All Elite Wrestling is for lovers of more than pro wrestling. AEW presents love with boundaries or judgment that goes beyond LGBT representation and acceptance. Yet in these divisive and hate-fueled times, the respectful, normalized and inclusive presentation of non-heteronormative relationships is significant to so many fans. In international human rights, how minority groups are protected and treated is seen as the true measure of a society. AEW gets a lot right in this respect, even if it’s not utopian.
Prejudice, discrimination, and barriers across sports exist. Considering wrestling’s close connection to traditional, hypermasculine focus and values, driven by violence and aggression, AEW isn’t ashamed of going against tradition.
New Traditions
Wrestling for decades was a closed shop “boys club” with very narrow, defined ideas of what works and what’s right. Depictions of non-heterosexual or non-heteronormative characters did break ground. See the likes of “Exotic” Adrian Street (whose life and career would make an amazing musical film) and Goldust.
However, these characters were traditionally heel caricatures or lovable oddities played usually by heterosexual wrestlers. Sometimes humorously, but ultimately reductively. Based on stereotypes, exaggerating contemporary prejudices and fears.
Since day one, AEW has presented LGBT wrestlers as multifaceted characters not defined by sexuality. Allowed to express themselves, the first transgender champion in wrestling, Nyla Rose, was a monstrous, Native Beast. The genderfluid and transfeminine Sonny Kiss was among the first batch of AEW signings. Arguably, AEW could have done more with the Concrete Rose besides Dark and Dark Elevation matches.
AEW has made LGBT+ champions across divisions and brands. Besides Rose, Antony Bowens was AEW’s first openly gay champion. Mercedes Martinez, an out-and-proud lesbian, held the ROH Women’s World Championship. “Timeless” Toni Storm is widely recognized as wrestling’s first openly bisexual world champion. Recently, Speedball Mike Bailey became AEW’s first non-binary champion.
When their sexuality does play a part in a story, it’s not been exploitative. On AEW Rampage, Harley Cameron tried to seduce Anthony Bowens. He pointed to the rainbows on his gear before casually replying, “I’m gay”. Billy Gunn and Max Caster applauded and hugged Bowens. Excalibur remarked, “And he’s taken”. This brief spotlighting, recognition, and acceptance was a massive milestone—one moment in a wider storyline.
Non-heterosexual love isn’t treated as a sideshow.
Sexual but not Sexualized
Some folks like to complain that AEW isn’t for children. Its frequent use of violence extends to men’s and women’s wrestling. There’s obscene sexual language. Moral panic and performance have become currency in tribal discord surrounding AEW and WWE, with critics outright ignoring context or intent/meaning of both violence and words.
As the AEW Women’s World champion, “Timeless” Toni Storm’s growing list of rhyming, sexually derogatory nicknames grew week by week. From “sl*t” to “tr*mp” and “sk*nk” to “wh*re”, Storm’s character wasn’t shy about expressing her love of sex.
As an act of reclamation, Storm took language often used against women to present them as inferior and degraded, morally impure, and turned them and other phrases like “slop tarts” into fan-popping catchphrases. It wasn’t about being edgy. It was about removing shame and celebrating that it’s okay to be a woman who enjoys sex.
Over the top humour and conviction make it empowerment rather than subjugation. This isn’t the Attitude Era sexualisation, nor the Ruthless Aggression Era objectification. It’s burlesque and parody, not designed for the male gaze. As Storm, queer and here, said once, “Toni Storm comes for everyone.”
The message is clear: you’re allowed to be and love yourself, even if the Hayes Code or culture tries to repress it. Although Storm is the most prominent, she’s not the only woman in the AEW locker room to play with sexuality.
Sapphic Love
Mina Shirakawa was the catalyst for bringing sapphic love front and center to AEW programming. As part of the Mariah May/Toni Storm relationship, sexual tension was pushed to eleven. Even more underrated is the difference in Shirakawa’s on-screen relationships with May and then Storm. With May, Shirakawa and May’s sultry vibes with undertones of dominance and power. With Storm, Shirakawa’s relationship is loving and romantic.
