When I was in line for the show in June there was a girl who walked past me who could not have been more than ten years old. She was smiling and excited and was sporting a Bayley “I’m a Hugger” t-shirt. Her hair was in Bayley’s signature side ponytail, and she was wearing a pair of homemade arm sleeves with streamers trailing from them, echoing her favorite NXT Diva’s entrance gear.
That little girl made me so incredibly happy. To see her excited to be at this show, to cheer for someone who meant that much to her; that was the sort of thing I wanted to see. From what I have read and seen from the women of NXT, that is what they want to see too.
Later that night, the girl I dubbed The Tiniest Bayley Fan was sitting on the stage where the wrestlers were entering. When Bayley appeared, she saw this little girl and gave her a hug and I thought for a moment the girl was going to burst into glitter. But then, it only got better. After Bayley and Charlotte dispatched Emma and Dana Brooke, Bayley stopped by the girl again and personally handed her a t-shirt.
I watched that little girl jump up and down in excitement. I hope that is a moment she never forgets and that it always means that much to her.
Seated directly in front of me was another young girl who showed up in an Usos shirt, but traded that later in the night for a newly-purchased Charlotte shirt. She was there with her mother and both were standing, cheering and loaded down with merch by the end of the night.
All over I saw people of both genders sporting shirts for Bayley, Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch. I spent money on my own pair of Becky Lynch steampunk goggles. I saw an environment that said to the two young girls I witnessed, and to countless other young girls and young boys, “It is okay to cheer for women. It is okay to be a fan of women because they are strong and tough and awesome.”
That is not a message that is present in most media, let alone in the often bro-tastic world of pro-wrestling.
Those girls gave me hope and the thing they love needs protecting. Sadly, part of what it needs protecting from was also present at NXT Pittsburgh.
It started during the opening match, the six person mixed tag I mentioned above. Alexa Bliss, in her new heel gear, was in her corner, back facing the majority of the audience. Almost immediately, someone began shouting things at her about her gear and, specifically, her butt. I would like to say it wasn’t crass, but I’d be lying.
When Carmella and Alexa finally tagged in to face off, there was a scream of “CATFIGHT!” from behind me.
Later, when Charlotte and Bayley took on Emma and Dana Brooke, there were more catcalls, particularly to Brooke, including a “DIDN’T KNOW THEY MADE ‘EM LIKE THAT IN LAKE COUNTRY!” call from the same “gentleman” behind me who had made the “catfight” comment earlier in the night.
And even when Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch had an epic clash over the NXT Women’s title, there were crude comments at both of them, particularly Banks. The worst though was when I heard that one word that has no place at any of these shows.
“PUPPIES!”
Stop.
