WWE's LGBTQ+ Athletes

Over many decades, homosexuality remained a sensitive topic within the WWE. For instance, the Goldust character, portrayed by Dustin Rhodes, feigned homosexuality, utilizing this pretense to elicit negative audience reactions, while, conversely, Chris Kanyon, a truly gay individual, concealed his sexual identity in order to avert any career-related difficulties or setbacks.

Presently, a significant majority of enthusiasts acknowledge that exceptional abilities manifest across diverse physical forms, complexions, and sexual orientations. Devotees of professional wrestling have grown considerably more amenable to the LGBTQ+ community. Consequently, this shift has led to an unprecedented level of LGBTQ+ visibility within contemporary wrestling. Presented below are thirteen WWE grapplers, spanning both current and former rosters, who openly identify as LGBTQ+.

Number Thirteen: Indi Hartwell

Her Departure from WWE Occurred in Two Thousand Twenty-Four

• Hartwell has secured multiple championship titles within NXT.
• She formed a tag team partnership alongside Candice LeRae.
• At present, she participates in competitions across the independent wrestling circuit.

Despite her current non-affiliation with World Wrestling Entertainment, Indi Hartwell continues to command a substantial following. During her tenure in WWE, her in-ring performances were notably impressive, leading her to capture both the NXT Women's Championship and the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship.

It might not be widely known that Ms. Hartwell is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Her romantic relationship with a girlfriend commenced in two thousand twenty-four.

Number Twelve: Darren Young

The Initial Male Wrestler in WWE to Publicly Acknowledge His Homosexuality

• A foundational participant in the faction known as The Nexus.
• A singular holder of the WWE Tag Team Championship.
• Currently holding the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship.

In the year 2009, Darren Young secured a contract with Florida Championship Wrestling, a developmental branch of WWE. During 2010, Young took part in the debut season of NXT, benefiting from the mentorship of CM Punk. This engagement with NXT ultimately propelled him to WWE's primary roster, where he and his fellow NXT participants made their initial appearance as The Nexus. Mr. Young subsequently continued to achieve notable success within WWE as fifty percent of the Prime Time Players, alongside Titus O'Neil, a partnership through which they clinched the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Beyond his notable in-ring achievements, Young pioneered a new path, becoming the first openly gay professional wrestler in WWE's annals, a fact he disclosed during a TMZ interview conducted in two thousand thirteen. Presently, Darren Young competes in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, utilizing his birth name, Fred Rosser.

Number Eleven: Gabbi Tuft

Her In-Ring Comeback Occurred in Two Thousand Twenty-Four

• Tuft participated in WWE events between 2007 and 2014.
• She currently operates as a prominent online fitness influencer.
• Preparation for her competitive comeback has been underway.

Over the past few years, Gabbi Tuft has carved out a considerable reputation as an online fitness luminary. Furthermore, she has been chronicling her personal odyssey as a transwoman during her life after her WWE career.

From 2007 to 2014, Ms. Tuft previously competed as a wrestler within WWE. During that period, she achieved some degree of success as part of a tag team alongside Curt Hawkins (known as Brian Myers in TNA). Moreover, she held the distinction of being a former FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.

Number Ten: Shayna Baszler

Often Referred to as 'The Queen of Spades'

• Recipient of the NXT Women's Championship on two separate occasions.
• Possessing the record for the most cumulative days as NXT Women's Champion.
• A three-time victor of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.

Known by her moniker, 'The Queen of Spades,' she stands as a preeminent instance of an MMA athlete successfully transitioning into professional wrestling within WWE's annals. Following an eight-year tenure in mixed martial arts, encompassing a short period in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Baszler redirected her focus towards professional wrestling, a path that ultimately brought her to WWE. Ms. Baszler has earned the NXT Women's Championship twice, and notably, she holds the distinction for the lengthiest cumulative reign as champion. Upon joining the main roster, she has claimed the Women's World Tag Team Championship three times: once alongside Ronda Rousey and on two occasions with Nia Jax.

During the year 2013, Baszler disclosed via the MMA Roasted podcast that she was, at that time, involved in a romantic relationship with another woman. Nevertheless, she expressed a hesitance to formally label herself as either lesbian or bisexual. Presently, the relationship status of 'The Queen of Spades' remains undisclosed.

Number Nine: Saraya

An Ex-AEW and WWE Luminary, She Has Openly Discussed Her Sexual Orientation

• The first ever NXT Women's Champion.
• Achieved the WWE Divas Championship on two occasions.
• A singular holder of the AEW Women's World Championship.

Saraya, recognized previously as Paige, played a pivotal role in transforming women's professional wrestling during the 2010s, notably becoming the first NXT Women's Champion and securing the Divas Championship twice.

Despite being recognized for her publicly visible relationships with individuals such as Brad Maddox, Xavier Woods, and Alberto Del Rio, Saraya disclosed her bisexual orientation during an episode of the television program "Total Divas." The celebrity spoke openly regarding her intimate encounters with other women. At one point, Saraya was romantically involved with Ronnie Radke, the lead vocalist of "Falling In Reverse"; however, their relationship concluded some time ago.

