QWI 200: The best LGBTQ pro wrestlers of 2025, No. 80-51
Day five of the 2025 QWI 200 delivers 30 more honorees with gay, trans and other pro wrestlers being highlighted. The post QWI 200: The best LGBTQ pro wrestlers of 2025, No. 80-51 appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
This week-long Queer Wrestling Index 200 reveal period for 2025, full of gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer wrestlers, reminds us of the connection we have to one another, whether we’re gathered around a ring, wrestling in one or out in the world experiencing the hardships the day throws at us, we have these threads that still bind us through a thing we love.
That is why this list continues to exist. Because our ranks grow larger every single year, up to over 800 in 2025. Because we’re done having our joy robbed from us. Because we fight, drawing inspiration and strength from this neverending dance of blood, emotion, pain and glory.
Welcome to the 2025 QWI 200.
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80. Ace Perry
Indiana’s lover boy scored a major career mark early in 2025, making his Japanese debut with Big Japan Wrestling. Perry gleamed in matchups against Fuminori Abe, Takuya Nomura, Daiju Wakamatsu and Abdullah Kobayashi across the Pacific. The “Black Diamond” carved out plenty of success back home as well, holding the WrestleArts Tag Team titles with Dale Patricks and claiming the Hybrid Championship Wrestling Midwest Hybrid title in a Dog Collar match against Dalton Davis. The AAW stalwart earned multiple title matches in the Illinois-based promotion and displayed his constitution in battles with Mad Dog Connelly, Darian Bengston and Heather Reckless.
79. Estrella Divina
Luchadora and ballroom femme queen Estrella Divina remained a fixture of IWRG and several other Mexican independent promotions both with and against her Las Shotas running mates Mamba, Jessy Ventura and La Diva Salvaje. Divina won a lucha de epuesta against Carrillo to claim his hair after the two tore up the ring in a weapons-filled brawl. She held multiple championships, including the Chaman Promociones Trios titles, but the crown work of Divina’s 2025 was establishing the Lucha Trans promotion, a lucha libre outlet that features and promotes queer, trans, non-binary and allied talents and pays tribute to community trailblazers in lucha. Divina featured alongside Fuerza Divina, Larah Dominatrix, her Las Shotas partners and a slew of up-and-coming athletes with LGBTQ empowerment at the core of the in-ring action.
78. Nyla Rose
The former AEW Women’s World champion became a champion two times over in 2025. Rose held the WNRN Internet championship and defeated Nightshade to become Pro Wrestling EVE champion, becoming the first out trans pro wrestler ever to hold the prominent British women’s wrestling promotion’s top title. Everyone’s favorite British ambassador challenged for the Riot Cabaret Women’s and VIP Women’s titles over the course of the year and built a burgeoning feud with Charity King at Metroplex Wrestling on the first two “Who Runs The World?” events. Rose added bouts against Lady Frost and Viva Van to round out another solid year.
77. Kingsley
The Australian history maker did so once again, winning the Pro Wrestling Australia Tag Team titles with fellow Backslide Girlz Shay Kassidy and Everett Connors. The win made Kinglsey and Kassidy the first out LGBTQ champions in PWA history. Kingsley and Kassidy extended their OPW Women’s Tag Team title reign to over 300 days and delivered hits in Aussie indies IWA and SLAM! Wrestling before Kingsley brought her act to North America for the first time. She made her American debut with Pandemonium Pro against Hyan before starting her Canadian tour in Toronto’s Smash Wrestling. Barrie Wrestling became a regular stage for Kingsley as she worked her way into title contention and drew the attention of Mystery Wrestling, C4 and Alpha 1 Wrestling.
