WWE’s first transgender star, Gabbi Tuft, revealed she was ‘locked’ from going backstage at Smackdown at Madison Square Garden, while throwing shade at Vince McMahon.
Tuft, 44, a native of San Francisco, made an open transition two years ago after her professional wrestling job of many years wrestling as the dreadlocked gladiator Tyler Reks.
Despite his stellar career, he was denied backstage tickets for the July 7 event.
She admitted to the The New York City Times at the New York City event that he “didn’t realize” that he would miss WWE as much as he would. This was the first time he had attended a wrestling match since his retirement a decade ago.
Tuft, who now lives in Austin, Texas, said: ‘Actually, I miss him a lot. I didn’t realize he would.
WWE’s first transgender star Gabbi Tuft has revealed she was ‘locked’ from going backstage at Smackdown at Madison Square Garden. She is pictured at the event on July 7.
Gabbi Tuft, before (left) and after (right) her transition from male to female
The former trans WWE star found out she wouldn’t be able to go backstage to wish her former colleagues and friends the best, just before she left for New York.
A WWE representative told the NYTimes that the issue was due to a “ticket shortage,” but that an exception would still not be made to go backstage.
Speaking of Vince McMahon, the former CEO and current CEO of WWE, after finding out he didn’t have access, Tuft said, “You never know with Vince.”
Vince McMahon, Executive Chairman of WWE
Addressing the event, the former trans wrestler said people barely recognized her, which meant she was “old news.” But she also ran into fans who said they loved her TikToks.
Posting on social media at the event, he wrote: ’11 years since I’ve been in an arena.
“It’s amazing to feel the energy of the crowd and to see old friends that have come this far.”
Tuft now has 124,000 followers on Instagram and shares her journey as well as her fitness and lifestyle tips with her fans.
During the event, she also admitted that when she was younger, she would play dress up in her mother’s clothes when left alone.
But it was only during the pandemic that she had time to fully reflect on her identity, and thus she began cross-dressing.
Her real self, “Gabbi,” was “screaming to be let out,” she told the NYTimes.
The fitness guru, who wrestled under the ring name Tyler Reks, shared the news of her transition via a press release in 2021, calling Gabbi’s journey an “exciting story of gender transition.”
WWE dreadlocked gladiator Tyler Reks, pre-transition in 2021
In 2021, she made headlines with her transition from male to female.
The fitness guru, who wrestled under the ring name Tyler Reks, shared the news via press release, calling Gabbi’s journey an “exciting story of gender transition.”
“Gabbi is about to share her exciting story of gender transition from former WWE Superstar, bodybuilder, fitness guru, motivational speaker and motorcycle racer to fabulous, fun-loving woman,” the statement read. .
“She has finally been set free and ready to rule her world.”
The statement went on to say, “Despite his successes during and after his WWE career, Gabe was still struggling with a secret personality that dwelt deep within him.” This is a person who has been hiding in the noisy silence of his soul from him since childhood.
Finally, with the blessing of his loving wife Priscilla, Gabe is ready to reveal who he really is. “He” is now known as “She”: a beautiful, wise, witty and wonderful woman named “Gabbi”.
“This is a story not to be missed by wrestling and other sports fans, friends and supporters, especially many in the LGBTQ community dealing with challenging transgender issues, whom Gabbi and (wife) Priscilla are keen to help.” .
Tuft’s professional wrestling career spanned from 2008 to 2012, with appearances on Smackdown, Raw, and Wrestlemania.
He created a fitness company called Body Spartan with his wife Priscilla after retirement, which focuses on “positively transforming the body, mind, and spirit of men and women through video workouts, nutritional programs, and motivational sessions.” .
