A wrestling fan was ejected from an AEW Dynamite event on Wednesday after holding up a transphobic sign. Nyla Rose’s response, meanwhile, was perfection.
In 2019, Nyla Rose became the first openly transgender wrestler in history to sign with a major American promotion, by signing with AEW (All Elite Wrestling). She went on to become the first trans wrestler to win a title in a major American promotion, by wining the AEW Women’s World Championship the following year.
In short, a LGBTQ+ trailblazer and a wrestling icon.
Midway through a two-hour broadcast of AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash on Wednesday (December 22), a man seated in the arena’s front row held up a homemade sign which read, “Nyla Rose is this guy’s dad.” The sign had an arrow pointing to the person sat next to him in the audience, Outsports reports.
Although this kind of deplorable behaviour would have been enough to put even the strongest of people off their game, Rose didn’t come to play and immediately flipped the attendee the middle finger and got on with her match.
The sign and Nyla’s response were captured in a fan video below, along with the wording: “Hey @AEW have you ejected this transphobe yet? Has he been banned from all future events for bringing a transphobic sign and holding it up in front a trans woman during a live televised event? Is @tntdrama aware? Has @warnerbros been notified? #AEWDynamite“
Hey @AEW have you ejected this transphobe yet? Has he been banned from all future events for bringing a transphobic sign and holding it up in front a trans woman during a live televised event? Is @tntdrama aware? Has @warnerbros been notified? #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/pcHVMqUzTA
— 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 (@patcheschance) December 23, 2021
My wife is the strongest person I know pic.twitter.com/vCyqxFMej4
— 🧵🪡Keleficent: Seamstress of all Evil🪡🧵 (@kelthecelt) December 23, 2021
Rose’s wife, Kel, who is also gear maker for Nayla’s outfits, later screenshot the incident and Tweeted it along with the wording: “My wife is the strongest person I know.”
It’s reported that Kel also brought the ringside attendee’s offence to security staff, who removed him from the venue towards the end of the show, despite him trying to disguise himself by removing his hoodie following Rose’s match.
Kel’s defence of her wife didn’t stop there either, as support for Rose came flooding in on Twitter, wrestling commentator Jim Cornette chimed in to basically suggest that the sport had gone soft. Enter Kel…
Boy, times have changed. When wrestling drew big crowds, fans got tossed out if they committed physical assault or pulled out a knife. If you'd tossed them for saying horrible things & hurting the wrestlers' feelings, the buildings would have been empty–like they are now. https://t.co/5XD2Fpy9R2
— Jim Cornette (@TheJimCornette) December 23, 2021
Irrelevant boomer has another nostalgic moment about not being about to use the n-word anymore. There I fixed it for you. pic.twitter.com/88ApcTJXd5
— 🧵🪡Keleficent: Seamstress of all Evil🪡🧵 (@kelthecelt) December 24, 2021
“Irrelevant boomer has another nostalgic moment about not being about to use the n-word anymore. There I fixed it for you” – aka a total knockout of a response.
Rose then took to Twitter to thank fans for their support, writing: “Thanks everyone…. SOME of y’all are pretty cool”.
Thanks everyone…. SOME of y’all are pretty cool
— Beyoncé Bloodlust (@NylaRoseBeast) December 23, 2021
I Stand with Nyla Rose. Pass It On. #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/8bieTCpwQR
— AJ's University of Nerds and Geeks!❤️⭐️️🌈 (@AjBlueBayBelt) December 23, 2021
Fixed this asshole's transphobic sign to be accurate😌
— RevaShark The Herald Angels Sing (@RevaSharkbait) December 23, 2021
Imagine picking a fight with THE Nyla Rose?????? #AEW pic.twitter.com/cK60MERiG1
Let's spread some love on the TL.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) December 23, 2021
This is a Nyla Rose appreciation tweet!
The beautiful black belt badass has the soul of a champion and is the reigning QUEEN of Twitter.
Let's talk about what we LOVE about The Native Beast of House Rose🌹🔥#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/PNcKF8ju1Q
The incident on Wednesday is reportedly the second occurrence in as many weeks for the sport, after AEW-contracted wrestler Anthony Bowens was called a “fu*king f*g” during AEW Dynamite’s live broadcast on the Dec. 8.
The offence was picked up by the microphones and can be heard below:
Fan shouting “fucking fag” at @Bowens_Official
— Danny M (@AlbaSheep92) December 9, 2021
Super sad mentalities like this still exist 😞 @TonyKhan @PlatinumMax @SeanRossSapp @solomonster @davemeltzerWON #aew #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/OCz2aX1vOi