76. Shay Kassidy
BEARGIRL One year after becoming the first women’s tag team champions in Australian pro wrestling history at OPW, Kassidy added more gold and LGBTQ history as PWA Tag Team champions with her Backslide Girlz partners Kingsley and Everett Connors. Kassidy and Kingsley became the first out LGBTQ champs in PWA history. Their reign lasted most of the year, but the titles ultimately became part of the long-lasting conflict between the Backslide Girlz and North Shore Wrestling. Kassidy earned her first shot at PWA Heavyweight champion Charli Evans, turned in a stellar match with New Japan Pro Wrestling star Robbie Eagles for the Soul of PWA title and impressed in showings against Jessica Troy, Lucas Fantasia, Rita Stone and Erika Reid. After challenging for singles gold in MCW and SLAM! Wrestling, Kassidy captured her first singles title, beating Maya Maddox to become the inaugural Integrity Wrestling Women’s champion.
75. Tommy Prince
The “Mad Prince” was ever-present in Dallas-Ft. Worth-area promotion Metroplex Wrestling, especially in the tag team division with their The Scorn partner Gabe Wilder. The duo opened the year as MPX Tag Team champions and regained the titles halfway through the year, becoming the first team to hold the titles six times. They added a ridiculous TLC match at HOT Pro Wrestling and bouts at Uncanny Attractions, St. Louis
74. Ava Lawless
(@lawlessava)A “Hellion” amongst the snowy confines of Canada, Lawless reached lofty highs in 2025. The former RCW Canadian Heavyweight champion made her TNA Wrestling debut against Lei Ying Lei and Xia Brookside as she drew praise in provinces across the nation. Lawless ran her Winnipeg Pro Wrestling Women’s championship reign to 323 days with defenses against TNA star Jody Threat, Badger Briggs, Cherry Blossom and The Matriarch. More gold nearly came her way in RCW, she traded shots with TJPW star Miyu Yamashita and AEW/ROH star Deonna Purrazzo in Edmonton’s Top Talent Wrestling and wrestled for promotions in Vancouver and Prince Edward Island. A rare trip across the border saw Lawless battle Sandra Moone and Bryn Thorne during WrestleMania week. Lawless remains a standout talent that deserves more attention.
73. CHO
CHO’s breakthrough feud with Arik Cannon at Minneapolis’s F1RST Wrestling spilled into the majority of 2025 as they and None More Violent partner Jinn Hallows battled Cannon and Darin Corbin in hardcore expressions of violence. “The Freakshow” crafted solid performances in between those bouts, challenging Devon Monroe for the F1RST Grand championship and trading blows with Zamaya, Kevin Ku, Allie Katch and EFFY. They became a double champ later in the year, downing Badger Briggs for the Timebomb Pro Sanctuary title and forcing Matt Honey to relinquish the Higher Ground Future Clash championship, positioning both themself and Hallows as talents ripe for a breakout beyond their home region in the near future.
72. Diamanté
Ring of Honor Women’s World champion Athena got a new number-one minion in the form of Diamanté this year and the two’s respective intensities gelled well. Diamanté delivered solid bouts in ROH against CMLL star Persephone, Lady Frost, Alex Windsor and Sarree before heading down to Arena Mexico for CMLL’s International Women’s Grand Prix. She found tag chemistry with Athena, Billie Starkz and Shoko Nakajima in both promotions as well. Diamanté made time for the indies too, challenging Nikki Blackheart for the Coastal Championship Wrestling Women’s title and making her debut in Chile with Guerra de Titanes in another championship bout.
71. Erica Leigh
Leigh made history in a full circle moment for both herself and close friend Jordan Blade. The two Virginia natives opposed one another to crown the inaugural RVA Pro Wrestling Women’s champion with Leigh ultimately coming out on top. “The Big Gal” followed that up by winning Power Pro Lucha’s Triple Tech Trials trios tournament, joining Boar and Cheeseburger to vanquish Frightmare, Hallowicked and UltraMantis Black in the finals. Leigh and Boar joined forces as GummiBoar to battle TME over the Enjoy Wrestling Tag Team titles before Leigh returned to the Pittsburgh-based promotion for the Supersonic Invitational. She logged an 880 TNF title match and rounded out another honky dory year at LVAC and Wrestling Open.
