- Gabbi Tuft previously starred in WWE under the name Tyler Reks
- He declared himself transgender in 2021 and wants to return to sport
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
Transgender wrestler Gabbi Tuft has said she “absolutely” plans to return to the ring, but acknowledged the potential discomfort of using the women’s locker room.
Tuft, who was previously known as Tyler Reks during her first four-year run in WWE, came out as transgender three years ago.
And although she has been retired from competition since 2014, a second act in wrestling could be on the horizon, with other wrestlers even asking to train with her.
“My intention is absolutely to return to the ring,” he said. NewsNation ‘Banfield.’
“And if it is, it happens to be with WWE, that would be the perfect story to come full circle.” And if I go back, I think the whole world will be watching and wondering if I get in the ring with a guy, with a girl, what happens? And I know there are some people who are not happy about that.”
Gabbi Tuft has said she “absolutely” plans to return to the wrestling ring in an interview.
Tuft performed as Tyler Reks for four years before being released by WWE in 2012.
She continued, “Now, even when I’m in the ring training with girls and practicing, they’re the ones who asked me to train with me and they’re happy to train with me and they know I’m going to protect them.” them in the ring.
‘And as far as sending a message, I think it’s a wonderful message that women are asking to work with me. “They know I will keep them safe and they know that what we are going to do in the ring will be explosive and incredibly entertaining.”
Tuft shared that she has not fully transitioned and is therefore concerned about sharing a wardrobe with other women.
“I think my biggest concern would be a locker room situation because I haven’t fully transitioned. And to be honest, I would never want to impose or invade a safe space for women,” she said.
“So I think my biggest concern would be where to change, and if I had to find a way to get my own space so I wouldn’t impose on anyone, if I had to pay for it myself or something, I would do it.” Just to make sure that the girls, the women, the femmes, felt safe and that I wasn’t invading their space at all.’
The 45-year-old has lost around 100 pounds since performing as Reks by changing her diet and exercise routine. Reks was billed as being 6-foot-2 and weighing around 250 pounds throughout his WWE career.
Still, while he’s happy to get in the ring with women, he said sports need “better standards” when it comes to transgender people competing in athletics.
He also shared that he wouldn’t fight if it were a “legitimate, competitive sport.”
‘But since this is entertainment, it’s a different story. …I recognize that I have more muscle mass on my body than a woman by birth.
‘My bone structure is very different. I can feel it in the ring. I know. It’s very different when I work with a naturally born woman or a man. And I can feel the difference in muscle mass. I can feel the structure of the body. I know that. I am very aware of that. But thank God this is entertainment, and that’s what we bring.
Tuft previously teased a possible return by entering a venue where All Elite Wrestling was performing a show.