As I have often said in the past, professional wrestling is about men enjoying each others’ strength. Of course, not just men. But you know what I mean.
Well, in honor of Pride Month, please let’s all celebrate with a special installment of wrestling news. This past Friday on All Elite Wrestling Rampage, we saw former tag team champions The Acclaimed take to the ring, joined as always by “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn.
Following their traditional freestyle rap to the ring and chant of “Scissor Me, Daddy Ass,” the trio quickly defeated Axel Rico, Darius Latrell, and Koda Hernandez. Post match The Acclaimed were confronted by Harley Cameron, who proposed adding her musical talents to their act.
Ever the heel, Cameron then proceeded to deliver an ear-splitting vocal run and a wildly over-paced rap. While I might be the only one, Cameron’s performance appeared to be a spoof of Karmin’s ill-fated premiere on Saturday Night Live that seems to have been scrubbed from much of the internet. Luckily that career-killing performance can still be found here. It’s just so bad, and I love it.
Cameron concluded her performance by telling The Acclaimed’s Anthony Bowens that he was clearly attracted to her and they should hook up. Bowens, who you may have also seen modeling underwear from Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty 2023 Pride Collection, took to the mic to break the news to Cameron that her feminine wiles had no effect on him.
“I don’t know if you can see my gear,” Bowens said, gesturing at his rainbow-adorned tights, “but lady, I’m gay.”
The thousands of fans in attendance at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena then spontaneously erupted into chanting “He’s gay” in unison. Bowens later took to Twitter, posting “If ya told me years ago, I’d have an arena chanting HE’S GAY at me in the most POSITIVE of ways, I’d say you’re crazy. It’s pretty cool to see how far we’ve come. Still more work to do. Happy Pride.”
While professional wrestling’s diversity is now celebrated, the sport has a troubled past when it comes to LGBTQ talent. I won’t get into some of the darker and more legally contentious aspects of that, but I will point to one example of what Bowens means when he talks about how far we’ve come.
As detailed in David Bixenspan’s incredible feature in Mel Magazine, WWE hall of famer Pat Patterson faced possible deportation by the U.S. government in the 1960s due to his (at the time) alleged “homosexual activity.” As a young man, Patterson had found an accepting community in the world of professional wrestling. Unfortunately, Patterson would fall under investigation by the Justice Department’s now-defunct Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
At the time, a promoter had Patterson adopt the “Pretty Boy Pat” persona and perform in lipstick and flamboyant attire. Patterson’s wrestling persona played a key part in his avoiding deportation when he was interviewed by investigators, as described in an INS memo unearthed by Bixenspan.
“I asked [Patterson] on the record why he had dyed his hair blond and why he used some of the rather effeminate mannerisms which he affected,” wrote investigators. “His response was that when he was starting out as a wrestler, the promoters told him that he was colorless; that besides being a good wrestler he had to be different and that in his case they suggested the blond hair, cigarette holder, and other effeminate mannerisms, saying that while the people would not like it, it would draw them to the bouts.”
So thank you to Cameron, The Acclaimed, Daddy Ass, and the great people of Chicago for creating such a fantastic moment in the One True Sport. Happy Pride. Be gay; do crimes.
