Gabbi Tuft, a biological man who, two years ago, became the World Wrestling Entertainment’s first celebrity to announce he was “transitioning” into a girl, said he was “blocked” from receiving comped tickets and backstage access to the WWE’s Madison Square Garden Smackdown event, despite having battled for four years in the WWE ring under the name Tyler Reks.
The WWE reportedly told Tuft that there was simply a shortage of tickets for the July 7 event and denied him a free seat and a backstage pass.
Tuft, who retired from the WWE a decade ago and has gone on to become a TikTok influencer, told The New York Times that he would rather believe the organization’s explanation for the snub than believe the WWE has a problem with one of their tough-guy cast members coming out as transgender.
(Video: YouTube)
Still, he suggested WWE CEO Vince McMahon may have had something to do with getting dissed.
“One never knows with Vince,” he said.
“Representatives for the W.W.E. and Mr. McMahon had no comment,” The Times reported.
(Video: YouTube)
Tuft, who recently announced he and his wife of nearly 21 years, Priscilla Victoria Tuft, are getting divorced, said he hadn’t attended a WWE match since his retirement and thought, with all the changes in his life, the Smackdown sounded like a good time.
Ultimately, Tuft did show up for the event, accompanied by Britt Bussell, the chief operating officer of his business as an online personal trainer and nutrition coach.
The Times paints his outing as both brave and stylish in an article that we read so you won’t have to.
Gabbi Tuft was once a 250-pound gladiator in the WWE ring under the name Tyler Reks. Now she’s a TikTok star who’s building a new life. https://t.co/WM8rpo1O6o
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 5, 2023
According to The Times:
Ms. Tuft, 44, and Ms. Bussell, 39, took an Uber to Madison Square Garden. Ms. Tuft wore simple black trousers and a sleeveless blouse that her mother had given her last year as a birthday present.
“I couldn’t even button the neck or fit through the arm holes then, because I had too much muscle,” Ms. Tuft said. “Only this last month have I been able to fit into it. That feels good.”
On her feet she wore black flats. “I don’t need to tower over people any more than I already do,” she said.
After noting that “No one seemed to recognize Ms. Tuft as she headed up the steps and into the lobby,” — “I guess that means I’m old news,” Tuft said — The Times then provided several examples of WWE fans fawning over him.
A moment later, at the top of the escalators, a young woman bounded over for a selfie, saying, “I follow you on TikTok and I’m a huge fan.”
…
Around 10:30 p.m., as the crowd headed for the exits, Ms. Tuft was recognized by Michelle Kizoulis, 44, of Iselin, N.J., who told her how much she admired her for the way she has handled her transition
A man asked if she would pose for a picture with his son, who appeared to be about 8.
Of course she would.
“Actually, I really miss it,” Tuft said of the WWE. “I didn’t realize I would.”
Later in the lengthy pro-trans feature, Tuft says he lost a lot of male clients when he decided to “transition.”
“I get it,” he said. “Guys don’t want to follow an alpha male who becomes female.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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