70. Lara Frazier
“The Adventurex” fostered their pop star energy throughout their year-long tenures in Bay Area promotions Hoodslam and Full Queer, taking B3CCA, Keita and Mylo to task in singles action and alongside D-Torch. The duo challenged for the Hoodslam Intergalactic Tag Team titles before the birth of SlamTown, but Frazier’s year centered around battles with Finch. Frazier and Finch turned in a match of the year contender at Full Queer before riding an emotional reunion to the Full Queer Harvey Milk & Sylvester Tag Team titles as Slay/Them. Their reign as Wild West Pro Women’s champion surpassed 850 days and they teamed with D-Torch to win the Phoenix Pro Wrestling Tag Team titles while seeking new treasures in Relentless Wrestling, Arizona Wrestling Federation and Respect Women’s Wrestling. The Stoner U regular rounded out the year with a matchup against emerging talent Skylar in Washington-based SOS Wrestling, but there are plenty more hits left in their catalogue.
69. Ashton Starr
With elegance at his core and a smooth split-legged moonsault, Ashton Starr shone on both coasts. Starr maintained a presence at ASÉ Wrestling alongside his Starrwear Fashions assistant Zamir Zuriel and Blade Brown, turning in matches against Keith Mac, Zuka King, Jonathan Gresham, Darian Bengston and Darius Lockhart. He challenged for the TNA X-Division championship during his time in Charlotte as well. Full Queer and DUSK Pro played host to his West Coast exploits before Starr traveled north to Minnesota for Iron Heart Pro Wrestling. “Starrfire” impressed in Georgia promotions PCW and Kraken Pro Wrestling, but he saw the most success in Southern Honor Wrestling. After serving Miss Elizabeth realness during the Rumblejack, Starr won the Southern Honor Jake Roberts Legacy championship.
68. Jessy Ventura
Ventura built another very busy year across the world of lucha libre in 2025, appearing in matches with more than 25 promotions across Mexico in singles action and with her Las Shotas compatriots. The group held the IWRG Intercontinental Trios titles for most of the year while Ventura held the Puebla Exótico championship and challenged for the IWRG Mexico championship. Ventura made several appearances with AAA and The Crash and helped Mamba and La Diva Salvaje battle La Pandemia in California, Las Toxicas, and former Juggalo Championship Wrestling and GCW Tag Team champions The Brothers of Funstruction. All of that work in service of fortifying the empire of Las Shotas also led Ventura to team with the leyenda Pimpinela Escarlata.
67. Steven Crowe – QWI Debut
Calgary-born grappler Steven Crowe created his own stampede through Edmonton-based promotion Love Pro Wrestling with grueling bouts and tons of personality. Crowe entered 2025 as LPW Tag Team champion with Taryn From Accounting, known collectively as Ride Or Die, before starting his journey to the LPW Grand championship. Crowe won the title in a gauntlet match in April and never relinquished it, defending the title against Marz The Specialist, Casey Ferreira and Ty Jackson. He settled his rivalry with Zoe Sager in a marathon Ladder match and brutalized Jackson in an I Quit match. Crowe and his The Clandestine Society partners Taryn From Accounting and Michael Richard Blais challenged for tag team gold in DUSK Pro, PrideStyle and Prairie Pro Wrestling while the “Rhinestone Cowboy” entered the ring against EFFY with the GCW World title on the line. He added debuts at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” and GrapHouse to round out his best year to date.
66. Funny Bone
The ultraviolent West Coast vet kept rolling 24 years into his in-ring career, complete with the intensity and devastation that endeared him to audiences during that time. Funny Bone and Drexl, known together as Most Violent, captured the POW! Pro Wrestling Tag Team titles in the midst of their wars with The Hess Clan in Oregon early in the year. The two would be forced to disband as a team in the promotion following a hardcore match with their rivals. They would add a tag team title challenge in Washington’s Reactivate Wrestling before batting each other in a Wheel of Misfortune deathmatch for WrestleCore that left the ring looking like a riot scene. “The Demi-God of Death” wrestled matches for Relentless Wrestling, Death Of Portland Extreme, DreamSlam Wrestling, Primos Pro Wrestling and SOS Wrestling before returning to POW! late in the year to battle Vinnie Massaro in a bloody Steel Cage match and set WWW YouTube champion Marcus Eriks in his sights — the last place anyone wants to be.
