AEW Promised to Change the World, It May Do Just That

During the Double or Nothing rally, held on January 8, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) promised to change the world. When a wrestling company claims to change the world, that’s bold. Or maybe the statement sounds bold because when most people think of changing the world, they imagine something so major, so grand that it’s inconceivable. But after watching the Double or Nothing Ticket Announcement Party, the company’s statement isn’t as bold as one would think.

AEW is certainly on the right track to change the world. It has already changed the wrestling industry. AEW became the first major wrestling company to sign a trans wrestler when it signed Nyla Rose (pictured above). But not only is Rose repping for trans women, but she’s also repping for Native women. That’s a major win on so many levels. Rose, coming from the Washington, D.C. area, is super talented and deserving of an opportunity. Since 2013, Rose has worked with a few wrestling promotions including Warriors of Wrestling and Japan’s Sendai Girls Pro Wrestling. For anyone who isn’t familiar with Rose, Youtube her (or watch the video above).

At the same event, AEW announced that the company has signed Sonny Kiss. Signing Kiss is another win for people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and LGBTQ+ representation. Kiss, who some may know for wresting in Capitol Wrestling and Lucha Underground, is a gay African American man. Just like Rose, Kiss deserves to shine at a major wrestling company. And of course, there will always be people in the wrestling fandom who claim both wrestlers were hired for the sake of diversity and inclusion. But most of us know this isn’t true and both wrestler’s talent speaks for itself.

In less than a year, the company seems to have already made diversity and inclusion a priority. AEW is owned by a Pakistani American family. A Black woman serves as the company’s Chief Branding Officer/Talent Scout. The company has partnered with a Mexican wrestling company (AAA) and a Chinese wrestling company (OWE). The roster consists of wrestlers of color, international wrestlers, and LGBTQ+ wrestlers. If AEW continues to welcome all “elite” talent to its company, the company may change the wrestling industry and the world too.

Current AEW Roster

As of February 11:

Cody Rhodes (Executive Vice President)

Matt Jackson (Executive Vice President)

Nick Jackson (Executive Vice President)

Kenny Omega (Executive Vice President)

Christopher Daniels (Head of Talent Relations)

Brandi Rhodes (Chief Brand Officer, Talent Scout)

Britt Baker

Trent Barreta

Rey Fenix

Penelope Ford

Sammy Guevara

Jimmy Havoc

Joey Janela

Chris Jericho

Jungle Boy

Frankie Kazarian

Sonny Kiss

Aja Kong

Maxwell Jacob Friedman

PAC

 “Hangman” Adam Page

Pentagon Jr.

Kylie Rae

Nyla Rose

Yuka Sakazaki

Scorpio Sky

Chuck Taylor