Nyla Rose

Nyla Rose
Rose in February 2020
Born (1982-08-03) August 3, 1982 (age 42)[1][2]
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Debbie Kong[3]
Nyla Rose
Nyla The Destroyer
Billed height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)[4]
Billed weight185 lb (84 kg)[4]
Billed fromWashington, D.C.[5]
Trained byJames Zaveski[6]

Nyla Rose (born August 3, 1982) is an American professional wrestler and actress signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where she is a former AEW Women's World Champion. She also starred in the 2016 Canadian television series The Switch.

Rose became the first openly transgender wrestler in history to sign with a major American promotion when signing with AEW in 2019. She also became the first trans wrestler to win a title in a major American promotion when she won the AEW Women's World Championship the following year.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2013–2019)

From 2013 to 2019, Rose wrestled on the American independent circuit, appearing with promotions such as Women Superstars Uncensored. She also appeared in Japan with promotions such as Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling.[7]

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

Rose became the first openly transgender wrestler to sign with a major American professional wrestling promotion when she signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in February 2019.[8][9][10][11][12] Rose made her AEW debut at the promotion's inaugural event, Double or Nothing.[13] Her scheduled triple threat match against Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and Kylie Rae was turned into a fatal four-way match with the surprise addition of Awesome Kong. Rose was not involved in the decision, after spearing Kong into the ring steps shortly before Baker pinned Rae.[14]

At Fyter Fest, she was involved in a triple threat match with Riho and Yuka Sakazaki; after the match, Rose attacked both women, establishing herself as a heel in the process.[15] Rose took part in the AEW Women's Casino Battle Royal at All Out, which she went on to win, earning the opportunity to compete to become the inaugural AEW Women's World Champion.[16] On the premiere of Dynamite on October 2, Rose was defeated by Riho for the title, and attacked Riho after the match ended.[17] On February 12, 2020, Rose defeated Riho to win the AEW Women's World Championship on Dynamite, becoming the first transgender woman to win a world championship in a major United States wrestling promotion.[18] She successfully defended the title against Kris Statlander at Revolution on February 29.[19] On May 23 at Double or Nothing, Rose lost the title to Hikaru Shida.[20] On July 15, Rose introduced Vickie Guerrero as her manager.[21]

In February 2021, it was announced that Rose would be competing in the AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament. In the opening round of the U.S. side of the bracket, Rose picked up a victory over Tay Conti, and on the February 24 edition of Dynamite, she picked up a victory over Britt Baker to advance to the tournament U.S. tournament finals.[22] There, Rose defeated Thunder Rosa on March 1. She lost to Ryo Mizunami in the overall tournament finals on the March 3 edition of Dynamite.[23] On July 21 at Fyter Fest Rose faced Britt Baker for the AEW Women's World Championship which Rose lost by submission.[24] On November 17 episode of Dynamite Rose took part in the AEW Women's TBS championship tournament where she faced Hikaru Shida and defeated her making Rose advance to the next round.[25] On the December 22 special episode of Dynamite being AEW Holiday Bash, Rose faced Ruby Soho in the semi-finals of the tournament which Rose lost.[26]

On April 16, 2022, at AEW Battle of The Belts ll, Rose faced Thunder Rosa in the main event of the show for the AEW Women's World Championship which Rose lost.[27]

In December 2023, Rose faced Alejandra Lion for an episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, which was taped alongside AEW Holiday Bash at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Because of Oklahoma's laws regarding transgender participation in sport, the state's athletic commission – which still regulates professional wrestling – met and censured AEW for violating their rules regarding "intergender wrestling".[28] In response, AEW and ROH owner Tony Khan stated his disappointment with the decision and offered his support to both Rose personally and transgender rights in general, although he was non-committal over whether AEW would run events in Oklahoma in the future.[29]

Acting career

As an actress, she starred in the 2016 Canadian television series The Switch as the lead character.[30]

Writing

In 2022, Rose co-wrote the comic Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1 with Steve Orlando and artist David Cutler.[31]

Personal life

Rose is both Native and African-American, with her Native side being of Oneida heritage.[4] She grew up watching wrestling with her grandmother, and began training as a wrestler in college.[32] She began transitioning at the same time.[32]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Dissensions Daniel Tanner
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Spiros and the Hood Serena Cox
The Switch Sü Season 1, 6 episodes