65. Malcolm Monroe III
(@kylewattphoto)The third-generation deathmatch pillar of Michigan employed his education in brutality across the American deathmatch scene in 2025. Monroe broke lighttubes and spirits in GCW, Horror Slam, Pacific North Death and XICW both in singles competition and tag bouts with fellow pillar Tommy Vendetta. The Pillars captured the AICW Tag Team titles and pushed themselves to the limit against 4825’s Jaden Newman and Jameson Shook over the IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team titles. Monroe found championship success in Flophouse and turned in a hell of a Ruthless Pro Kamikaze title match against Bobby Beverly, but where Monroe turned in his most notable performances was ICW No Holds Barred. He stepped to major deathmatch names AKIRA, Otis Cogar, Danny Demanto, KOBK, John Wayne Murdoch and Reed Bentley between the chains and traveled to England and Japan with the promotion. Outside of deathmatch, Monroe popped up at ETU and Naptown All-Pro, showcasing his trademark perseverance.
64. Gisele Shaw
Shaw made her claim as the queen of Canadian women’s wrestling in 2025 after ending the year as Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling Women’s and Destiny Wrestling Women’s champion. Her run to the MLP Women’s title saw “The Quintessential Diva” defeat WWE ID Women’s champion Laynie Luck, former NWA World Women’s champion Serena Deeb and inaugural WWE ID Women’s champion Kylie Rae to become the inaugural champion. She defended the title against Shotzi Blackheart and Beaa Moss before downing Priscilla Kelly in a title vs. title bout to claim the Destiny Women’s title. Shaw added battles against Taylor Rising with AEW star Josh Alexander by her side as she closed out her year doing double champ things.
63. Papa Jace
Papa Jace’s legacy in pro wrestling solidified even further during what fans would learn would be their last full year in the ring. The Las Vegas foundation took their biggest stage yet at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch,” captaining The Rookies and putting their body on the line for their craft. Jace made their return to PrideStyle to battle Nic Zander and Can’t Stop Jamaal, challenged Darian Bengston for the GrapHouse championship and grinded meat at WGW, Big Valley Wrestling, MDM Wrestling and Versus Pro. The “Head of Household” aimed at Damian Desire and the WrestleDrag title, made their debut for ASÉ Wrestling and brought the “Meat Beatr” to long-time rival Da Shade one final time. Those performances helped Jace again show why they are held in such high regard and set up a fitting end in 2026 against Sandra Moone.
62. Nixi XS
The “Versace of Violence” went international this year, bringing her unique stylings to France’s Drag Attack Wrestling, Germany’s Project Nova and CWG and Ireland’s OTT Wrestling while making title challenges in Pro Wrestling Holland. She made her Ring of Honor debut against Marina Shafir. XS broke through to prominent independent stages back stateside, entering JCW’s Luna Vachon Invitational, competing for a chance at the WWE ID Women’s title at Wrestling Open and debuting for GCW. “The Main Girl” held the Memphis Wrestling Women’s, BPW Immortal and WrestleMax Women’s championships, challenged for the Uncanny Attractions and GCWA Tag Team titles alongside Mackenzie Morgan and linked up with Shazza McKenzie for an entertaining Last Showgirl Standing match. XS added shots with St. Louis Anarchy, Glory Pro and Pro Wrestling Symphony to keep her star on the rise.
61. Sandra Moone
Sandra Moone’s final full year in the ring provided a farewell tour worthy of the Las Vegas ace. Alongside Sonico and Fatal as Cartel de los Villanos, Moone introduced PrideStyle to her more vindictive side, earning a PrideStyle title match, while challenging for titles in Freelance Wrestling, UGWA and GrapHouse. “Lightning In A Bottle” delivered trademark performances against Brooke Havok, Indi Hartwell and Zara Zakhar and left her mark on West Coast Pro, Marvelous and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling. Her final matches of 2025 were tear-filled exchanges against Sonico in PrideStyle and Lazarus at GrapHouse that allowed the city she helped put on the modern indie wrestling map give her much-deserved praise. Moone even got one more turn around “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch,” securing a win in the Gay Supper scramble.
