Nyla Rose Reflects On Oklahoma Athletic Commission Matter, Tony Khan Standing By Her

Nyla Rose recently opened up about the Oklahoma Athletic Commission targeting her after an ROH show in 2024 and how she felt about the matter. As you may recall, the OSAC issued AEW a “warning” after Rose competed against Alejandra Lion at an ROH taoping. AEW and Tony Khan stood by Rose, who spoke out about the matter back then. OSAC eventually deferred any decisions on changing intergender wrestling rules to the state legislature.

Rose was asked about the matter by Denise Salcedo for her Instinct Culture channel. She noted that she was surprised and grateful that Khan stood by her, and reflected on how she gets past the matter. You can see the highlights below:

On the Commision:

“So basically — I mean, to be perfectly blunt, hateful bigots, you know? With no basis for anything. The athletic commission is a scam. They’re just a bunch of greedy people who have found an avenue to work people out of money, and they’re using new laws and loopholes to do what they want to do, basically.”

On Tony Khan Standing By Her:

“He did, he absolutely did. I was a little shocked, to be totally honest with you. I was very shocked, very surprised, and incredibly grateful that he would — with zero hesitation. Like,, there was no thought there. He knew the right side of history to be on, and that’s where he stood, ten toes down. For someone of his caliber in his position to do that, he absolutely did not have to, and he did. And that speaks a lot about who he is as a person and who he is as a man. And I’m so grateful to him for that.”

On If This Had Happened To Her Before In Other Places:

“I’m sure I have. I’m sure I have, but I probably did not know because it wasn’t so bold and blatant. There have definitely been times when I’ve been left on read or given answers and reasons that didn’t quite add up, and I think that was people kind of like tiptoeing around the delicate nature of things. But with a certain regime in charge, people feel very emboldened now to kind of speak their hateful heart. And I think that’s a big part of what happened in Oklahoma. And to Oklahoma’s credit, maybe not all the way, right? Because a lot of them do have to follow what the — I guess, legal guidelines are. So they’re kind of just doing what they have to do what they’re told to do so they don’t get in trouble. I think that’s one of those situations where it’s a 50/50 split. Because at a certain point, the government is involved in things when you have an athletic commission, because that trickles down, yadda yadda. So I think it’s 50/50 between people trying to cover their ass and then just some people being hateful and ignorant.”

On How She Gets Past Such a Matter:

“”It is [hard], and it can be. And it’s one of those things where, that’s where the strength of our community comes into play. And the protests, and educating the public, educating people. Education can put out a lot of those fires. Because a lot of people are reacting out of fear, right? It’s kind of the trickle down effect, and I hate to make it seem like a silly situation. But Yoda said it best, and I’m kind of paraphrasing here, but when he was like, ‘Ignorance breeds hate and hate breeds fear.’ That whole speech, that’s very, very true. “A lot of times people are like, ‘Well I don’t want to feel stupid, so now I’m angry. Well now, why am I angry? It’s because of this.’ And it’s just misdirected anger because they don’t want to feel like they are less than for not knowing something.”

On What She Would Say To People Who Are Uncomfortable With Trans People:

“The sad reality, the sad truth is, I don’t know that there’s anything I can say, right? Like, that change has to come from within. And a lot of people are so cold-hearted, they’re just shut out. Like they don’t want to make the change, because they’re comfortable, right? They’ve been made to feel uncomfortable for one reason or another, and now they’re just shut down.

“But, and I can say this firsthand wholeheartedly with my whole chest that education can — not saying it puts out every fire, but it can put out a lot of fires. Just getting to know somebody can do it. I have had so many people come to me privately, DMs, at shows, and apologize. Say, ‘Hey, I was ignorant before. I didn’t like you because of this reason.’ But as they’ve gotten to ‘know me’ over the years on television and social media, and realize that I’m just a person. Realize that I’m just an entertainer. I just want to do my job and go home, and play video games, and open Pokemon cards. The same thing they want to do, I want to do as well; I just walk a slightly different path. And once that change comes from within and they realize we’re the same footing? Some of those people’s hearts do open.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Denise Salcedo with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.