Gay dudes wrestling

Grappling With Homophobia: A Short, Campy History of 9 Gay Pro-Wrestling Characters

Here are nine homosexual wrestling characters who own appeared in American wrestling:

1. Gorgeous George (1941 – 1962)

The first and most infamous “gay” character in wrestling, his outrageously dramatic character wore sequined robes and long capes, escorted by his own personal valet when walking towards the ring. He grew his hair long and dyed it platinum blond, had exaggeratedly effeminate mannerisms, demanded his valet spray the ring with perfumed disinfectant before he began wrestling and was a cowardly cheat, enraging dwell fans and television audiences by the millions.

He eventually became the most celebrated wrestler of his second, earning over $100,000 a year. His popularity culminated in a 1959 pair against Canadian wrestler Whipper Billy Watson in which the loser agreed to have their hair shaved. George lost, of course, to the delight of cheering fans.

Nevertheless, George permanently altered pro-wrestling with his extreme dramatic flair and set a standard of pro-wrestling showmanship for decades to come.

2. “Pretty Boy” Pat Patterson (1958 – 2014)

A true trailblazer, Pat Patter

Professional Gay Wrestling

While searching Amazon Prime recently, I was pleasantly surprised to uncover, of all things, episodes of Memphis wrestling in the video library. But there was even more content accessible for any connoisseur of both amazing wrestling and terrible wrestling: a collection of death matches between Cactus Jack and Terry Funk, some truly awful-looking wrestling movies I’d never heard of, and something called, Professional Gay Wrestling.

My first question was, “Is this Unharmed for Work?”

But my second question was “Why gay professional wrestling?” (Or “professional gay wrestling”, as it’s called, which led me endorse to my first question).

I mean, if gay men wish to watch guys with great bodies and revealing outfits grapple with each other, there are a number of other wrestling promotions out there – specifically, all of them.

Let’s face it – wrestling is a very queer sport, and has been since the days of the ancient Greeks. Those guys used to wrestle naked, which is just about the gayest thing two men can do short of having sex with each other.

Which they also did.

Actually watching PGW raised even more questions.

First of all, announcer Bruc

Image Via


When we first heard about a gay wrestling club in San Francisco we were enjoy, those San Franciscans. Of course you have a special club where dudes wear spandex and roll around trying to rule each other with their influential thighs. Then it occurred to us, isn’t that all wrestling clubs? Why does it matter that this one’s gay? Turns out gay sports clubs are a popular feature of the athletic landscape.

We called up Roger Brigham, a coach at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Wrestling Club to ask about the continued existence of gay sports clubs in an increasingly queer friendly world.

VICE: Do we still need “gay sports clubs,” is it naive to suppose that in a modern planet all clubs should be same-sex attracted friendly?

Roger Brigham: Yes it is naive. There are still significant barriers to overcome. We’ve had this discussion many times with different clubs, because alternative clubs market themselves differently. Some place the fact that they’re gay right up front, where others you have to bury a little bit further. We need to put it out there, because we need to make sure the conversation occurs. We don’t want somebody to be in a club and find out that peop

Stuart Forward

Recent graduate living in Leeds. Companion of the Caribbean, obscure books, beer and things people don't give a toss about. Aspiring publisher. Wannabe Belgian. @StuForward

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Growing up, I had a fire. Each Friday late hours, in the absence of a social life, 11 year old me would settle down in front of the TV with my dad to monitor WWF (now WWE) Raw is War. At the moment it was the height of youthful masculinity. All the hard kids in school would observe it without flop, then come in on Monday morning to clothesline-from-hell the rest of us and talk shop. In a occasion before social media, where dial-up internet was at the forefront of technology, our weekly dose of man on man action, followed by the sneaky free 10 minutes of Channel Babestation once the parents had gone to bed, granted boasting rights for the week, and helped to construct our LAD mentality.

It’s only when you move to these exist shows, full to the brim with sweaty middle-aged men and their children, baying for blood and tits, that you feel truly part of the manly mob. The crowd would ascend up as one to cheer Stone Cold, curse the establishment heels, and