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Oklahoma Wrestling Commission Considering Rule Change For Transgender Wrestlers

Posted: May 15th 2024 By: Collin Tessier

The Oklahoma State Wrestling Commission is considering a major change.

In April, Nyla Rose responded to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission after they issued AEW a warning over allowing a transgender wrestler to compete at an AEW taping on December 20, 2023.

Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reports that records show that the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission is in talks about a potential rule change that would permit transgender wrestlers to perform in the state.

Wrestlenomics obtained documents through a public records request that show that Commission Administrator Jim Miller notified AEW SVP Chris Harrington in January that the OSAC OSAC believed AEW violated its rules. The commission does not allow matches between “between males and females.” The OSAC noted that they define a male as a person “of the heterogametic sex born with XY chromosomes” and a female as “a person of the homogametic sex with XX chromosomes.”

Miller also told Harrington that the Commission was in discussion to possibly change the rule. If they did, it would not take effect until Jully. A Commission meeting is scheduled for July 10. Diana Fletcher now serves as the Commission Administrator following Miller’s retirement.
More Information About Potential Rule Change

Wrestlenomics included the following statement, which was provided when they inquired about the possible change:

“Ms. Fletcher does not wish to comment at this time on the ongoing matters related to the December 2023 AEW event or the specific rules pertaining to intergender exhibitions or matches. Any actions taken to rules under the jurisdiction of the Commission must be done consistently with timeline and actions prescribed by the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act and the Oklahoma Office of Administrative Rules Regulations on Rulemaking. An agenda for the July 10, 2024 public meeting will be made available to the public consistent with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, which will prescribe the items of business to be discussed/considered by the Commission during that meeting.”

Nyla Rose was not part of AEW’s tapings in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 21. As of this writing, AEW has not announced when they will return to Oklahoma.

WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.

Royalties from Nyla Rose’s new shirt went to an LGBTQ+ advocacy group in Oklahoma. More information is available here.