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The out and proud wrestler is making history & keeping it steamy on his socials and we’re ready to be ringside for it all.
A new gay wrestler has entered the ring and we are cheering! Even as reality gets scarier for queer folks, the world of pro wrestling seems to be cracking its door open to the community.
There are, of course, Anthony Bowens, Abadon, Trish Adora, Leyla Hirsch, Kiera Hogan, and more AEW talent who are out and proud professional wrestlers. WWE boasts some as well, including Dakota Kai, Piper Niven, and Tegan Nox, to name a few. However, Aaron “Evil Gay” Rourke is making history for that promotion as the first out male athlete to receive a contract from WWE, according toInstinct. Specifically, Rourke is the first gay male athlete to have already been out when he signed, unlike the others we mentioned.
Rourke is the latest inductee into the league’s ID Program, which helps indie wrestler prospects develop their skills and characters to help create a pathway to joining the WWE on-air. “WWE ID will identify the top independent wrestling prospects with an official ‘WWE ID Prospect’ designation and support their developmental journey. WWE ID will give fans the opportunity to follow the paths of these standout prospects on the independent wrestling scene through curated, behind-the-scenes content, as well as highlights and matches showcased across WWE’s social platforms,” according to the WWE Recruit website.
So, who is this new gay hunk poised to take over the professional wrestling world? Rourke is a New England-based grappler, originally from Long Island, New York, who’s been wrestling since 2018 and has made multiple appearances at EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch, an LGBTQ-friendly wrestling event. Rourke has also held multiple titles, including CW Heavyweight Champion, CAP TV Champion, and WrestlePro Silver Champion.
Rourke earned his spot in the WWE ID program following a match with Rex Lawless, after which ring announcer Rich Palladino presented him with the offer to join the program.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid, and I have to thank everyone who has gotten me here. To my doubters and the people who said this couldn’t be possible, thank you because your criticisms and your judgments made me the workhorse I am today. For anyone who has been told that their dreams are too big, let me be the example that you absolutely can,” Rourke said in response.
Needless to say, we’re rooting hard for this out and proud wrassler to go pro. In the meantime, let's all appreciate his talent with thirst traps and sexy wrestling pics.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Dread Central, Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq. She's a GALECA member and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Dread Central, Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq. She's a GALECA member and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
