Independent wrestling star Effy recently did a fascinating AMA over on Reddit. During it, the openly gay wrestler discussed his beginnings as a heel, how to make wrestling more inclusive, and what he loves and dislikes about the indie scene at the moment.
Check out some highlights below:
How to make wrestling more inclusive:
Creating a public no tolerance atmosphere. There’s heckling and then there’s hate speech and targeted harassment based on who you are. Promotions have to draw a hard line in their own locker rooms and outwardly to the paying fan to make sure it doesn’t get in. If homophobes want to come to the show they are more than welcome to but they have to shut the fuck up. To me, it both creates a common agreement that shames people from acting this way who may want to still watch wrestling and it also opens the door to a whole new fan base that wants to come and feel ok being themselves and enjoy the show too.
What he dislikes about the indie scene:
Secrecy. Between promoters, between wrestlers, with public perception. Obviously the whole carnival days kayfabe is built on secrets but it’s still such a big part of who get’s booked and what goes over and who get’s pushed. I want everyone talking about everything. Wrestling has been a game of telephone deals and backroom politicking forever. It’s exhausting.
Why he went from a heel to a babyface:
I started as a heel because I expected homophobia. I got plenty of homophobia but as I kept performing people became more and more drawn to me and eventually the crowds were mostly in my corner. Being able to watch crowds change their minds about a gay performer and treat them with respect is incredible.
Even people in rural Georgia and Alabama can change their mind, and I want to take that shift all over the world.
How the industry should treat LGBT talent:
The treatment of LGBTQ+ workers has historically been extremely gimmicky and as a comedy relief match. Now, granted, I love a good comedy match but I love it when I can tell my own comedy instead of someone’s idea of what makes a homosexual funny. There are LGBTQ+ talents that consistently put on the best match on the card but they won’t book too many of us usually because they don’t want it to be a ‘gay show’
I’m saying stop doing that and just book the most talented people even if that means you’re just going to have 20 LGBTQ+ people on it.
On why independent fans are supporters:
This is going to sound brainy but I don’t consider anyone coming to independent wrestling shows “fans” as much as I consider them supporters. We’re constantly able to crowdfund our weird little world and entertain people who enjoy it. It means a lot when people say hey I loved what you did and I would like to wear something that shows you. I don’t want to ever take advantage of how wonderful a situation that is to be in.
I truly believe that the LGBTQ wrestlers are some of the most talented in the world. I want them booked because they are better than a lot of the other talent but promoters are scared their shows will be “too gay” when the reality is that they would add so much from a story telling standpoint and to the growth of the business. Gay people still think wrestling is where they are going to deal with a bunch of backwards people but having this inclusion of more LGBT talent has opened up the door to a whole new series of fans.
So objectively I believe more LGBT athletes booked will be better for overall show quality and business growth. We’ve been stagnant. The old guard is out of ideas. We’re going to take the reigns now.
