Nyla Rose criticizes Oklahoma State Athletic Commission for transphobia

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Image from Nyla Rose’s Instagram Nyla Rose recently spoke out against the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission (OSAC) for its administrator once saying Rose violated state rules regarding transgender women competing against cisgender women. During an interview with Denise Salcedo released on Tuesday (September 15), Rose referred to the commission as “hateful bigots.” The issues with the OSAC came after Rose, who is transgender, wrestled Alejandra Lion during a Ring of Honor (ROH) event in Oklahoma City in December 2023. The OSAC later warned AEW that the match violated its policy on intergender competition and threatened punishment for any such infractions in the future. AEW President (and ROH owner) Tony Khan responded by publicly supporting Rose. However, information on Cagematch indicates she has not wrestled in the state since she took on Lion in late 2023. When Salcedo asked Rose if she was comfortable to talk about the situation involving the commission, Rose responded: “Yeah, sure, we can well touch on that a little bit. So, basically, to be perfectly blunt, hateful bigots with no basis for anything.” She continued: “The athletic commission is a scam. They’re just a bunch of greedy people who have found an avenue to work people out of money, and they’re using new laws and loopholes to do what they want to do, basically.” Salcedo followed up by asking Rose how she felt about Khan coming to her defense. “I was a little shocked. I was very surprised, but incredibly grateful that he would, with zero hesitation, like there was no thought there,” the wrestler replied. “He knew the right side of history to be on, and that’s where he stood, ten toes down. For someone of his caliber, in his position, to do that, he absolutely did not have to, and he did. That speaks a lot about who he is as a person and as a man. I’m so grateful to him for that.” Salcedo then asked Rose how she can get past situations like what happened with the OSAC. “It’s one of those things. That’s where the strength of our community comes into play with protests and educating the public, educating people. Education can put out a lot of those fires, because a lot of people are reacting out of fear.” In another follow-up question, Salcedo questioned Rose about her thoughts on what she wants to say to people who are still not accepting of her. “The sad reality, the sad truth is I don’t know that there’s anything I can say, right? Like that change has to come from within, and a lot of people are so coldhearted. They’re just shut out,” Rose said, before reiterating the importance of education on such issues. “Just getting to know somebody can do it,” she said. “I have had so many people come to me privately, (in) DMs, at shows, and apologize, saying, ‘Hey, I was ignorant before. I didn’t like you because of this reason.’ But as they’ve gotten to ‘know me’ over the years on television and social media, they realize that I’m just a person and realize I’m just entertainer. I just want to do my job and go home and play video games and open Pokémon cards. The same thing they want to do, I want to do as well, I just walk a slightly different path. “Once that change comes from within, and they realize we’re the same footing, some of those people’s hearts do open.”