Homophobia and the WWE

Darren Young – Out in the open

Just over a week ago, WWE made news that became the toast of the mainstream media and though scripted-entertainment, the business of pro wrestling received a positive rub among the sports community which is usually not that well-known for displaying their sensitive side.

This particular news was pertaining to Darren Young coming out as being gay in a manner which was quite out-of-the-blue. It was followed by congratulatory and encouraging display of support by a number of fellow superstars and officials. It’s all good and no big deal really as homosexuality discussions in 2013 are common and not something that is even remotely controversial, but the question on the minds of long-time watchers of the product is whether this will change anything with the storylines played out on TV.

Coming out as gay in the WWE, as per legend Shawn Michaels, is very old and so, 80s. Quite surprising coming from him as he himself has been at the receiving end of the queer attacks on various occasions in the late 90s’.

From being called a degenerate by arch rival Bret Hart due to his proximity to pretty boy HHH, to being termed as HB’Gay’ by his own stable during his time as the commissioner, Michaels, who is one of the biggest stars of the industry has been through his fair share of being bullied in the primarily testosterone-driven, often masochistic business of pro-wrestling.

It’s been evident since the early days of pro-wrestling that the audience’s homophobia has been routinely exploited by characters who were teased to be gay and/or ‘edgy’ to generate catcalls of being sissy, queer and at times ever worse where they would be homosexual predators who would attack their opponents to garner heat.

In WWE, who can forget the memorable character of Adrian Adonis who played an effeminate character, dressed in Pink and prancing around to chants of ‘f****t’ directed at him. This was during the kid-friendly era of Hulkamania too. And then, there was the ‘Goldust’ gimmick.

The talented Dustin Rhodes, son of Dusty ‘ American Dream’ Rhodes, was repackaged as the Hollywood-obsessed Goldust who was dressed up as a Oscar statue and indulged in risqué behaviour. Inciting hate and discomfort, the character was the sign of the aggression and intolerance seeping in to the storylines, as he was routinely beat up in backstage segments courtesy of popular good guys such as Razor Ramon and Rowdy Piper.

‘The Rowdy One’ even stripped him on camera once to reveal stockings and promised to beat some ‘manliness’ into him. However, it was all for nought as Goldust came out later to reveal himself as a 100% straight guy and began his face turn against the heel Jerry Lawler, who would make queer jokes about him.

WWE did try a departure from it’s uni-dimensional gay programming with the Chuck & Billy storyline where the company had announced a live wedding involving the two partners and the LGBT media bought into it and it really seemed like the WWE had turned the corner. But, in typical Vince fashion, there was a swerve and they came out as straight men who were being pressurized into acting gay by the evil manager Rico, who (surprise!) played an effeminate but flamboyant hairdresser.

Over the next many years since then, thankfully, the WWE resisted from anymore of those gay-centric storylines as the PG era ushered in a few years later. Though, it hasn’t been uncommon for the stars to make gay cracks at opponents during their feud, case in e.g. Cena with his ‘Brokeback Mountain’ reference to the Rock. But largely, it has been with the spirit of the changing social attitudes prevalent in the society and hopefully Young would be allowed a fair and square opportunity like the others on the roster and not be thrust a gimmick like it happened for Orlando Jordan when he came out as being bisexual.

But then, is the wrestling audience ready for an a**-kicker, who is not lusting after the divas when he isn’t beating guys up on-screen? Well, if under-sized Daniel Bryan is vying to be the face of the global conglomerate known as the WWE, then anything can really happen in there. And for progressive purposes, it better be a Pat Patterson push and not a Goldust/Jordan one.