Pro wrestling is essentially drag with body slams. Dressed in flamboyant attire, wrestlers strut towards the ring and rile up the crowd with exaggerated antics. With an emphasis on theatrics, the genre seems like a perfect platform for queer expression.
But growing up, Brian Bomb could never picture himself stepping inside the squared circle. The gay-coded characters in WWE were played for laughs, and largely portrayed as social rejects. “I loved wrestling, but I thought I would never be able to do it, because people like me can’t be in that space,” he says.
But this weekend in New York City, Bomb will stand as proof of the industry’s progress. His brainchild, “Fight for Pride,” will kick-off the Pride festivities in NYC with a live show in Queens.
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Sponsored by NYC Pride, the wrasslin’ show is an official part of the weeklong celebration in the queer cultural capital of the world.
“It feels important to use what I consider my art to do what I can do to bring positive change,” Bomb says. “I can’t control everything in the world, but I do have some power and influence in the space of wrestling.”
With the backing of an inclusive independent promotion, Battle Club Pro, “Fight for Pride” is gearing up for its second annual show during NYC Pride week. The card features out LGBTQ+ wrestlers, all of whom are encouraged to be their most fabulous.
For Marco Rodriguez, that means channeling his inner-365 party girl. The in-ring vet describes his aesthetic as a mix between “pop music, hyper pop and Beyoncé.”
Naturally, he has his own Renaissance lewk, as well as a penchant for brat green.
“How can I get across that I’m gay and queer outside of wrestling in a rainbow flag?,” he says. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but how else can I show people these are the things I’m really interested in besides wrestling?”
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Long considered homophobic–aside from the ripped, oiled-up guys grabbing each other in tight trunks–wrestling culture is becoming more open. There are several queer-focused promotions and events, headlined by “Effy’s Big Gay Brunch.”
Each year, our sister site Outsports spotlights the top 200 out LGBTQ+ pro wrestlers, a previously inconceivable total.
Anthony Bowens, who wrestles for a company called AEW and has ascended to Hollywood status, is a testament to the changing landscape.
One of the hallmark moments of Bowens’ career actually came during Pride Month, when a raucous crowd showered the AEW standout with one of the most self-affirming chants imaginable.
“He’s gay!”
There have been a few out active wrestlers in WWE history, including Darren Young, Sonya Deville and Tegan Fox. One of the company’s top superstars, Cody Rhodes, is a long-standing ally.
During a recent Pride Month, one of wrestling’s most revered grapplers, CM Punk, bellowed an in-ring proclamation in support of trans people.
Lay’lah James, who’s also slated to perform at “Fight for Pride,” is a rising star in the industry and certified diva. As a trans woman, the New York native was originally unsure how she would be perceived.
Five years later, she’s at the top of her game.
“I was really nervous,” she says. “But I was gonna find a way to do it anyway, because it’s my dream.”
James says she’s heard from a plethora of trans women who tell her that she inspires them to pursue their dreams as well. “I just want to be able to represent for my community, and show we can be who we are and do what we want to do,” she says.
At his debut match for Battle Club two years ago, Bomb repped the LGBTQ+ community on his way to the ring, carrying the Progress flag. After the match, he was approached by a “macho looking guy” who wanted to express his gratitude.
The man, who has a trans daughter, thanked Bomb for his support. “I still get chills thinking of that,” he says.
Though Bomb can’t compete at this year’s “Fight for Pride” due to injury, he’ll enjoy a front row seat to the spectacle. The show is for that man, his daughter, and queer wrestling fans looking for affirmation.
“I’m really proud of all the other queer wrestlers. Especially in this political moment, it’s more brave than ever,” Bomb says. “I’m just very inspired by it, and want to continue to uplift other LGBTQ+ wrestlers who do this.”
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