Gay Wrestler Feared He'd be Shunned, but Says Being Out is a 'Hugely Positive' Experience

Pro wrestler Jensen Theory – a.k.a. Absolute Ego – once feared he'd be shunned in the ring, and find no one willing to face off against him if he dared to come out as gay. Happily, he's found that's not the case, Metro reports.

The publication details that "outside the ring" Theory's "real name is Andrew Frewing-House," and adds that the British wrestling champion hails "from Southampton," a city in Hampshire, England. In addition to his pro wrestling career, Theory "runs theatrical ghost tours in Portsmouth and does radio presenting."

Talking with the publication, Theory recalled how he "knew I wanted to be a wrestler, but there were so many times I stopped myself from doing it" because of the fact that he's gay.

"Wrestling is a contact sport," Theory went on to add, "and there were a lot of doubts in my mind about how other wrestlers would react to going against a gay wrestler."

Even when he went pro, "I kept it a secret and would avoid answering any personal questions," Theory recounted. He guarded the secret of his sexuality in his professional life despite having come out in his personal life at the age of 22.

His anxiety wasn't unfounded; Metro notes that Theory "grew up watching wrestlers – often mountain-sized masculine men – treat being gay as a punch-line or made into cartoonish villains.

"'Good guy' types in matches would shout homophobic slurs to get cheers," Metro added.

But then something changed: Theory explained that "the Academy I train at put up a post in support of pride" – on the occasion of Coming Out Day in 2022, Metro clarified – "and there were so many positive comments I felt it was a good time to stop hiding it."

And now, as the article notes, the three-time champion has no problem being authentic both personally and professionally.

"The response I had was so positive from fans, promotions and wrestlers," Theory recounted. "I've had the odd homophobic comment, but for me personally, it has been a hugely positive response."

"WWE, easily the largest pro-wrestling organization, and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) count more than a dozen LGBTQ+ athletes pack the wrestlers' benches," Metro backgrounded. "Larger-than-life wrestlers like Fred Rosser, Sonya Deville, and Anthony Bowens have lines of fans queuing to shake their hands. As does Nyla Rose, who is openly trans."

As more athletes across different sports come out – particularly male athletes in sports where out LGBTQ+ people are grossly underrepresented – the sports world has become more accepting, though sometimes in a painfully slow manner. Anti-gay chants from the stands still ring out far too often during soccer matches. But pro soccer players like Jakub Jankto, Zander Murray, Jake Daniels, and Josh Cavallo – as well as trailblazers like the recently out tennis player Joao Lucas Reis da Silva – have helped to broaden, and level, the field of play.