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ "Nyla Rose The Native Beast". wrestlingjunkies (in German). Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  2. ^ "Out-of-the-ring chat with women pro wrestlers". infoweb.newsbank.com. Sussex Post (Seaford, DE). February 21, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "A historic night for transgender wrestler Nyla Rose at AEW's Double or Nothing". Outsports. May 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Schmidt, Samantha (October 4, 2019). "In a professional wrestling ring, a transgender woman faces a roaring crowd". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Free Match - Riho vs Nyla Rose vs Yuka Sakazaki from AEW's Fyter Fest". YouTube.com. All Elite Wrestling. July 4, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Greenberg, Keith Elliot (January 25, 2020). "Nyla Rose Is Pro Wrestling's First Trans Superstar". The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Nyla Rose - career". Cagematch.net. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Trans Wrestler Nyla Rose Just Made History". Pride.com. February 8, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "Nyla Rose makes history as first trans wrestler in major league". PinkNews. February 8, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nyla Rose becomes first trans wrestler signed to AEW". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae set for AEW Double or Nothing". F4Wonline.com. February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  12. ^ Currier, Joseph (February 7, 2019). "All Elite Wrestling partnering with Lucha Libre AAA". F4wonline. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  13. ^ "Trans wrestler Nyla Rose made history at AEW's Double or Nothing". Outsports.com. May 24, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae". Wrestlingnews.co. May 25, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "AEW Fyter Fest results, recap, grades: Kenny Omega gets retribution on Jon Moxley". CBSSports.com. June 29, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "Nyla Rose Wins Women's Casino Battle Royale At All Out, Set To Challenge For AEW Women's Title". Fightful. August 31, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "AEW Dynamite Results: News And Notes After Jon Moxley Destroys Kenny Omega, Jack Swagger Debuts". Forbes.com. October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  18. ^ a b DeFelice, Robert (February 12, 2020). "Nyla Rose Defeats Riho for the AEW Women's Championship". Fightful. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  19. ^ Barrasso, Justin (March 1, 2020). "The Right Time For a New World Champion: Takeaways from AEW's Revolution". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  20. ^ Satin, Ryan (May 23, 2020). "Hikaru Shida Becomes New AEW Women's World Champion At "Double Or Nothing"". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  21. ^ Rose, Bryan (July 15, 2020). "Vickie Guerrero revealed as Nyla Rose's AEW manager". F4Wonline.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  22. ^ "AEW Women's Championship Eliminator Results (2/22): Japan Semifinals, Conti vs Rose". ProWrestling.com. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  23. ^ Joshua Gagnon (March 1, 2021). "AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Results: Thunder Rosa Vs. Nyla Rose". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  24. ^ "AEW Dynamite Results July 21 2021". All Elite Wrestling. July 22, 2021.
  25. ^ "AEW Dynamite Results: November 17 2021". allelitewrestling. November 18, 2021.
  26. ^ "AEW Dynamite Results: December 22 2021". allelitewrestling. December 23, 2021.
  27. ^ "AEW Battle of The Belts ll Results". allelitewrestling. April 16, 2022.
  28. ^ "Nyla Rose Responds To Oklahoma Athletic Commission Warning AEW Over Allowing A Transgender Wrestler To Compete | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  29. ^ Nason, Josh (April 18, 2024). "Tony Khan AEW media call: CM Punk injury costs, Nyla Rose, TBS response to All In footage". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  30. ^ Fox, Amy (June 27, 2017). "World's First Transgender Sitcom Debuts". HuffPost. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  31. ^ Matthew Aguilar (April 30, 2022). "AEW's Nyla Rose Talks Reintroducing Marvel's Thunderbird to a new World and Targeting Title Gold". ComicBook.com.
  32. ^ a b Greene, Dan (June 18, 2019). "Nyla Rose Quietly Makes History as AEW's First Transgender Wrestler". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  33. ^ "AEW Women's World Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  34. ^ "Women's Casino Battle Royale (2019)". CageMatch. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  35. ^ a b "Titles « Nyla Rose « Wrestlers Database «". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  36. ^ "CP Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  37. ^ "411Mania".
  38. ^ "The PWI Top 100 Female Wrestlers 2020: Full List". Wrestling Travel. October 15, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  39. ^ "UPWA Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  40. ^ "WOW Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  41. ^ "WDWA West Virginia Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
Preceded by
None (first)
 Women's Casino Battle Royale winner
2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by 2nd AEW Women's World Champion
February 12, 2020 – May 23, 2020 		Succeeded by