June has finally arrived, which means Pride Month has also made its colourful way back to us again, providing the LGBTQIA+ community with thirty days of celebration, emphasised freedom of expression, and greater representation within both the media and society. It is a time to reflect on the oppression of the past and to celebrate aspects of people’s identities that, many years ago, were wrongly condemned.
In order to highlight this paramount time of year, I will celebrate five inspirational individuals from All Elite Wrestling that are on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, who act as role models to not only those in their community, but to everyone around the world who follows professional wrestling.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey- Nonbinary
A high-flying, Canadian martial arts prodigy from Quebec, “Speedball” Mike Bailey identifies as nonbinary, using both he/him and singular they/them pronouns. They are currently signed to All Elite Wrestling where, up until recently, they saw great success as a part of the Jetspeed tag team alongside Kevin Knight, who shockingly turned on them last week on AEW Dynamite.
Bailey started out on the Canadian indies, wrestling for promotions such as IWS and Capital City Championship Combat (C4), before making their way to bigger names like Maple Leaf Pro and TNA. Throughout their indie campaign, they also sometimes teamed with their real-life wife, Veda Scott, who is also nonbinary (using she/they pronouns).
Bailey incorporates their taekwondo expertise into their wrestling style through a combination of risk-taking air offense and brutal barefoot kicks that leave opponents reeling. One of their most notable achievements to date is capturing the AEW World Trios Championships alongside Kevin Knight and “Hangman” Adam Page as a member of Jet Set Rodeo.
Nyla Rose- Transfeminine
One would be pressed not to mention the AEW Women’s division without bringing up the “Native Beast”, Nyla Rose. She is the second woman in All Elite Wrestling to ever hold the AEW Women’s World Championship- which also makes her the first transgender woman to hold a world championship in a major wrestling promotion, an incredible feat. Additionally, her initial signing with AEW made her the first transgender wrestler to sign with a major promotion regardless of final gender identity, sending waves throughout the wrestling community.
Before working for AEW, Rose wrestled for a multitude of promotions, including the Japanese promotion of Sendai Girls. She is a powerhouse, powerbombing opponents and striking them down with immense strength. Others outside the business have tried to strike Rose down themselves due to her identity, but Rose has proved time and again that determination beats down hatred like, adequately, a Beast.
“Timeless” Toni Storm- Bisexual
Another woman synonymous with AEW’s female roster, “Timeless” Toni Storm expresses her sexuality through her Hollywood starlet character, her remarks often raunchy and bordering on downright scandalous (though in an objectively hilarious way). Many examples are simply too inappropriate to write in this article, but one of her most memorable quotes is both safe-for-work and inspirational: “I will be ready! I will be sweaty! I am here, and I am queer, and I will always be TIMELESS!”
Storm had already made a name for herself in WWE before signing with AEW, winning both the 2018 Mae Young Classic and the WWE NXT UK Women’s Championship. In AEW, she is a record-setting four-time AEW Women’s World Champion.
Her style, a combination of rounded offense and technical elements, has added comedic elements from her Timeless persona, making Storm a fan favourite in AEW. Just make sure to watch out for the shoe…
Anthony Bowens- Homosexual
Many AEW fans will jovially recall one particular episode of AEW Rampage in 2023 when Harley Cameron, accompanied by her QTV entourage, attempted to woo Anthony Bowens with a love song, only for him to reply matter-of-factly, to the joy of the supportive crowd: “Lady, I’m gay.”
Bowens is a record-setter in All Elite Wrestling. Alongside Max Caster as a part of The Acclaimed, Bowens won the AEW World Tag Team Championship in 2022, making him the first openly gay wrestler to win a championship in the promotion. The Acclaimed, alongside “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn, would push through the loss of their championships to claim the AEW World Trios Championships together.
Referred to as the “Five-Tool Player”, Bowens uses a potent mixture of offence, mostly to do with striking at rapid speed. He is aptly nicknamed the “Pride of Professional Wrestling”, not just because of his sexuality, but because of his contributions to the longevity of AEW and wrestling as a whole.
Aubrey Edwards- Bisexual
Though wrestlers themselves are perceived as the most important people in the wrestling industry, it would be remiss to exclude the referees from that paramount circle. Without a referee, a match simply cannot happen- and Aubrey Edwards is an example of not only an excellent referee, but also an inspiration to wrestling fans.
The first woman to referee a world championship match on pay-per-view (at AEW All out 2019), Edwards is also an advocate of AEW Heels, a community dedicated to providing a safe space for all female wrestling fans across all walks of life. She also made an appearance for WWE during its Evolution pay-per-view in 2018. Aubrey Edwards is undoubtedly a record-breaker in many respects, and is as important as the wrestlers whose matches she officiates, if not more important.
Happy Pride Month!
Of course, there are many more people in the wrestling industry who sit under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella- this is not an exhaustive list and, as the industry grows and moulds over time to include a more diverse range of talent, it never will be. These five individuals serve as role models for everyone both in and out of the community, spreading an important message: You can achieve great things while you embrace who you are.
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