Nyla Rose competes in the AEW Women’s World Championship at the Capitol One Arena on 2 October 2019. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post via Getty)
A fan was booted from an All Elite Wrestling Dynamite event for holding up a transphobic sign towards trans wrestling star Nyla Rose.
Rose went down in history when she signed on to All Elite Wrestling, known by its acronym AEW, in 2019. The move made AEW the first major league to sign an openly trans wrestler. Rose is also the first trans wrestler to win a major American title when she won the AEW Women’s World Championship in 2019.
So, needless to say, she’s an absolute legend in the wrestling world. Sadly, this hasn’t stopped people from attempting to send hate towards the wrestling star.
Rose was in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Wednesday (22 December) for a fierce match-up against Ruby Soho in the semi-finals of the TBS Championship Tournament.
As Rose stepped into the ring, a fan was seen on live TV holding up a sign reading: “Nyla Rose is this guy’s dad.” The sign had an arrow pointing toward the person next to them.
Without missing a beat, Nyla Rose flipped the attendee a middle finger.
Her wife captured the amazing moment in a beautiful tweet, writing “my wife is the strongest person I know”.
My wife is the strongest person I know pic.twitter.com/vCyqxFMej4
— 🧵🪡Keleficent: Seamstress of all Evil🪡🧵 (@kelthecelt) December 23, 2021
She also confirmed that security at the event “removed the a*****e with the sign as soon as they could”.
Numerous fans shared support for Nyla Rose on Twitter.
Hello Twitter,
If you bring transphobic signs to wrestling shows do me a favour and go away.
Wrestling is for everyone. No exceptions.
Regards,
Simon Miller
(The Bald Ahole)— Simon Miller (@SimonMiller316) December 23, 2021
Nyla Rose flips off the rude transphobe, wrestles a fantastic match and goes back home to her loving wife, sick Twitch stream and wrestling fame… that’s the energy we need in this world✨ https://t.co/Oi1xKEoUse
— Meikyu Dynamic! 🏳️⚧️ (@meikyudynamic) December 23, 2021
Nyla Rose appreciation tweet. We love you, @NylaRoseBeast. You are amazing.
— Jessi Davin (@jessithebuckeye) December 23, 2021
Let’s spread some love on the TL.
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
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) December 23, 2021
Fixed this asshole’s transphobic sign to be accurate😌
Imagine picking a fight with THE Nyla Rose?????? #AEW pic.twitter.com/cK60MERiG1— RevaShark The Herald Angels Sing (@RevaSharkbait) 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
Nyla Rose took to Twitter to address the waves of support she’s received from fans since the disgusting incident.
“Thanks everyone…. SOME of y’all are pretty cool,” she wrote.
Thanks everyone…. SOME of y’all are pretty cool
— Beyoncé Bloodlust (@NylaRoseBeast) December 23, 2021
The incident is the second occurrence in recent weeks where wrestling fans have lobbed anti-LGBT+ hate towards an AEW star.
Earlier this month, a fan was heard yelling a homophobic slur at openly gay wrestler Anthony Bowens during a live broadcast of AEW’s Dynamite.
Shortly afterwards, Bowens declared on Twitter that he was “not phased” as “stuff like this unfortunately still exists”. He added he would “just keep fighting against stuff like this ‘till the day I die”.