WWE’s WrestleMania had an inclusive twist as wrestler Finn Balor enters with LGBT fans
(WWE)
This year’s WrestleMania featured a huge shout-out to the LGBT community thanks to wrestler Finn Balor.
Irish wrestler Balor — whose real name is Fergal Devitt — made his WrestleMania debut during Sunday’s event.
WrestleMania is one of the year’s biggest wrestling events. The event is shown internationally and is annually watched by over a million people.
While the wrestler’s performances in the ring are the main attraction, a great deal of attention is given to how the performers enter the stadium.
Balor chose to shine a light on LGBT people during his entrance, entering the New Orleans stadium flanked by several members of the local LGBT+ community.
(Photo: @FinnBalor / Twitter)
The wrestling fans walked with Balor as he entered, each wearing one of the new WWE rainbow shirts aimed at the Finn Balor fans, or or Balor Club, to promote LGBT inclusion in wrestling.
“Everyone deserves to be accepted and included,” the 36-year-old said on Instagram before the event.
(GLAAD)
A portion of the proceeds from the shirts will go to the inclusive tee will go to LGBT+ organisation GLAAD.
Related: Lesbian wrestler Charlie Morgan talks about coming out in the ring
In the ring, Balor wore a subtly rainbow themed outfit, with a rainbow trim on his shorts and boots.
Balor wasn’t the only wrestler using their platform to promote and support the LGBT community at the famous event.
WrestleMania 34 also featured WWE’s first openly lesbian wrestler, Sonya Deville.
At the event, Deville competed in the first-ever WrestleMania women’s battle royal, wearing a bright rainbow coloured top and shorts to wrestle in.
(Photo: WWE)
Deville came out in 2015 during the filming of WWE’s reality programme, Tough Enough, and has since used her platform to vocally support LGBT causes.
The wrestler praised WWE and Finn Balor for their support, as well as thanking fans for supporting her WrestleMania debut.
(Photo: @SonyaDevilleWWE /Twitter)
“Being part of the LGBT community myself in the WWE, it’s such a great feeling to see Finn Balor speaking out with such an amazing positive message!” She wrote after the release of the WWE shirts.
Sadly, Balor eventually lost his match to opponent Seth Rollins, but all many fans could talk about was Balor’s entrance.
“Finn Balor and Sonya Deville really represented the gays at WrestleMania… happy 20gayteen everyone.”
Watch Finn Balor enter the arena with local LGBT+ fans below:
Awesome! Finn Balor’s entrance included LGBT+ fans of New Orleans ️ #wrestlemania #wwe #finnbalor #lgbt pic.twitter.com/kMy8r6Z5Db
— P.J. Guinto (@theyellowstereo) April 8, 2018
