Wrestling for decades was a closed shop \u201cboys club\u201d with very narrow, defined ideas of what works and what\u2019s right. Depictions of non-heterosexual or non-heteronormative characters did break ground. See the likes of \u201cExotic\u201d Adrian Street (whose life and career would make an amazing musical film<\/a>) and Goldust.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n AEW has made LGBT+ champions across divisions and brands. Besides Rose, Antony Bowens was AEW\u2019s first openly gay champion. Mercedes Martinez, an out-and-proud lesbian, held the ROH Women\u2019s World Championship. \u201cTimeless\u201d Toni Storm is widely recognized as wrestling\u2019s first openly bisexual world champion. Recently, Speedball Mike Bailey became AEW\u2019s first non-binary champion.<\/p>\n When their sexuality does play a part in a story, it\u2019s not been exploitative. On AEW Rampage, Harley Cameron tried to seduce Anthony Bowens. He pointed to the rainbows on his gear before casually replying, \u201cI\u2019m gay\u201d. Billy Gunn and Max Caster applauded and hugged Bowens. Excalibur remarked, \u201cAnd he\u2019s taken\u201d. This brief spotlighting, recognition, and acceptance was a massive milestone\u2014one moment in a wider storyline.<\/p>\n Non-heterosexual love isn\u2019t treated as a sideshow.<\/p>\n Some folks like to complain that AEW isn\u2019t for children. Its frequent use of violence<\/a> extends to men\u2019s and women\u2019s wrestling. There\u2019s obscene sexual language. Moral panic and performance have become currency in tribal discord surrounding AEW and WWE<\/a>, with critics outright ignoring context or intent\/meaning of both violence and words.<\/p>\n As the AEW Women\u2019s World champion, \u201cTimeless\u201d Toni Storm\u2019s growing list of rhyming, sexually derogatory nicknames grew week by week. From \u201csl*t\u201d to \u201ctr*mp\u201d and \u201csk*nk\u201d to \u201cwh*re\u201d, Storm\u2019s character wasn\u2019t shy about expressing her love of sex.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cslop tarts\u201d into fan-popping catchphrases. It wasn\u2019t about being edgy. It was about removing shame and celebrating that it\u2019s okay to be a woman who enjoys sex.<\/p>\n Over the top humour and conviction make it empowerment rather than subjugation. This isn\u2019t the Attitude Era sexualisation, nor the Ruthless Aggression Era objectification<\/a>. It\u2019s burlesque and parody, not designed for the male gaze. As Storm, queer and here, said once, \u201cToni Storm comes for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n The message is clear: you\u2019re allowed to be and love yourself, even if the Hayes Code or culture tries to repress it. Although Storm is the most prominent, she\u2019s not the only woman in the AEW locker room to play with sexuality.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s on-screen relationships with May and then Storm. With May, Shirakawa and May\u2019s sultry vibes with undertones of dominance and power.<\/a> With Storm, Shirakawa\u2019s relationship is loving and romantic.<\/p>\n Harley Cameron, always making the most of her minutes<\/a>, a former burlesque performer, also pushed sapphic tension with the Outcasts\u2014Bopping Saraya\u2019s chest with a rubber ladle (I seen you\u2019ve 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\u2019s kooky character.<\/p>\n Add Cameron\u2019s interactions with Kris Statlander, who playfully shoved her fingers in Cameron\u2019s mouth to shut her up a few weeks ago. We\u2019ve not even covered the sapphic obsession of the women\u2019s locker room with Big Stat Daddy.<\/p>\n AEW producer, Chuck Taylor, on X wrote:<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Are All The AEW Girls So Horny For Each Other? Maybe The Boys Should Be H*rnier For Each Other.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Well, Chuck, some of them are!<\/p>\n Although the women have been more vocal, it\u2019s 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\u2019s recent response to Takeshita and Takeshi Masada\u2019s arHomme (thirst trap) photoshop.<\/p>\n holy shit holy shit holy shit https:\/\/t.co\/zE2zVRVu2x<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \u201cThe Protostar\u201d Kyle Fletcher (@kylefletcherpro) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/Sonny_Kiss_July_2019_cropped-225x300.jpg\")
Sexual but not Sexualized<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sapphic Love <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Homoerotic Appreciation <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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