60. Keita
(@keitayourheart)The duality of Keita was on full display in the Bay Area, causing chaos alongside Mylo at Hoodslam and out diva-ing B3CCA after the birth of SlamTown. “The Key to Your Heart” challenged for titles at Hoodslam, Alliance For All and Relentless Wrestling during his West Coast journeys. Stellar performances against Fred Rosser, Jorel Nelson, Johnnie Robbie and Anton Voorhees peppered his year, and he helped lead The Vets to victory at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” in Las Vegas. Keita added appearances with Full Queer, UGWA and Circle 6 as the California-based standout unlocked yet another level of his skill.
59. Jason Joshua
“Big Daddy Unicorn” met challenge after challenge in 2025 with strength and resolve during his trek through the British independent scene. After trading the Full Force Wrestling 24/7 Hardcore title with Fordy early in the year, Joshua finally captured the FFW British championship at the LGBTQ-led promotion’s 10-year anniversary show, shedding tears as Joey Scott sang his praises. They added multiple Phenominal Elite Wrestling tag team title reigns with Fordy and his Big Shots partner Scott, holding the titles for most of the year. Joshua held the PEW Heavyweight title as well early in the year before notching big moments in hardcore action, downing Steve Valentino inside a steel cage and brawling with Scott and Roarke in weapons-laden matchups. They held their own against PJ Knight, Jake Lawless and Lou Dixon as he searched for more accolades in Kumite Combat Wrestling, Wrestling With Pride, Wrestling In Hinkley, FUTR Wrestling and True Grit Wrestling.
58. Victor Analog
The Midwest colour test sent opponents into the chromatic zone with copious amounts of brainbusters as he extended his ZERO1 USA Heavyweight championship reign to over a year with defenses against Kenny Kalix, Gary Jay and Jake Lander. He added a ZERO1 USA Tag Team title reign with Nihilation partner “Warhorse” Jake Parnell. Analog established himself in Chicago Style Wrestling, facing Jax Johnson and Doom Montgomery en route to a CSW Metra Division title shot. He found more success in F1RST Wrestling, St. Louis Anarchy, Fountain City Pro and AAW while turning in solid performances against Anakin Murphy, Jeremy Wyatt and Sean Orleans as he brought more technicolor technical prowess to the ring.
57. Joey Scott
“Hot Shot” Joey Scott took the record for most total matches on this year’s list, clocking in at over 110 trips into the ring during 2025. Most of those came in LDN Wrestling, Phenomenal Elite Wrestling and his own promotion, Full Force Wrestling. He held championships in all three during the year while maintaining his Wrestling In Hinkey championship reign for the entirety of 2025. His frenemy rivalry with Jason Joshua continued as the two held tag team gold together and bashed each other in a Street Fight. He paired up with Sage Valentine, Stevie Fee and Joseph Conners for standout bouts and stood beside Dominita as #1 Team for tag team title-worthy matches.
56. Tyler Klein
One half of tag team staple The Runway, Klein helped himself and Calvin Couture deliver top notch performances in Pittsburgh and beyond. The duo held the RYSE Tag Team titles early in the year while feuding with Den of Desire over the 880 Tag Team titles simultaneously. The two teams threw down in a My Bloody Valentine brawl over the belts before moving on to conflicts with the Best Business Bureau’s Darius Carter, Jordan Blade and Eel O’Neal at Enjoy Wrestling. Klein took on Brian Bomb and Blizzy Blake in singles action before The Runway branched out for matches at other promotions in the Rust Belt and a return to Full Queer against Jess Reina Capablanca and JT Thorne.
