How Nyla Rose's Championship Win Exposed Wrestling's Diversity Problem
Diversity and representation is of course important on screen, but the groups of people making big decisions backstage could use some diversity too. When there are more than just straight white cis-gendered men in the back, wrestling companies can make better decisions that don't slight or flat-out insult an entire group; characters become more than just stereotypes, and the needs of the fans can be better addressed when people of many viewpoints and experiences have the ability to be themselves and speak their truths. There are so many wrestling fans who don't understand the power that representation holds and take the fact that so many people in the business look like them for granted. Then there are those who actively fight against representation.
The amount of transphobic comments circulating on social media following Nyla's AEW Championship win was disgusting. There is no putting it lightly: *so* many wrestling fans are bigoted. I can't even count how many people on Twitter that thought she didn't deserve the win because "she's a man” and that her opponent was at an unfair advantage because of that. No, she's a woman and you're transphobic.
Also, last time I checked, wrestling is predetermined (I do not dare say wrestling is fake because the wrestling elitists will get on my case and try to blacklist me). There is no unfair advantage because the people in the ring are not actively trying to hurt each other; instead, they're trying to put on a performance. The 98 pound Riho might have been at a physical disadvantage if this were a real fight, but ultimately, Nyla Rose was booked to win the match. She probably could have beat Riho in a legit fight, but that's not what wrestling is about.
Plus, Riho pinned Nyla Rose twice last year, so clearly, if people want to further suspend their disbelief and pretend as if the "fight" was real, then they should have had no problem in believing that Riho was actually at less of a physical advantage anyways. Remember when the 200 pound Gerard Gordeau scored a TKO victory over the 400 pound sumo wrestler Teila Tuli and knocked his tooth out of his mouth at the very first UFC event? When it comes to fighting and beating an opponent, size does not always matter!