Tag Archives: WWE

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.

WWE’s John Cena New Ad Tells Americans To Be More Accepting Of LGBTQs

American non-profit organization have unveiled their new key campaign – the #WeAreAmerica campaign – featuring World Wrestling Entertainment’s John Cena.

In the ad Cena walks through a typical small American town, talking directly to the camera, the pro wrestler draws a line in the sand early on.

Patriotism isn’t just pride in one’s country, he says. It’s love for it. And loving one’s country means embracing who and what the country really is—not what you might picture it to be.

Along the way, this small town turns out to be remarkably diverse – the essence of America itself – as we see citizens who are Latino, LGBT, Muslim, senior citizen, African American, disabled, and so on, all just as American as anyone else.

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The underlying message: To be a true patriot is to accept all Americans regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability.

In short, patriotism is love, Cena says, and love has no labels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdK8hBkR3s

The message comes at a time of toxic political discord in America. But thanks to brand partnerships struck by the Ad Council, the new spot, if not universally lauded, will certainly be noticed far and wide this holiday.

Campaign partners include The Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, State Farm, Google and Johnson & Johnson, which will promote #WeAreAmerica content across their brand channels

The campaign also has support from Facebook, Twitter, BuzzFeed and WWE.

And considering Cena and WWE’s massive fan base, that’s a powerful message that could resound far and wide.

The Real L Word‘s Sara Bettencourt Picked For WWE’s Tough Enough

The return of WWE Tough Enough is just two weeks away, and after more than 11,100 members of the WWE Universe uploaded their video submissions, 40 individuals have been invited to a try-out at the WWE Performance Centre this week.

And one of those contenders is The Real L Word‘s Sara Bettencourt.

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Back in March, TMZ reported that  Bettencourt is in training to become a pro-wrestler.

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.

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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.

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.

Could WWE Be Edging Closer to Lesbian Storyline?

It is being reported that WWE may be looking to inject some slightly edgier story-lines, with two female wrestlers looking to heat things up in a sapphic way.

There has been an ongoing feud for months between AJ Lee and Paige. As of yet nothing risque has happend, WWE has been teasing some blatant sexual tension between the two ‘Divas’.

Apparently, a creative decision was made recently to take the angle even further, although this will not reach Attitude Era levels of sexuality.

In recent years WWE has switched its gears to a more PG programming scenario. When this switch took place, a number of fans felt that the family friendly atmosphere lead to the company’s creative decline. While that point is arguable, there’s no doubt that WWE’s programs have undergone some changes due to the PG atmosphere.

However, WWE is hoping that these more risque occurrences will create some added buzz about their products and programs. However, the company does have sponsors to appease, so this edgy push will likely only go so far. According to a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, fans should expect more instances of adult language and occasional ‘slip-ups’ but not enough to attract major attention outside of the core wrestling audience.

WWE has positioned it’s self as LGBT friendly company. Back in April, the company teamed up with the NOH8 campaign to send a clear message of support for LGBT Community and same-sex equality. A number of stars (Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Darren Young and others) from the pro wrestling company appeared in Adam Bouska’s serial photo project.

“Our mission at WWE is to put smiles on people’s faces and we do that, in part, by participating in initiatives that help fight bullying of all kinds. We are proud to support the LBGT community by taking part in the WWE NOH8 campaign.”

Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE

WWE teams up with NOH8 campaign to send clear message

As a closeted wrestling fan, it warmed my heart to see the WWE team up with the NOH8 campaign to send a clear message of support for LGBT Community and same-sex equality. A number of stars (Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Darren Young and others) from the pro wrestling company appeared in Adam Bouska’s serial photo project stemming from the frustration he and partner Jeff Parshley felt when Prop 8 was passed in California.

“Our mission at WWE is to put smiles on people’s faces and we do that, in part, by participating in initiatives that help fight bullying of all kinds. We are proud to support the LBGT community by taking part in the WWE NOH8 campaign.”

Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE

WWE superstar Darren Young, who came out publicly as gay last year, is thrilled to see the WWE embrace equality.

“I am so honored to be a part of the WWE NOH8 campaign. The most important thing is to be able to live your life the way you want to, truthfully. NOH8 makes that possible.”

They’re promoting their participation on social media with #WWENOH8.

“NOH8 Campaign was proud to team up with the WWE in breaking new ground in the fight against bullying and discrimination and supplementing the work WWE has done with projects like Be A Star. When WWE Superstar Darren Young came out a few months back, WWE defined what it meant to be an ally when their executives, superstars, and divas came out in support of one of their own. To hear they wanted to get involved with NOH8 to further broadcast that support.”

Bouska and Parshley  NOH8 founders,in a statement to Outsports.

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