The #SpeakingOut movement is forcing some independent wrestling companies to make changes to make everyone feel safe and to rid the business of some of the people who create an unsafe working environment. However, one thing that some people point to as problematic is the existence of intergender wrestling. While most wrestlers are professional, some will use these matches to do inappropriate things with women.
Former WWE/WCW star Lance Storm says intergender wrestling needs to stop. He says he has heard from many women who were uncomfortable with doing those matches but they went along with it because they felt obligated to do so since these matches are being accepted as the norm.
Storm wrote, “I see some discussion on inter gender wrestling matches again. In light of #SpeakingOut I think these matches have to stop. I’ve heard from so many women who were uncomfortable doing these but felt obligated to get booked because these matches were accepted ‘norms’.”
I see some discussion on inter gender wrestling matches again. In light of #SpeakingOut I think these matches have to stop. I’ve heard from so many women who were uncomfortable doing these but felt obligated to to get booked because these matches were accepted “norms”.
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Many fans agree with Storm and others have respectfully explained why they think intergender wrestling is a good thing but he’s also had to deal with trolls who can’t respectfully state why they disagree with him. Here are some of the responses from Storm on Twitter:
Yup obviously have no understand of the wrestling business. When you are starting out you are afraid to say no, because if you do and someone else says yes, you don’t get booked. This is where the power which facilitates harassment comes from. https://t.co/AdHVNcyUxe
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
You don’t understand wrestling. When you are new the pressure to do as you are asked is huge. If you say no you don’t get booked. That’s my point I’ve had Many female students who didn’t want to do them feel pressured to do them. https://t.co/TCQ2Rgpgbl
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Creating situation where women can be pressured into do things they aren’t comfortable with is how harassment STARTS. https://t.co/wi5MAm6Lw7
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Are the Olympics then sexist. Please that’s stupid. https://t.co/vyANlcBK2h
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
NO! Because there are Always repercussions in wrestling when you say No and rewards when you say Yes. https://t.co/RR2ASkKu5W
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Well explain that to the women who came to me who said they were very uncomfortable having to wrestle man, especially ones they didn’t know, but felt pressured to in order to get booked. https://t.co/2lZ5olNYKq
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Again you are completely missing the point. Those who support it got booked so they are out spoken. Those opposed won’t speak out because they fear Not getting booked. https://t.co/EAoDYHsmwb
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
It if women who do them get more opportunities than women who don’t. The pressure is there to force those who don’t want to to do it. Especially when the women are green and are terrified to say no to what is asked of them by the Booker/promoter https://t.co/dyuiapbqWU
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Speaking out illustrated that men in wrestling to often don’t conduct themsleves professionally. I’m suggesting removing one of the element which puts pressure on women to do things they are uncomfortable with. One that was a frequent tool of the guy most accused in Speaking out https://t.co/PT5W7UfOQj
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
For every top person who does these matches on TV in a professional setting there are 100s who have to do them on small very unprofessional Indy shows. https://t.co/eWiQo7meoF
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Agree to do intergender matches and be the only women on the tour or lose all the booking and risk heat from canceling. There is then pressure to share a room because everyone else is doubling up. THIS HAPPENS
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
I’m Telling Men not to do them too. Is removing men from a situation where they abuse women victim blaming? https://t.co/gjUSIsp22y
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
I have no idea if she was comfortable, that’s the point. We were both told what to do and did what we were told. https://t.co/C1vr8eBhDb
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
How is removing intergender wrestling taking something away from women? Both men and women do it so not doing it effects men and women equally. https://t.co/rB0J39ExNr
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Why do wrestlers need intergender matches to have quality matches? I see great women’s matches all the time I see great men’s matches all the time. https://t.co/alGS1Jiv6u
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
I sat with countless female students/wrestlers and had long conversations with them about their struggles on the Indy scene and being pressured into these matches came up a lot. Claiming Indont pay attention is such an ignorant statement. https://t.co/9f6uPpuse5
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
So you’re saying if a woman is uncomfortable with these matches she should just speak out, even if she feels doing so might hurt her career, has nothing to do with the Speaking Out movement. 🤔 https://t.co/JvVLDYTX1I
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Okay but explain to me how this happens at the Indy level? WWE or AEW can have a human resource department but at the Indy level there is often 1 guy in charge, the guy asking you to do something and he’s the guy you’d have to complain to if what he’s asking you is unreasonable. https://t.co/WGvspviBB0
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Sasha and BayLey made history in Brooklyn without men. Charlotte, Becky and Ronda made history at WrestleMania with out men. No one needs intergender to make history, and women sure don’t need men to make history. https://t.co/Kp1C4wE1lK
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
How is being against Intergender matches telling women what to do? I’m saying the same thing to men and women. Why is not being for intergender anti women? The matches involve both Men and Women. https://t.co/GxFZ2u5YUU
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
Explain to me how to make that happen at the Indy level, and I’m with you. https://t.co/Xg8J5uZaEG
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 6, 2020
While there are some (men and women) who agree with Storm’s opinion on intergender wrestling, there are others who disagree, as seen by Kylie Rae’s tweet from 8/3:
The Theory:
If you don’t fux with intergender wrestling, odds are, you don’t truly respect women.
¯_(ツ)_/¯ (ready for war 🤣🤣) pic.twitter.com/L3Nugzi4QP
— KYLIE RAE (@IamKylieRae) August 3, 2020
Here is an example of what @LanceStorm is talking about (re: intergender wrestling) https://t.co/KFDehuroRP
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) August 6, 2020
UPDATE: Kylie Rae has responded to Lance Storm’s tweets:
“Intergender wrestling needs to stop”
Ok so youre telling me no matter how hard I work, no matter how big or strong I get, no matter how much effort; blood & tears: I will never get some of my dream matches?Because point blank I’m not good enough. Might cause mental illness? Na
— KYLIE RAE (@IamKylieRae) August 6, 2020
