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Oklahoma regulator warns AEW after transgender pro wrestler's match: Nyla Rose responds

Oklahoma regulator warns AEW after transgender pro wrestler's match: Nyla Rose responds

Posted: Apr 18th 2024 By: Dale Denwalt

In January, the state agency that regulates combative sports in Oklahoma warned one of the nation's top professional wrestling companies about letting a transgender female perform in the ring with another woman.

The warning came after All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Nyla Rose appeared in a match at the Paycom Center in December. Rose, who signed with AEW in 2019, is the first openly transgender wrestler signed with a major pro wrestling company.

Florida-based AEW is the country's second-biggest promotion behind WWE.

At the Dec. 20 event at the Paycom Center, which was broadcast under the AEW subsidiary Ring of Honor promotion, Rose appeared in a match with Alejandra Lion. A few weeks later, the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission issued a formal warning to AEW.

The Athletic Commission unanimously voted to "warn AEW not to do this again or there will be punitive action made against them if they do." The news was first reported by Real Rasslin'.

When the news broke this week, other AEW performers and locally based pro wrestlers spoke out, criticizing the Athletic Commission. Rose posted her own satirical comment saying she'll "find the dastardly Transgender that *checks notes* entertained fans."

In a call with reporters on Thursday, AEW President Tony Khan said he was shocked and disappointed.

"I don't think there should be discrimination against transgender wrestlers or transgender people at all," Khan said. "They have rights, and to that end, I absolutely stand by Nyla Rose."

Khan said Rose is an important part of AEW and has contributed significantly both to the community and to her fellow wrestlers.

Oklahoma's history of issues with transgender athletes

The warning is the latest effort by Oklahoma's government to regulate transgender participation in sporting events. Oklahoma's political leaders have waged a campaign to "save women's sports" by requiring anyone competing in school-based women's sports to be born a female.

The Athletic Commission turned its sights on AEW because when Nyla Rose filled out her wrestling license application, she listed her gender as female.

According to longstanding commission rules, a match between a man and woman will not be sanctioned, regardless of whether it's professional boxing, mixed-martial arts or even professional wrestling. Unlike other combative sports, the outcome of pro wrestling matches are planned in advance, and the combat is choreographed and often practiced before the show.

Independent wrestling promoter Brandan Bulmer, who runs shows in Oklahoma City with Unified Wrestling Oklahoma, said it shouldn't matter whether men and women wrestle each other.

"It's kind of crazy that it's come to this, and it's just so really ridiculous," said Bulmer, who is known by his stage name Drake Gallows. "This was not an issue five years ago. We would do things called mixed tag team matches, where it would be any gender versus any gender. But now, you know, things are all starting to blur."

Ruling affects local promotions, wrestlers

Bulmer said that while he supports the Athletic Commission and its mission of ensuring the health and safety of performers, his main issue is the inconsistent application of rules during an event. Several months before the AEW show where Rose performed, Bulmer scheduled a female wrestler to participate in a battle royale match.

"I had the young lady come in the ring and she absolutely destroyed five guys. She beat the snot out them. She threw them all out of the ring and it was down to her and one other guy," he said.

The other guy eliminated her with a kick that knocked her out of the ring.

"After that event, I was given a warning and I was threatened with a court date, and I was threatened with $1,000 fine. And every single one of those people, those five people were given suspensions," Bulmer said.

The Athletic Commission's stance on transgender wrestlers is causing anxiety among performers, including two trans individuals being trained by Bulmer who are undergoing hormone therapy.

"I had one of them ask me, 'Where do you see me on the card? Where do I fall in?'" Bulmer said. "I can't give them a straight answer because I don't know what's going to happen with all this nonsense."

Bulmer said Oklahoma currently has just seven or eight licensed female pro wrestlers. With such a low number, they've grown tired of only wrestling each other. It's also hard for promoters to schedule more than just two at the same time, he said.

 

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  • 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
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  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-11
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