The commission has banned Nyla Rose from wrestling cisgender women (Picture: AEW)
Wrestling fans have rallied behind Nyla Rose after she was targeted by the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission.
The 41-year-old star made history in 2019 as the first openly transgender wrestler in history to sign for a major US promotion when she put pen to paper on a contract with WWE rival All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
The following year, she also became the first trans wrestler to win a championship for a major company as she captured the AEW Women’s World Title.
Despite having the respect and adoration of fans and her fellow stars, she has been targeted by the OSAC, which oversees wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts in the US state.
On December 23 last year, Nyla wrestled in Oklahoma City as she beat Alejandra Lion in a match for AEW’s Ring of Honor brand.
Now, minutes have emerged this week from a meeting the following month, when the OSAC claimed she and AEW had violated a rule prohibiting transgender athletes from competing against cisgender people.
The wrestling world has rallied behind the former champion (Picture: AEW)
In the report – which repeatedly misgenders Nyla – it’s said OSAC was ‘alerted’ to the situation by a local wrestling organisation who had been warned in the past.
The minutes note that administrator Joe Miller ‘called AEW and explained that it was a violation of the OSAC rules’.
The commission’s Mike Bower insisted the state’s wrestling application ‘needs to be updated’ to bring it in line with boxing, kickboxing and MMA in the state, which ‘all ask if someone has had gender reassignment’.
A motion was made by Dr. Larry Lovelace ‘to warn AEW not to do this again or there will be punitive action made against them if they do’.
Rules around transgender people in wrestling
The OSAC rules ‘wrestling’ or ‘professional wrestling as ‘ny competition or performance of wrestling skills and techniques by two or more individuals who deliver blows to an opponent’s body, execute
throws to an opponent’s body, or apply holds to the opponent’s body’
The application now asks: ”Have you ever or are you currently undergoing gender reassignment?’
The commission prohibits trans and cisgender people from competing against each other
For the Olympics, the rule is that ‘provided they meet eligibility criteria’ consistent with certain principles, ‘athletes should be allowed to compete in the category that best aligns with their self-determined gender identity’
The criteria is that ‘no athlete within a category has an unfair and disproportionate competitive advantage (namely an advantage gained by altering one’s body or one that disproportionately exceeds other advantages that exist at elite-level competition)’
Nyla is far from the only transgender wrestler in the game, with TNA Wrestling’s Gisele Shaw doing incredible work as a former Knockouts Champion, while ex-WWE star Gabbi Tuft has teased a return to the ring following her transition.
Nyla has responded to the situation, and sarcastically tweeted: ‘WHO THE F**K WAS IT?!! Don’t worry Oklahoma I’ll find the dastardly Transgender that *checks notes* entertained fans!!! HOW DARE THEY MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY?!!! (sic)’
Nyla typically portrays a heel – wrestling terminology for a villain – in the ring, and she joked the situation was making her job more difficult.
Alongside a gif of a grumpy Pingu, she added: ‘DAMNIT OKLAHOMA!!! You made me a babyface now!!!! 😑😑😑 I wanna do evil things with my evil friends but now I can’t 😤’
Fans and fellow pros have rallied behind her with messages of support, with many urging AEW not to back down.
‘Absolutely disgusting. Professional Wrestling is for anyone and everyone who wants to enjoy it and also perform as a wrestler,’ wrote fan and digital creator @ItsEmilySaxton.
She added: ‘Nyla Rose is a queen and if I were TK, I’d be booking her in the main event for the Women’s Championship next time if AEW ever goes back there to stick it to them.’
‘Just a tweet of appreciation to Nyla Rose. #TransRightsAreHumanRights,’ tweeted @Sebas_Bucks, while wrestler Lady Frost added: ‘Nyla Rose appreciation tweet.’
And comedian @MrChrisChopping suggested: ‘Ok, instead of not going back to Oklahoma, we need an AEW Oklahoma Women’s title, only ever defended in Oklahoma, on PPV or in TV main events. Nyla Rose holds the belt forever. @TonyKhan make it happen please!’
Nyla later added: ‘Hey… ummmm i’m busy at work right now, but I just wanted to let you all know I see the love, and I feel the love and I appreciate all of you… except of course serpentico. #AEWDynamite is on right now. Please watch it.’
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