AEW fans, don’t deliberately miss the important point AJ Gray is making

AJ Gray discussed the lack of Black male singles wrestlers being pushed in AEW, and he received some resistance from fans.

On Jul. 16, AJ Gray spoke with the WrestlingInc. Daily podcast about the lack of Black male singles wrestlers in AEW. Remember, this is a promotion that touted their diversity as a selling point when they first formed. Further, both Tony Khan and Cody said by the end of 2019, we would see multiple Men of Color in the singles main event and World Championship scene.

To date, Scorpio Sky is still the only male singles Wrestler of Color to challenge for the AEW World Championship, and that was way back in November. He’s one of a few to main even an episode of Dynamite or a pay-per-view in a singles match (along with Santana and Marq Quen).

Gray, speaking on the Wrestling Inc. podcast specifically about Black male wrestlers in AEW, noted how so few actually receive extended time on Dynamite, and most are on Dark only for quick squashes.

"“They get beat up really fast and that’s it. Is that all you think of that talent? Come on now, give them a legitimate chance. You gave Alan Angels a legitimate chance against Kenny Omega and now you signed him. What’s stopping you from doing that with SUGE D or someone else?” (SUGE D is more well-known to AEW fans as Pineapple Pete.)"

Out of the talent listed on AEW’s roster page, only four male wrestlers are Black and only one is a bonafide singles competitor (Sonny Kiss). The other three in Sky, Quen, and Isiah Cassidy are all part of teams. It’s tough to push Black singles wrestlers if you only see their potential as being in a tag team, something I’ve noted in the past. This is one reason Gray said, “I even talked about it on Twitter – if you look at them – one singles wrestler that’s a black male.”

I know, some of you are ready to jump at me saying, “Kiss just wrestled Cody for the TNT Championship, and Quen did, too!” Remember that Kiss just made her Dynamite debut a few weeks ago even though she’s been signed for a long time (Kiss uses he/she pronouns). Quen, even after his great showing in the match, is back to tagging with Cassidy and being grouped with Matt Hardy. Regardless, you’re missing the point if you think these examples equates to actual diversity.

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Sure, there is more representation of Black wrestlers on Dark, but as Gray said, they’re in there for only a few minutes generally to put others over. Further, these talents on Dark have NOT been signed as evidenced by their lack of a profile on the AEW roster page.

Before you try and label his comments as a hit piece, he did praise AEW’s women’s division and the amount of diversity there.

For example, of the three women who have been Champion, two are Japanese (Riho and current Champion Hikaru Shida) and one is a transgender Black and Native American woman (Nyla Rose). We also have the rise of Big Swole, and a potential singles turn for Brandi Rhodes in the future. They’ve shown with the women’s division that it is possible to push Wrestlers of Color and Black wrestlers.

He also both praised and criticized WWE for how they’ve portrayed Black wrestlers, particularly highlighting MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Mark Henry in the positive while criticizing them for trying to their debacle in the Jordan Myles/ACH situation involving the racist shirt.

For Gray, it’s not one particular Black wrestler or a quota, but, “It’s just a fact of the matter that it’s so little,” particularly coming from an organization that gives lip service to wanting to be “woke.” It’s not even about Gray being signed. It’s about representation, power, and shifting consciousness.

Remember, before the pandemic hit in full force around the end of February and March, Gray had organized an event for Game Changer Wrestling called “For the Culture,” a three-day event organized by and worked by all Black wrestlers, announcers, referees, etc. to take place WrestleMania weekend, but scrapped due to the pandemic. This man “walks the walk” as much as he “talks the talk.” As he said, it’s not about him getting a paycheck because even then, he’d still be saying the same things.

His most important point was the lack of representation on the management/creative side of professional wrestling. Gray stated that in order to actually make some progressive change, Black people have to be in positions of power: management, booking, creative, marketing, etc., a sentiment tangentially echoed by “The Revolutionary” Darius Lockhart.

"“You can’t sit here and tell me – and I hate to say it like this – 20 to 40 year old white males or females can tell us about how to be black. They’ve never been black a day in their life so how are you gonna write that. You don’t know.”"

He equated it to how women tell better stories about women because as women, they have the shared experience of being women in a patriarchal society.

Further, on Twitter, he notes how fans seem to go wild in admiration for a White wrestler performing a move yet completely ignore more talented Black wrestlers on the independent scene, like Trish Adora and her fantastic “Lariat Tubman” finisher, calling her a “star.”

He pretty much uses his Twitter to educate fans as well as rebuking comments that miss the point, many times willfully to protect their worldview. While he was discussing Black male singles wrestlers, some comments asked him asinine questions such as, “Well, what about Riho or Rose? What about Private Party or Scorpio Sky?” Again, they’re missing the point, particularly since they’re not discussing Black male singles wrestlers, the topic of Gray’s interview.

He’s also received lots of support from fellow wrestlers, including Lockhart, O’Shay Edwards, Air Wolf, Lee Moriarty, and Erick Stevens just to name a few. It’s clear his voice has an impact, including on those in the business.

I reached out to Gray for a few follow-up questions, and he graciously accepted the request. Here is our brief exchange.

Me: There aren’t many non-Black wrestlers speaking on these issues. What message would you want to relay to them, and how can non-Black people be supportive of the cause without appropriating it or decentering Black voices?

AG: HELP US! The majority of wrestling fans now are white, and they will open up to someone they relate to quicker than someone who’s voicing their problem.

Me: Why do you think some fans just don’t “get it” or try to minimize your arguments in your eyes as a Black performer?

AG: That’s the way American society is. It’s the exact same as the #BlackLivesMatter movement. When we speak up about being murdered by police, it’s always “but this but that.” Just listen to us man, we’re very tired. That’s why we’re bringing the issue up publicly now.

Me: Lastly, any chance we get to see the “For the Culture” show in the future?

AG: I have something bigger planned. Of course, when everything comes back, it’ll happen, but it’s something bigger in the works.

AJ Gray isn’t just a talented wrestler, but one who understands the power of his position and representation. He’s not afraid to use his platform and voice, and wrestling, wrestlers, and fans will be better thanks to him and others who continue the fight against racism.

I’d like to thank AJ Gray for taking the time to respond to my questions. Give him a follow on Twitter while you’re at it (@RichHomieJuice), and catch him at an independent show near you!