Tag Archives: Wrestling

WWE’s first openly-lesbian wrestler makes history at WrestleMania 34

WWE’s Sonya Deville made wrestling history this weekend at WrestleMania 34 as the first openly gay women to compete in the event.

Deville – real name Daria Berenato – opened up about her sexuality during the 2015 season of WWE’s reality TV competition series, Tough Enough.

Deville was one of the contestants vying for a contract with WWE on that show.

The reveal came when the show’s judges asked if she was in a relationship. Deville responded: “I don’t have a wife yet, but I have a girlfriend.”

After the episode aired, Deville told New Jersey’s 6ABC News, the matter-of-fact reveal wasn’t planned.

“I’ve gotten so much generosity and so much love so far. People from all kinds of LGBT organisations reaching out saying, ‘What you did was amazing, thank you for representing our families,’ and that kind of stuff,” said the former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

If I can help people in this process and be a voice to people who might be intimidated of coming out themselves or are scared to or think that it’s wrong and they see me doing it in front of pretty big people in the WWE world, hopefully it will give them the courage to do it.”

Deville didn’t last long very long on Tough Enough, but impressed WWE executives offered her a developmental contract regardless.

She began appearing regularly on the WWE Network show, WWE NXT, from May 2017, before joining WWE’s main roster in November with Mandy Rose. Together with veteran wrestler, Paige, they form the group Absolution.

Since joining the cast of WWE’s popular show Monday Night Raw, Deville has made history by competing in the first women’s Elimination Chamber match in February.

Earlier this week, Deville praised WWE for releasing a new T-shirt devoted to wrestler Finn Balor that features the rainbow flag. 20 percent of proceeds from the inclusive tee will go to LGBT+ organisation GLAAD.

“I proudly support this message! Being a part of the LGBT community myself  in the @WWE its such a great feeling to see @FinnBalor speaking out with such an amazing positive message! 🏳️‍🌈 #EQUALITY,” she wrote.

Texas Senate Passes Bill To Ban Transgender Students From Competing In Sports

The Texas Senate has given final approval to a bill, which would allow a transgender wrestler to be banned from competing.

The bill, SB 2095, sponsored by Senator Bob Hall, would allow the University Scholastic League, which governs student sports competitions to make a determination, “which may result in ineligibility, related to safety and fair play that would apply to students who are using steroids under a doctor’s care.”

Texas law already prohibits steroid use in sports, but a safe harbour provision in the state education code previously allowed transgender students using hormone therapy to continue participating in competitive sports. The student-athlete bill would amend that provision, essentially removing protections for trans student-athletes.

Sen. Hall told The Texas Tribune recently;

This bill is not addressing who plays on what sports. This bill is addressing individuals who … are taking steroids, then makes sure, as a result of that, the events remain safe and fair.”

The bill was introduced after a 17-year-old transgender wrestler, Mack Beggs, won the girls’ state championship.

Beggs and his parents wanted him to wrestle in the boys’ league, but Texas regulations require that students compete according to their assigned gender at birth, meaning Beggs had to wrestle girls during the championship.

Sadly, a lawsuit was sought to have Beggs banned from competing, by the parents of the other wrestlers – argueingthat Beggs had an “unfair advantage” because of his testosterone treatment, although he was literally forced to compete in the girls 110 pound category.

The lawsuit was dismissed last month by a Travis County judge.

Beggs has since been told that he would be allowed to wrestle boys, but there’s a catch.

He could only wrestle them during the off-season.

The policy, which allows Beggs to fight against male opponents, is newly adopted by USA Wrestling. It determines that female to male trans people are only allowed to compete in the male category.

However, this goes against a policy instated by the University Interscholastic League, which requires public school students to compete in the gender category that they were assigned at birth.

 

Real L Word Star in Training to be a Pro Wrestler

TMZ have reported that The Real L Word’s Sara Bettencourt is in training to become a pro-wrestler.

That’s correct KitschMixers.

The former LA party girl and reality star – has been in training with Pro Wrestling Revolution in San Jose, and going by the stage name Sada Simone.

According to TMZ, she is making a splash, impressing the coaches with her progress as a pro wrestler, and just last weekend, she made her debut in the ring as a valet, managing a tag team by the name of Los Chicanos.

Sara came into our lesbian orbits, staring in The Real L Word for three seasons. In the show, she kept us all highly entertained with her turbulent love affair with lover, Whitney Mixter.

The couple also appeared on a season of VH1’s Couples Therapy together.

Sada-Bettencourt-01

So will we be seeing her working her way up to WWE diva status anytime soon? Let’s hope so.