Impact: Glenn Gilbertti’s sexism angle isn’t effective

On the episode of Impact Wrestling that aired last Friday, the show kicked off with a 10-Knockout Battle Royal.

The participants were familiar faces Alisha Edwards, Madison Rayne, Scarlett Bordeaux, Kiera Hogan, Jordynne Grace and Tessa Blanchard.

Rounding out the numbers were indie stars Solo Darling, Ashley Vox, Tasha Steelz and Karissa Rivera. There was a great deal of talent in one ring and an awesome sign of what the future of Impact’s Knockout Division could be.

Then, the match was won by Glenn “Disco Inferno” Gilbertti.

Obviously, this was a call made to get further heat on Gilbertti and his macho “women shouldn’t be wrestlers” character. From the outside looking in, it might seem like it was effective. After all, his win was met with boos from the audience and reviewed with general dislike online. It was supposed to be offensive and yes, it seems to be setting up for Tessa Blanchard to beat him down for revenge.

To make it very clear, I understand the reasoning for doing this and that it is meant to play into an angle that will supposedly have a satisfying ending.

It is still an unoriginal, tired idea and story. It pretends to be forward thinking and pro-woman, but is actually extremely sexist.

Immediately, the situation drew comparison to WrestleMania 25 in 2009. A Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal, featuring past and present women’s talent, was won by “Santina Marella,” who was actually men’s Superstar, Santino Marella, in a skirt, pantyhose and a wig. An insult to all of the women who had worked hard to be in the match, as well as an embarrassingly transphobic gimmick. Essentially, if Impact is drawing comparisons to Santina, then they have gotten themselves the wrong kind of heat.

Ah, but, you might say, “in this case, the goal is for Gilbertti to be beaten by a woman and embarrassed and all the sexists will see the error of their ways! It is empowering because Tessa Blanchard will take him out!”

Tessa Blanchard defeating a gag wrestler who is 20 years past whatever prime he may have had is not empowering. It is no more empowering than Asuka or Becky Lynch defeating James Ellsworth. Or Jacqueline Moore beating Harvey Wippleman, competing as “Hervina.”

None of these are empowering because all of these women are defeating opponents who are not portrayed as “real” men. It is okay for them to lose to women because they’re already emasculated and there’s no reason to protect them. This is doubly upsetting because it labels anyone who isn’t a very specific stereotype of masculine as “not really a man.” Which is absolutely unfair.

Even in the case of Chyna winning her first Intercontinental Title, it was only okay because Jeff Jarrett was leaving WWE and he could be sacrificed. As a bonus, when he went to WCW or another company, he’d have the supposedly humiliating distinction of having lost his title to a woman. All of that, and the match was an amazingly bad gimmick match that fell in line with the ongoing story which was “women shouldn’t be wrestlers.” Deja vu.

Madusa beating Evan Karagias to become WCW Cruiserweight Champion was only possible because of outside interference from Spice. Similarly, Lita only pinned Dean Malenko because Matt Hardy helped her.

In all of these cases, we’re being told that a man losing clean to a woman is embarrassing. That no matter how talented that woman is, how well trained she is, or how well told the in-ring story may be, she can never be the equal of Impact talents like Brian Cage, Sami Callihan or Johnny Impact.

Cage, Callihan and Johnny Impact, by the way, all regularly competed in Intergender matches in Lucha Underground – a promotion Impact seems to have some sort of working relationship with – and none of those men were ever portrayed as weaker or emasculated for being staggered, challenged or even beaten by a woman.

All of this might make you think I find Impact Wrestling’s decision offensive and therefore fell for it. The truth is I’m not really offended in the long run. Yes, the idea is sexist and offensive, but what I’m actually feeling is just tired.

If Impact wants to go forward with more Intergender wrestling, here’s hoping they do the right thing and decide to portray their women as being equal to their men as performers. No need for bringing back Andy Kaufman-esque misogynist characters to explain or excuse the matches, no reason to act like there is anything odd or strange about a man and a woman facing off as equals.

Because there isn’t.