WWE’s slogan of “Then, Now, Forever, Together” not only perfectly describes their brand, but their history of LGBTQ+ superstars.
One of the biggest names in WWE history is Pat Patterson. Patterson joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1979 as a heel. Shortly after joining the company, he beat Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase for the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship on June 19, 1979. Three months later he would become the first WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion.
It was known that Patterson was gay from the day he arrived in WWE, but it wasn’t acknowledged on-screen by the company until June 12, 2014. During the finale of “Legend’s House,” Patterson came out as gay, becoming the first openly gay pro wrestler.
A pioneer of the company, Patterson spent most of his life in roles with WWE before his death on December 2, 2020.
Fred Rosser is the Strong Openweight Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Most wrestling fans know Rosser as “Darren Young,” his ring name during his time with WWE. Rosser started his career with WWE in their training circuit, Florida Championship Wrestling. From 2005-2010, Rosser was in FCW before getting called up to NXT. He would make his main roster debut as a part of the “Nexus,” a faction made up of NXT superstars.
After another brief stint in NXT, Rosser would return to the main roster with tag-team partner Titus O’Neil as the “Prime Time Players.” After two separate stints as a team, Rosser moved to singles competition in 2016 with Bob Backlund as his “life coach.” Over the next couple of months, video clips of “Make Darren Young Great Again” (a parody of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again”) would play during episodes of “Raw” and SmackDown.” His role with Backlund would be his last in WWE.
On August 15, 2013, Rosser became the first professional wrestler to come out while signed to a contract with WWE.
The first lesbian pro wrestler to come out while signed with WWE was Sonya Deville. Deville has been in and out of WWE since 2015. She started in “Tough Enough,” WWE’s training camp in the form of reality TV. From there she joined NXT before being called up to the main roster.
From November 2017 to August 2020, Deville would compete in both singles and tag-team action before being released. She returned to WWE in August 2021 as an authority figure. In May 2021 her time as an authority figure came to an end and she returned to in-ring competition.
She is now planning to open a donut shop in Los Angeles with her former tag-team partner Mandy Rose.
There is also a multitude of stigmas facing bisexuality, so it’s important to acknowledge the bi-wrestlers in history.
Orlando Jordan has wrestled for WWE, Total Nonstop Action and the Independent Circuit. He became the first openly bisexual wrestler signed to a major wrestling promotion when he signed with TNA. When he was in WWE, Jordan became the WWE United States Championship in March of 2005. He has also held a multitude of titles during his time in TNA and on the independent circuit. He is mostly retired from in-ring competition but still occasionally appears with All-Star Wrestling Australia.
Nicole Bass was a body builder that spent most of her career with the World Wrestling Federation. Before signing with the World Wrestling Federation, she worked with Extreme Championship Wrestling and in Japan. Her wrestling career ended when she wrestled her final match in 2002.
Nine years after leaving in-ring competition, Bass called into the “Howard Stern Show” and came out as bisexual.
“I think I might be a little bisexual,” Bass said.
After retirement, Bass stayed out of the spotlight. She made a few appearances on the “Howard Stern Show” and attended some autograph signings before her death in 2017.
Due to hatred and misconceptions surrounding transgender athletes, it’s not often that a trans person makes it into the professional sports world. Nyla Rose, a Native and African American bisexual transgender wrestler, has broken the barrier.
In 2019, Rose became the first openly bisexual transgender wrestler to sign to with a major U.S. promotion when she signed with All Elite Wrestling. On February 12, 2020, Rose made history again by becoming the first trans woman to win a championship in a major U.S. promotion.
Whether it’s WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA or the independent circuit, LGBTQ+ wrestlers exist. From Patterson to Rose, LGBTQ+ wrestlers have always been a part of the business, and they’ve been some of the best.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected]