Sonny Kiss Addresses Diversity And “Shifts In The Booking” At AEW

Speaking recently with Our Queer Life, Sonny Kiss shared her thoughts on performing as a transfeminine wrestler at AEW and her current absence from TV bookings (via Fightful). Kiss explained the intersection of diversity and talent in her experiences with the industry and offered some details on working with AEW as a transfemme individual. You can find some highlights from Kiss and watch the full interview below.

On the effect of her identity on her wrestling work: “Kind of. There have definitely been some shifts in the booking. It happens naturally. It’s not even always about that. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I thought sometimes it was about that.”

On if being trans influenced her absence from AEW TV recently: “I understand why they would say that, but Tony Khan is a very fair boss and is all for equality. When I go back to thinking about that, he hired me, not because I was who I am, but because I’m a damn good wrestler. Obviously, things are going to go through your head all the time. Being a normal human being, we all have these mental health crises. In all actually, if he didn’t want me in the company, I wouldn’t be there.”

On if she could be considered a diversity hire at AEW: “A small part of keeping our jobs or having jobs is definitely a diversity thing, for sure, but I’m going to that say; AEW in particular is not going to hire you just because you’re that. They’re not going to keep you just because you’re that. It’s great to have, but it’s also great to have them when they have talent and we all do.”