Number Eight: Sonya Deville

The Initial Woman in WWE to Publicly Declare Her Homosexuality

• Previously held the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Chelsea Green.
• Her partnership with Mandy Rose spanned a considerable duration.
• Sonya Deville previously served in the role of SmackDown General Manager.

At the tender age of thirty-one, Sonya Deville has already experienced a wide spectrum of professional wrestling endeavors. Her distinctive path within WWE encompasses her time as one half of the duo Fire & Desire alongside Mandy Rose, her transition into a WWE General Managerial role, and her more recent involvement with the Pure Fusion Collective. Nevertheless, her professional career commenced during the television series "Tough Enough," where Ms. Deville publicly revealed her sexual orientation, thereby becoming the inaugural openly gay woman in the annals of WWE.

During two thousand twenty-two, Deville initiated a romantic relationship with Toni Cassano, a fitness model. By 2023, the couple announced their engagement, subsequently formalizing their union through marriage in the early part of two thousand twenty-four.

Number Seven: Tegan Nox

Known as 'The Girl With the Shiniest Wizard'

• Her NXT competition period spanned from 2017 to 2021.
• Ms. Nox became a part of the SmackDown brand during July of 2021.
• Her release by WWE occurred in November 2021, followed by another release in November 2024.

Tegan Nox, who hails from Wales, experienced two distinct periods of notable engagement with WWE. Her initial tenure commenced in two thousand seventeen. Regrettably, Ms. Nox endured multiple knee injuries, which resulted in her prolonged absence for a significant portion of her four-year run. Towards the close of 2021, the organization terminated her contract merely months after her introduction to the main roster. By December 2022, Tegan Nox made her comeback to WWE, where she subsequently gained considerable prominence within the women's tag team division alongside Natalya. On the sixth of November, two thousand twenty-four, Ms. Nox experienced another release from WWE.

During July of 2020, Nox publicly declared her bisexual identity, accompanying the announcement with a photograph featuring her then-girlfriend, Sierra St. Pierre. Although the couple has since parted ways, Ms. Nox attributes her inspiration to come out to the film "Captain Marvel." To be more precise, it was Brie Larson's portrayal of the eponymous Captain Marvel that particularly resonated with her.

Number Six: Pat Patterson

The Pioneer as the First Openly Gay Professional Wrestler

• The initial WWE Intercontinental Champion.
• An eleven-time victor of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
• Holder of the AWA World Tag Team Championship on a single occasion.

Pat Patterson dedicated several decades to his involvement in the world of professional wrestling. Commencing in the latter half of the 1950s, his illustrious career spanned until the year 2020. Within WWE, he is celebrated for being the very first Intercontinental Champion and the visionary behind the Royal Rumble match concept.

Since the nineteen-seventies, Patterson had been transparent about his homosexuality. He shared a partnership with Louie Dondero for four decades, a relationship that endured until Mr. Dondero's passing in 1998.

Number Five: Piper Niven

• Previously held the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Chelsea Green.
• Furthermore, she has competed professionally using the alias "Doudrop".
• Under the Doudrop persona, she contended against Becky Lynch for the Raw Women's Championship during Royal Rumble 2022.

Piper Niven, briefly identified as Doudrop, stands as one of WWE's formidable powerhouse performers. Though Ms. Niven participated in the very first Mae Young Classic, her formal signing with WWE did not occur until 2019, which coincided with her debut in NXT UK. By 2021, Niven moved to the primary roster, making her debut on RAW and adopting the new ring name "Doudrop." She continued wrestling as Doudrop up until September of two thousand twenty-two, at which point she commenced an extended break, ultimately re-emerging in January 2023 under her original name, Piper Niven.

Subsequently, a majority of her time has been dedicated to partnering with Chelsea Green. Ms. Niven assumed the role previously held by Green's tag team associate, Sonya Deville, consequently securing her position as one half of the reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. Despite Niven being married to her husband since 2021, the WWE performer publicly identified as bisexual during Bi Visibility Day in 2019.

Number Four: Nicole Bass

Her Tenure in WWE Was Short-Lived

• Bass held contracts with both WWE and ECW.
• Her marriage to Richard Fuchs spanned from 1985 to 2013.
• She also had a girlfriend whose name was Kristen Marrone.

Nicole Bass's time within WWE was relatively brief. After signing with the promotion in 1999, she participated in a narrative arc featuring Jeff Jarrett. Furthermore, she served as a bodyguard for Sable. Moreover, her professional engagements also included a contract with ECW.

Throughout her life, Ms. Bass was involved in a few significant relationships. From 1985 until his demise in 2013, she was married to a gentleman named Richard Fuchs. Following his passing, she entered into a relationship with a girlfriend, Kristen Marrone, which continued until Bass's own death in two thousand seventeen.