Ahead of WrestleMania XL, These Black Women Wrestlers Body Slam Misogynoir

By Evan F. Moore Last fall, after a very long time, I started watching pro wrestling again (the last time I checked, WWE Smackdown took place on Thursday nights — don’t be mad at me, Wrestling Twitter). As I started watching WWE, AEW (All Elite Wrestling), TNA (Total Nonstop Action), and some of the matches I’ve missed over the years, I noticed a shift. The shift I’m seeing represents a level of Black excellence I hadn’t seen before. Previous generations of avid wrestling fans saw women as valets who were most likely kept around to satisfy the male gaze via “Bra & Panties” matches.& Those days, thankfully, are over. On most nights during the week, one can find these women kicking butt, taking names, and looking fly while doing it. From main roster talent featuring current champions, former champions, main eventers, veterans and up-and-comers, the ladies are running things.& WWE Superstar Jade Cargill, then with AEW, had some of her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sisters with her during a ring entrance.& During WrestleMania 38, HBCU Texas Southern University’s “Ocean of Soul” marching band performed as WWE Superstar Bianca Belair entered the ring, skipping and twirling her hair. Most recently, Naomi,...