He's Gay! He's Gay!

[Lizuka #BLM]

So we had a wrestling crowd chanting that a dude is gay in an entirely wholesome and awesome way. One of those things kind of astounding and extremely heartwarming to see that even a decade ago probably would've felt absolutely mindblowing to try to imagine.

[Cyno]

It's also so nice to see a comedic wrestling segment where the gay guy delivered the punchline instead of being the butt of the jokes.

Really between this week's Dynamite/Rampage crowd and last week's Collision crowd, it was so nice to see thousands of wrestling fans so loudly support the community in what feels like very uncertain times.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I really loved that whole segment, I really think QTV is turning a corner with its gimmick and it shows just how important Rampage is to allow these acts to find footing when they don't initially click

Harley's great and got incredible almost Dominick Mysterio level heat, and Johnny TV is a perfect addition and a great Final Boss for the stable, especially if they eventually force Hobbs out. Curious who the other masked person is too

Overall, great way to set up a mini feud, everyone delivered, and that chant was the icing on the cake tbh

[clifford]

Amazing. Just a great, wholesome moment.

Harley's rap was kinda fire too, I know she's the heel so ya gotta boo but she kinda killed it...

[eJm]

It’s also really symbolic that Billy Gunn’s there and gave Bowens a big hug.

Like, dude was in an angle where he and his company had to lie to the media and GLADD about a storyline that turned out to be a massive prank to everyone for publicity back in a time when it was still easy to ridicule stuff like that so for him to now be a part of this shows how things can change and evolve.

[Super Duper Dragunov]

I will have to search this out. I saw the title and thought "oh god...what now..."

[Lizuka #BLM]

Jun 24, 2023 3:47:11 GMT -5 Super Duper Dragunov said:

I will have to search this out. I saw the title and thought "oh god...what now..."

It's all over Twitter, is where I saw it.

[discoelysium]

A genuinely lovely and sweet moment. must be so affirming for Bowens. And god wrestling crowds have come a long way

[FinalGwen]

For any queer fan who grew up during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras, this is just such a sea change and the crowd really helped make this something magical. Really glad that Bowens was able to have this moment.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

It's so funny just to see "HE'S GAY" trend on Twitter with NO context at all lol

[Rubix Cube Johnny]

See this actually cheered me up.

I saw WWE's pride shirts on twitter last week and it really f'ing infuriated me. Selling pride shirts a month after doing a live PPV AGAIN in a blood-oil slave state that murders gay people.

For all it's faults, AEW has been pretty consistant with being LGBT-inclusive. I mean could be a bit better, there's a lot of LGBT wrestlers in the indies who deserve a shot in the mainstream. But it's infinitley better then doing business with theological murderers and slavers.

Sorry had to get that off my chest.

[Tiger Millionaire]

Jun 24, 2023 4:32:10 GMT -5 FinalGwen said:

For any queer fan who grew up during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras, this is just such a sea change and the crowd really helped make this something magical. Really glad that Bowens was able to have this moment.

I know it's glib just to say THIS but THIS. I'm not queer, but I am old, and seeing a such a positive reaction from fans and the company after living through so many eras of pro wrestling which was so anti-Gay and used it for heat, it's blows my mind.

[Milkman Norm]

He thinks the drugs made him this way!

But in all seriousness it was a great moment. It's nice to have those times as a wrestling fan that don't make you cringe or apologetic to non fans ya know.

[Kalmia]

I didn't want Rampage but I did catch this and it was so good to see. The promo was structured so that Bowen saying he was gay would get a pop and it did. It was really good to see.

[Burst]

Jun 24, 2023 6:47:38 GMT -5 Rubix Cube Johnny said:

I saw WWE's pride shirts on twitter last week and it really f'ing infuriated me. Selling pride shirts a month after doing a live PPV AGAIN in a blood-oil slave state that murders gay people.

For all it's faults, AEW has been pretty consistent with being LGBT-inclusive. I mean could be a bit better, there's a lot of LGBT wrestlers in the indies who deserve a shot in the mainstream. But it's infinitely better then doing business with theological murderers and slavers.

AEW may be one of only a handful of companies where the pride merch doesn't feel forced or opportunistic. Yes, it could be better, but "could be better" can be a rabbit hole of an argument at times, and as has been pointed out, for a pro wrestling company to get where they've gotten after everything the medium has done over the years, I'll take it for sure.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Jun 24, 2023 6:47:38 GMT -5 Rubix Cube Johnny said:

See this actually cheered me up.

I saw WWE's pride shirts on twitter last week and it really f'ing infuriated me. Selling pride shirts a month after doing a live PPV AGAIN in a blood-oil slave state that murders gay people.

For all it's faults, AEW has been pretty consistant with being LGBT-inclusive. I mean could be a bit better, there's a lot of LGBT wrestlers in the indies who deserve a shot in the mainstream. But it's infinitley better then doing business with theological murderers and slavers.

Sorry had to get that off my chest.

I think the big thing is just that AEW has done a lot of things right. Especially where it matters, they have been really strong on it. Obviously, yeah, they've done well to not engage with violent regimes and run propaganda for countries where homosexuality is a crime, that's big. But even beyond that; AEW isn't bogged down by decades-old garbage storylines written by the same people still running the company. It's had a cleaner slate and it has consistently used that clean slate to present its queer wrestler with dignity. Nyla's gender is never used for heat or for cheap pops. Bowens's sexuality here is a gag only within the confines of a clueless heel believing he's attracted to her, and his gayness is treated as normal and accepted by everyone, including Billy Gunn who just loves his dead gay son. When AEW puts out Pride shirts, even aside from the charity proceeds that the shirts bring in, it feels a lot more earned because they aren't contradicting it in the places where it doesn't sell t-shirts. Even just as a promotion on their own merits, they're genuinely pushing the envelope for inclusivity and presentation.

[bob]

It was really cool to see this

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

Does this make Bowens the first acknowledged open gay wrestler in a major company? Like I know we've had several bi and gay wrestlers that were open outside the ring but none that I can think of like Bowens where it's acknowledged and part of his character.

[Cyno]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct4SlQ1Mg3K

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Jun 24, 2023 11:52:38 GMT -5 01010010 01101001 01100011 said:

Does this make Bowens the first acknowledged open gay wrestler in a major company? Like I know we've had several bi and gay wrestlers that were open outside the ring but none that I can think of like Bowens where it's acknowledged and part of his character.

Orlando Jordan is the only one who comes to mind and... 😬