On August 6, TransGraps hosted its Wrestle Queerdom event in Milford, New Hampshire. The event was billed as first ever All-Transgender/Nonbinary/Gender Nonconforming wrestling event in North America.
The event was a milestone for the community, but issues came in the afternoon as many talent claimed they were not paid.
Max The Impaler pulled out of the event and tweeted, "Maybe save the flexing until after ALL the talent is paid," after the Wrestle Queerdom account mentioned a possible second event.
Cameron Saturn, Kota Holiday, Candy Lee, and Aiden Von Engeland gave their experiences in working with the organizers and the issues that arose.
If I don’t get paid next week I’ll write up a think piece
— candylee (@CandidlyCandy_) August 7, 2022
As the third person in this car load for the entire time, co-sign. This has been a mess of broken promises after broken promises https://t.co/CY0GweAFJb
— -KH-- (@KotaHolliday) August 7, 2022
2/2 Please centre the talent here that expended energy and money to be at a show that meant the world to them @SaturnCameron / @DontDieMiles are in need of funds to get back pic.twitter.com/0sbUYtJluc
— (he/him) AIDEN VE ---- in ---- (@aiden_v_e) August 7, 2022
Kidd Bandit offered to help talent who wasn't paid.
Hi fellow WQ talent. I’m covering everybody who’s not taken care of yet today including flights and stuff.
— KIDD BANDIT (@kiddbanditpro) August 7, 2022
I have the funds currently. Pls get with @aiden_v_e to make sure you’re covered. You will get paid and have transportation handled today.
Bandit later updated fans to say that almost all talent has been paid and issued a statement on the event and Sally, who organized the event.
WQ weekend - a thread.
— KIDD BANDIT (@kiddbanditpro) August 8, 2022
After a grueling ordeal, we accomplished the goal! Most talent that needed to be taken care of has been handled. (That sounds so ominous out of context)
But we can breath a sigh of relief that almost everyone that needed the $ got paid accordingly.
Aiden will be an important bright member of the LGBT wrestling community moving forward.
— KIDD BANDIT (@kiddbanditpro) August 8, 2022
Go follow and support their journey brigands!
I will have to say that Sally is still part of the community. The mission is to create a platform that will spotlight us. I genuinely believe that was her goal and even tho she fucked up badly, I don’t think we should fully turn our backs on her (even tho she owes me $4000)
— KIDD BANDIT (@kiddbanditpro) August 8, 2022
In the beautiful words of my mentor @CodyRhodes…
— KIDD BANDIT (@kiddbanditpro) August 8, 2022
we are in an industry that is all about connecting with people.
We did exactly that at WQ night. We connected with folks that desperately needed representation.
Anyway, after the most grueling and arduous of journeys. I am finally home. I’m gonna recover and get really really fucking high.
— KIDD BANDIT (@kiddbanditpro) August 8, 2022
Thank you for the love brigands. Stay true to who you are, always. --
Transgraps/Wrestle Queerdom has not issued a statement, but told PWPonderings that a statement would be made on Monday.
Both accounts are currently locked on Twitter.
You can find results from around the world of wrestling at Fightful's results section.