55. Calvin Couture
Couture joined Klein in The Runway’s various escapades through the Rust Belt in their own unique fashion. The two held the RYSE Tag team titles and looked to add more weight to their shoulders in Buffalo Championship Wrestling, Route 33 Wrestling and 880 Wrestling. The Runway linked up with Holidead to battle the Best Business Bureau in chaotic brawls at Enjoy Wrestling, took on Dos Capablancas on the streets of San Francisco for Full Queer and turned in trademark performances in 880 Wrestling against a cadre of foes, including Leaders By Example, The Department of Jocks and The Dead Hand Society. On his own, “The Fashionista of Professional Wrestling” challenged Some Guy Named John for the 880 TNF championship, and he and Klein capped the year in a high-risk Ladder match environment for the 880 Tag Team titles.
54. Pha’Nesse
(@totallyphanesse)Pha’Nesse showed just how resilient plastic can be as he carried both the TWE Chattanooga Gig City and Retinal Wrestling Tri-States championships in 2025. His performances against Kasey Owens provided catharsis as he climbed to his first singles title in Chattanooga and he defended it well against Shimbashi, Bobcat, Tommy Davis and Damon Stryker. His rivalry with Noah Veil produced a match of the year contender in Retinal Wrestling with its climactic Last Person Standing match. Pha’Nesse produced his own queer-focused show with Retinal Wrestling, branched out to 901 Wrestling and Music City Pro Wrestling and joined Totally Shook partner Jameson Shook for an ACTION Wrestling Tag Team title challenge as he built out his year. Add a New South Pro Wrestling return and his debut with Naptown All-Pro and you have another totally great body of work.
53. Nix Wilde
Nix Wilde and their running mates in The Dead Hand Society built themselves into the harshest antagonistic force 880 Wrestling saw in 2025. After entering the year as 880 TNF champion, Wilde ran through the promotion on their way to dethroning Gianni Michael Emricko and becoming 880 champion. Wilde turned away challenges from MV Young, KC Warr and Brohemoth to end the year as champion, even challenging GCW World champion EFFY in a title vs. title match. They battled Mateo Valentine in a match of the year contender on their own show, “Paint It Black,” before venturing out of 880 for an Enjoy Wrestling Tag Team title shot, debuts with Naptown All-Pro, Wrestle League and WWA4 and returns to FEST Wrestling and Smash Master Wrasslin’. Wilde made their Canadian debut as well with the aptly named deathmatch promotion Canadian Deathmatch.
52. Mamba
Mamba stayed just as busy as her fellow Las Shotas crewmates throughout the independent lucha libre world of Mexico. AAA, The Crash and IWRG featured Mamba during 2025, including multiple defenses of the IWRG Intercontinental Trios titles with La Diva Salvaje and Jessy Ventura. Mamba wound up on the wrong end of a lucha de apuesta late in the year and lost his hair as a result. Entertaining contests against Pimpinela Escarlata, Las Toxicas, Ludark, La Rebellion Black and Laredo Kid were sprinkled into Mamba’s 2025 campaign while adding matches with Lucha Trans and holding the RGR Exótico, Robles Promotions Exótico, Chaman Promociones Trios and RGR Tag Team championships.
51. Priscilla
A true trailblazer in the British pro wrestling world, Priscilla pressed forward with the same conviction and slap-powered poise in his final year as an active wrestler. Priscilla captured the PCW UK Cruiserweight championship and defended it against Wrestling With Pride Evolution champion Eddie Jade in a title vs. title match. She added a run to the quarterfinals in the PCW Road To Glory tournament, a True Grit Wrestling Pride title match against Adam Bolt and Tony Wright and a shot at the Britannia Wrestling Champion of Wales title. A rematch with Jade at Wrestling With Pride came in a Last Queen Standing match, but Priscilla’s most powerful moment came in the final battle against HT Drake at TGW’s annual Pride show, providing fans and wrestlers alike a chance to revel in the Queen of the Ring’s regality and view an in-ring story that paralleled the road Priscilla helped pave.
Come back tomorrow for the next 30 honorees in the 2025 QWI 200.
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The post QWI 200: The best LGBTQ pro wrestlers of 2025, No. 80-51 appeared first on Outsports.
