Pro wrestling’s first openly bisexual wrestler hits the air this Monday
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Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling takes a bold step Monday, officially debuting the first openly bisexual wrestler at a major U.S.-based professional wrestling promotion.
Orlando Jordan is the character – and truly is bisexual, not just portraying a gay (or bi) character, as has been the norm in pro wrestling’s past.
Jordan made his debut for TNA Wrestling on Jan. 4, with no hint that night of his sexuality. He walked to the ring for a February match accompanied by a male and a female.
Monday, the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.
On “TNA iMPACT!” (Monday, 9-11 p.m. Eastern Time, Spike TV), a show that was taped on March 23 in Orlando, Fla., Jordan is lowered into the ring from the arena’s rafters wrapped in yellow police tape with the TNA logo.
Jordan then crawls through the ring and ultimately walks to a nearby white couch where he sits between a shirtless male and a sexy female.
Behind the trio is the tri-colored bisexual pride flag, plus two male symbols and one female symbol.
Jordan has been wrestling professionally since 1999 and previously worked for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Pro wrestling has a long history of stereotypical gay characters: flamboyant and over-the-top. Such as Gorgeous George, “Exotic” Adrian Street, Adrian Adonis, Rico, the West Hollywood Blondes, Chuck and Billy, and others. Wrestler Chris Kanyon (real name: Chris Klucaritis) is openly gay, but did not come out until after leaving World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the WWE. He is now retired from the industry.
All have been portrayed by straight wrestlers.
Jordan, from Richmond, Va., played football and wrestled in high school. He also attended Boise State University.
TNA Wrestling also features Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Sting, Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles and others, such as gay-friendly Kevin Nash.
