Nyla Rose on Oklahoma Athletic Commission Warning To AEW Situation Being From “Hateful Bigots”

As noted before, the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission issued an official warning to AEW in January of 2024 over issues involving Nyla Rose competing in a match at AEW’s tapings held in the state in December of 2023. This issue revolved around AEW violating OSAC’s rules over them allowing Rose, who is a transgendered woman, to compete in a match against a cisgendered woman at a ROH TV taping event held in the state.

Rose has not wrestled for AEW or the indies in the state of Oklahoma since the situation took place.

Denise Salcedo held a recent interview with Rose. One of the topics discussed included Rose’s thoughts about the situation and how it was caused by “hateful bigots.”

“To be perfectly blunt, hateful bigots with no basis for anything. The athletic commission is a scam. They’re just a bunch of greedy people who have found an avenue to work people out of money, and they’re using new laws and loopholes to do what they want to do, basically.”

Rose also gave her thoughts about AEW CEO Tony Khan standing in support of her over the situation.

“I was a little shocked. I was very surprised, but incredibly grateful that he would, with zero hesitation; there was no thought there. He knew the right side of history to be on, and that’s where he stood, ten toes down. For someone in his position to do that, he absolutely did not have to, and he did. That speaks a lot about who he is as a person and as a man. I’m so grateful to him for that.”

Rose also gave her thoughts about if this had happened to her before in her wrestling career before the situation with the Oklahoma Commission.

“I’m sure I have, but I probably did not know because it wasn’t so bold and blatant. There have definitely been times when I’ve been left on read or given answers or reasons that didn’t quite add up, and I think that was people tiptoeing around the delicate nature of things. With a certain regime in charge, people feel very emboldened now to kind of speak their hateful hearts. That’s a big part of what happened in Oklahoma and, to Oklahoma’s credit, maybe not all the way. A lot of them do have to follow what the legal guidelines are, so they have to do what they’re told to do so they don’t get in trouble. That’s a situation where it’s a 50/50 split because at a certain point, the government is involved in things with an athletic commission, and that trickles down. It’s 50/50 between people trying to cover their ass and people being hateful and ignorant.”

Rose also gave her thoughts about how she gets past a situation like that.

“That’s where the strength of our community comes into play with protests and educating people and the public. Education can put out a lot of those fires. A lot of people are reacting out of fear. It’s kind of a trickle-down, and I hate to make it seem like a silly situation, but Yoda said it best: “Ignorance breeds hate and hate breeds fear.” That whole speech, it’s very true. It’s misdirected anger because they don’t want to feel like they are less than for not knowing something.”

Rose also gave her thoughts about if she wanted to say anything to people out there who might still feel a certain way towards her and the transgender community.

“Education can put out a lot of fires. Just getting to know somebody can do it. I have had so many people come to me privately or DMs and apologize. ‘Hey, I was ignorant before. I didn’t like you because of this reason.’ As they’ve gotten to ‘know me’ over the years on television and social media, they realize that I’m just a person and entertainer. I just want to do my job and go home and play video games and open Pokemon cards. The same thing they want to do, I want to do as well, I just walk a slightly different path. Once that change comes from within and they realize we’re the same, some of those people’s hearts do open.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com