Harley Cameron, always making the most of her minutes, a former burlesque performer, also pushed sapphic tension with the Outcasts—Bopping Saraya’s chest with a rubber ladle (I seen you’ve played knifey spoony before). The intense look of enjoyment on her face while Ruby Soho pinned and lifted Cameron by the throat against a wall did more than make viral moments. It got across another dimension of Cameron’s kooky character.
Add Cameron’s interactions with Kris Statlander, who playfully shoved her fingers in Cameron’s mouth to shut her up a few weeks ago. We’ve not even covered the sapphic obsession of the women’s locker room with Big Stat Daddy.
AEW producer, Chuck Taylor, on X wrote:
“Why Are All The AEW Girls So Horny For Each Other? Maybe The Boys Should Be H*rnier For Each Other.”
Well, Chuck, some of them are!
Homoerotic Appreciation
Although the women have been more vocal, it’s hard to miss some of the homoerotic banter and undertones on social media and on screen. When Kyle Fletcher turned heel on Will Ospreay, Fletcher also moved on to another bromance. Claiming Konosuke Takeshita as his husband, their friendship and chemistry have fans swooning. Just see Fletcher’s recent response to Takeshita and Takeshi Masada’s arHomme (thirst trap) photoshop.
holy shit holy shit holy shit https://t.co/zE2zVRVu2x
— “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher (@kylefletcherpro) February 6, 2026
Yes, Fletcher and Takeshita are heterosexual, but like every other humorous inclusion in this article, being gay isn’t the punchline. The supportive, playful tone of Fletcher and Takeshita’s posts and rapport often makes me think of the sitcom bromance between JD and Turk, only with more muscles and less Scrubs.
We can’t talk about homoeroticism in AEW without talking about The Don Callis Family. “Daddy”, Don Callis’ artwork drips with sexual tension and hilarity. The chiseled abs and fields of muscles tell a hilarious story about Callis’ delusions of grandeur and physical prowess as he poses with his army of meaty men.
Considering the meme about Heichero’s pecs, and Mark Davis believes what makes his devastating piledriver special and impactful is his “big fat dumper,” there’s plenty of delightfully gay subtext.
It doesn’t matter whether a wrestler is LGBT or not; it’s all respectful. When fans insert Kenny “bi-God” Omega into his moniker, it doesn’t matter if Omega is bisexual or not.
Being a non-comfortist in presentation and his relationships with his friends, from Kota Ibushi to The Young Bucks and Hangman Adam Page, makes him a bisexual icon. As a heterosexual male and a Hangman Girlie, I’m all for it. It’s nice to be included as well as inclusive. But that’s enough of this gay banter.
Underlying all of this is the power of friendship.
Platonic Love: Friendship for the Pops
At its root, AEW’s success in many of its best feuds, storylines, and relationships links back to friendship. Whilst The Best Friends, excluding Orange Cassidy, often acted as mid-card stalwarts, they were cult favorites for a reason. You’ve got to give people what they want. Hugs. The Conglomeration acts as the group’s spiritual successor and support network for each other.
The Brochachos’ storyline with Adam Cole and MJF went bad like milk in the sun because of circumstances and refusal to let it die. However, don’t let anyone revise the history of AEW’s first Wembley show. That record crowd popped continuously for a main event that put male friendship as its centerpiece. Friendship won over betrayal on the night, and it was the right call.
Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale’s split and feud was under-served compared to their male counterparts. Statlander’s motivation for the split was lackluster, but the teasing and attempts to put things right paid off as the final moment of New Year Smash 2025. A final feel-good moment of the year.
The Elite’s last reunion was poisoned in part by the lingering fallout from CM Punk. That doesn’t change how AEW’s first boom was built on the story of Hangman Adam Page’s rejection from his friendship group. Times change, and the potential reunion of The Elite, friends reuniting, potentially in 2026, may hit like gangbusters!
Yes, wrestling is built on violence, personal hatred, and stakes, but AEW has shown time and again that you can also add love to the mix.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8 pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content is available on their YouTube channel.
