]

So, another round of 'Guess the Gays' anyone?

[FinalGwen]

That's nice to hear. Given how the product can sometimes be a bit reactionary, it's comforting to know that it's that accepting backstage.

[BiloxiParish]

The only gay guys I knew were Pat Patterson and Kanyon

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2013 7:45:10 GMT -5 BiloxiParish said:

The only gay guys I knew were Pat Patterson and Kanyon

Orlando Jordan's Bi, that count?

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2013 7:51:53 GMT -5 @fsinfan said:

Mar 2, 2013 7:45:10 GMT -5 BiloxiParish said:

The only gay guys I knew were Pat Patterson and Kanyon

Orlando Jordan's Bi, that count?

I guess; by "gay" Coachman probably meant everything within the LGBT spectrum (though I don't think we've had any transgender talent so far). Those two are the only ones I've heard of who are out, aside from Terry Garvin and Pat Patterson - both of whom retired long ago. Luke Robinson (the Tough Enough runner up) is definitely something, though.

If he actually said "several," I guess some guys just didn't want to be public about their orientation. Which is understandable. Tolerance has come a long way even in the five years since Coachman left.

[BiloxiParish]

Mar 2, 2013 7:51:53 GMT -5 @fsinfan said:

Mar 2, 2013 7:45:10 GMT -5 BiloxiParish said:

The only gay guys I knew were Pat Patterson and Kanyon

Orlando Jordan's Bi, that count?

I couldn't remember if he was around when coach was there

[xCompackx]

If this is true, then I think that's really cool. Being gay or bi shouldn't be a big deal to anyone, especially in a business like pro wrestling.

[Deleted]

I actually listened to that discussion yesterday while heading to the post office and stopping by Little Ceasar's.

I mean, there's nothing really wrong with homosexuality, in my opinion.

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2013 8:47:50 GMT -5 BiloxiParish said:

Mar 2, 2013 7:51:53 GMT -5 @fsinfan said:

Orlando Jordan's Bi, that count?

I couldn't remember if he was around when coach was there

He was around in '04-'05, when Coachman was assistant to Bischoff (I think?)

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Mar 2, 2013 10:38:49 GMT -5 @spindoc said:

Mark Henry as an Omar Little style gay character would be awesome.

Mark actually reminds me of Snoop if she were 400 pounds and male.

[stealthamo]

Mar 2, 2013 8:47:50 GMT -5 BiloxiParish said:

Mar 2, 2013 7:51:53 GMT -5 @fsinfan said:

Orlando Jordan's Bi, that count?

I couldn't remember if he was around when coach was there

He was. Jordan was around from '03-mid '06. Coach was around until the beginning of '08. But now that I think about it, I'm not sure how often they'd be around each other, since Coach was usually Raw and Jordan was usually Smackdown (back when there was a brand split).

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2013 10:41:17 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Mar 2, 2013 10:38:49 GMT -5 @spindoc said:

Mark Henry as an Omar Little style gay character would be awesome.

Mark actually reminds me of Snoop if she were 400 pounds and male.

Wait Snoop was female? I just thought Snoop was just a little junior higher!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

I think most guys who are, don't want to openly come out moreso for what fan reaction would be and the fear that it would affect their future opportunities.

I don't see how there can't be an openly Gay wrestler. The sexual orientation of a wrestler really has no baring on an angle unless it's a romantic one.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Mar 2, 2013 13:18:49 GMT -5 @ricrocket said:

I think most guys who are, don't want to openly come out moreso for what fan reaction would be and the fear that it would affect their future opportunities.

I don't see how there can't be an openly Gay wrestler. The sexual orientation of a wrestler really has no baring on an angle unless it's a romantic one.

It doesn't, but I think the gay wrestler would be worried that they'd be defined as "The Gay Wrestler" or that WWE would make their character all about their orientation.

Although I wouldn't mind if you had just a normal wrestler who happened to be gay. But of course there would be feuds related to their orientation. There are plenty of viable angles on the current roster for someone.


Big Show - Big Show has already been portrayed as some "superior giant" bigot. Have Show do condescending things like referring to "him" with finger quotes, etc and rant about how he's going to destroy "Your Big Gay Hero".

Jack Swagger/Zeb Colter - You can have them go on and on about how this wrestler isn't a "real man", and therefore he isn't a "real American".

The Shield - The Shield can claim that the gay wrestler's orientation is an "injustice" that makes the locker room uncomfortable. In the chance that the gay character is a campy stereotype, the Shield can also claim that the wrestler's behavior makes it harder for other gay wrestlers to come out of the closet because they're worried about fan's perception of them.

[lionheart21]

Mar 2, 2013 9:44:25 GMT -5 xCompackx said:

If this is true, then I think that's really cool. Being gay or bi shouldn't be a big deal to anyone, especially in a business like pro wrestling.

This. All of this.

[fw91]

off course its not a big deal, but when he says SEVERAL it's a bit surprising. When he means openly does he just mean within the company and not public?

[Essential1]

Probably The Coach is.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Mar 2, 2013 14:16:12 GMT -5 fw91 said:

off course its not a big deal, but when he says SEVERAL it's a bit surprising. When he means openly does he just mean within the company and not public?

I assume he does. There are a lot of guys who's personal lives we aren't really all that aware of. It wouldn't be far fetched to think they might be gay, bi, or at the very least "on the down low".

[BigWill]

Mar 2, 2013 14:21:10 GMT -5 Essential1 said:

Probably The Coach is.

He has a wife and 2 kids.