Indie wrestling is at it again. Back on December 30th, at a show for Suburban Fight Pro Wrestling, an L.A.-based promotion that runs adults-only shows in bars, up-and-coming goth girl wrestler and Mae Young Classic competitor Priscilla Kelly did a spot where she pulled a supposed used tampon out of her shorts and dangled it menacingly before stuffing it in the mouth of her opponent, a woman named Tuna.
On Saturday night, a video of the incident suddenly caught fire on Twitter. You can watch it here, but if you’re just going to say it’s disgusting and you regret having seen it, remember that the option to not watch it exists.
Priscilla Kelly giving Tuna the TUNA! #SuburbanFightProWrestling #SuburbanFight #PriscillaKelly #Tuna @priscillakelly_ @Suburbanxfight pic.twitter.com/nmyRW8OEXq
— Adam Ramirez (@AdamRivalPro) December 31, 2018
As the video spread across Twitter, a lot of people objected, including Impact Hall-of-Famer Gail Kim:
I’m seeing this post of a women’s match that got disgusting and I’m not gonna repost it Bc it’s seriously a disgrace. Why??? Whoever thought that was a spot that was gonna get a pop and was worth it….. NO. how about telling a story in the ring with your wrestling instead?
— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) January 5, 2019
And WWE Hall-of-Famer Jim Ross, who kept his reaction to one word:
Embarrassing…. https://t.co/vCEEmBT8VH
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) January 5, 2019
And WWE Producer Road Dogg:
This stuff is the reason some people despise our industry. It’s got nothing to do with “taking life seriously” it’s about dignity and a personal pride. She obviously has none!
— Brian G. James (@BrianRDJames) January 6, 2019
When Kelly offered a lighthearted dismissal of the criticism…
Hey guys. Ya know, it's all fake.
21+ show with a bar. Can't take life so serious all the time.
Call me what you will… 🌹
— Gigi Dolin (@gigidolin_wwe) January 5, 2019
…that’s when Jim Cornette really got mad:
People want my take so I'll give it direct to you–I expect nothing else from outlaw mud show "rasslers", male or female, cause none of you can work. But to defend your bullshit by starting "Well, it's all fake"? THAT'S why you, dick guy & others are killing wrestling. Fuck you. https://t.co/XZmYhvLBAI
— Jim Cornette (@TheJimCornette) January 6, 2019
Of course there were also defenders of Priscilla Kelly and the spot, including members of the live audience:
https://twitter.com/justin_cesi/status/1081694036505722880
And quite a few wrestlers, including (unsurprisingly) Joey Ryan:
https://twitter.com/JoeyRyanOnline/status/1081706952516882432
Wrestling is Art!
@priscillakelly_ is wrestling’s GG Allin. https://t.co/EzdnJEKafc— Colt Cabana🦦 (@ColtCabana) January 6, 2019
The @priscillakelly_ spot was bloody genius!
— “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) January 6, 2019
It’s 2019. Nothing is “right” and nothing is “wrong”. If the audience enjoys it and reacts favorably it worked. No need to criticize the kids for trying something different. I understand if you didn’t like it. But in my opinion, the most important thing is that nobody got hurt. https://t.co/e5Sr55DEFH
— 🔥Mikey Whipwreck🔥 (@MikeyWhipwreck_) January 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/OfficialTAZ/status/1081792065904742400
Even Road Dogg, who’d heard from plenty of fans after his initial statement that Priscilla was why people despise wrestling, decided to apologize:
I’d like to personally apologize to you ma’am. While I don’t agree with the spot, I should not have attacked your character as a person and I am sorry.
— Brian G. James (@BrianRDJames) January 6, 2019
And Reby Hardy offered a particularly cogent explanation of the reactions to the spot:
https://twitter.com/RebyHardy/status/1081775201124302849
In an industry where it’s almost standard practice for guys in hardcore matches to rub their opponents’ blood into their own faces, and where Sami Callihan hocks loogies onto his hand before chopping people, and yes, an industry where Joey Ryan does all that stuff with his penis, for Priscilla to get called out as particularly disgusting does seem to reflect a double standard when it comes to which body parts and bodily fluids are regarded as the most disgusting.
