The Devil Wears Wrestling Tights
By Keith Boykin, in sports
Friday, June 30 2006, 8:44PM
I've profiled professional wrestler Orlando Jordan on this site before. Back in January, I reported that Jordan was coming out of the closet because the WWE had decided to make his character into a bisexual wrestler. He was supposed to be connected to former TNA female star Trinity and a new gay male character named Erik in a love triangle.
Now it turns out that story may have been closer to the truth than I realized. Late last month, the WWE quietly announced that Jordan had been released from his contract. Rumors quickly started swirling on the Internet that Jordan, in real life, had been involved with a male lover and tried to bring the lover with him to various wrestling events. That's where the story gets interesting.
A wrestling website reported that the 26-year old pro wrestler was "traveling with a person who was not part of WWE while on the road and even got him backstage at some of the events."
The latest development came recently when a web site purporting to be Orlando Jordan's page on MySpace.com revealed photos of the wrestler in intimate settings with another man. The authenticity of the web site has not been confirmed but the pictures speak for themselves.
In three separate photos, Jordan is shown with his shirt open as he embraces a young man with whom he appears to be intimately connected. In a fourth photo Jordan is shown leaning over to kiss a young man, who appears not to be the same man shown in the first three photos. If the pictures accurately reflect what they appear to show, perhaps this is the issue that led to Jordan's dismissal from WWE.
If Jordan was fired because of his association with the young men in the photos, it raises an issue of sexual orientation discrimination. Would Jordan have been fired if he had brought a woman backstage to the various wrestling events? That may depend on company policy regarding outside guests, but it's hard to imagine that a professional wrestler would be criticized for associating with a young woman.
The decision to release Jordan likely would have been made or approved by Vince McMahon, the chairman and majority shareholder of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE), formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). McMahon, a former pro wrestler himself, plays the role of chairman on the shows and often takes to the wrestling ring to settle his scores on TV.
The story is still new, but there may be more information coming forth in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, Jordan can look back on a career of highs and lows. He joined WWE in May of 2003 as a part of "Smackdown." During his time in the wrestling league, he won the United States championship once but also lost a surprisingly quick 25-second match to Chris Benoit at SummerSlam 2005.
Comments conceal
Kenneth Winfrey![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
June 30 2006, 11:01PM
I'll let others comment on the "contrasting imagery..." but I agree: He should not have been fired simply because he is gay. I would have tried hard to keep him around just see what he would do next with his hair!
ChicagoAngel
June 30 2006, 11:12PM
is he just gay? maybe he is bisexual!
I never was a fan of his! I met him at the airport and he was an a$$hole! anyway its no big deal he wasnt popular. And he a mandingo so them white bois love him lol.
Jeff Hobbs
July 1 2006, 12:07AM
Ugh! Why he gotta like those skinny twinkie boys? He must be into domination!LOL Oh well. Us big booty ho's have to get some action too!LOL
nat![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
July 1 2006, 3:43AM
well, we all know your contract isnt always renewed. he wasnt a popular wrestler, and had no following. after visiting the web page and looking at the pics, something isnt right. the pics look a lil funky, so im not so sure they are not the brain child of some fool with photo shop and too much time on there hands.
just looking at the pics here on this site: in pic 1, doesnt the guys arm on orlando's look spliced ? it also appears to be not in portion. as big he is, that guy's arm shouldnt be dawfing olando's shoulder width. also the arm isnt meshing in orlando hair, and arm that close to his head, would deffinately have some impact. the second pic looks like the white boy was placed into it. it doesnt look natural at all. the pics on the web site look like they were stage from some invent, so its possible to alter them easly. i asked a friend to veiw the pics and he said the same thing.
i may be wrong, but when something doesnt quite look right, it normanly isnt.
Kai in NYC
July 1 2006, 7:50AM
See? Chasing up after them white boys!
Sexbox
July 1 2006, 12:56PM
Kai in NYC, what does the boy being white have to do with anything? If a white person said to another white person in a bind, "oh thats what he gets for dating a black person." Or a worse word substituted for black, you probably wouldn't like it. :)
Anyway, I don't watch wrestling, so I have no clue who he is. He looks a little creepy. I can see him being unpopular, but with the gay angle, it seems a little suspicious. I can't see them having an openly gay wrestler on the show.
There is no way you can convince me wrestlers can't have family on the road. My dad was a basketball player and the family can travel with you anywhere. It doesn't really make much sense. These wrestlers are on the road almost all year long.
Shabaka![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
July 1 2006, 1:45PM
I don't watch wrestling either. I used to find it a tad homo-erotic but since I stopped watching tivo, I really have no idea who this guy is.I hope he didn't get fired for being bisexual. One thing though, how do those tiny boys handle him? Good God!
David
July 1 2006, 2:26PM
I find it rather sad that Orlando needs to be involved with that type of person. Not so much his choice of persuaion but more so the type of person. It does not seem that the two of them have anything in common. It is obvious that a person like Orland, who is a tallented and physically attractive man, would need to compensate for his low sense of self worth with this young man. I am attracted to the whole wrestling game and he is a fine brother ,but it is clear to me ,never judge a brother by his muscles.It is possible that he is emotionally screwed up.And I say good luck to the little boy he is with and better him than me.
Chris
July 1 2006, 2:37PM
It's pretty pathetic so many thus far are complaining about him, if those photos aren't photoshopped, being intimate with a white man. I'm white, and I prefer black men intimately. Guess I can't seeing as I'm thin and white. Sucks for me.
Anyway, I think Keith might be overanalyzing a tad, but I wouldn't be entirely surprised at any which angle the dude got fired from.
David
July 1 2006, 10:19PM
Dear Chris please don´t be affended by the comments made about the young mans race.The point is , is that because of society´s brutal racism ,men like Orlando can and some- times do acquire a hate for themselves and also windup hating people similar to themselves.
The fact that you are attracted to blackmen does not mean that you dislike or hate men of your own persuasion.
I am sure most people are upset with the fact someone like Orlando might have fallen into the race trap of selv hate.
I don´t think it is necessary to compare your attraction for men of color with the others attraction to you. Peace.
Chicago Angel
July 1 2006, 10:20PM
black people HATE seing a black and white person together no matter how much they try to sugar coat it! I have seen people cut nasty looks or blatanly stare at a mixed couple.
DDC
July 1 2006, 11:59PM
All of you guys complaining about the "contrasting imagery" in the pictures... are you really mad that Orlando has alleged self-hate (& why would you be), or are you just offended, hurt, jealous that he's chosing to be with guys who don't physically resemble YOU. If so, sounds like YOU'RE ALL the one with self-hate issues, not him. The fact that you're accusing him of hating how he looks because he's with someone who doesn't look like him is baseless and rash. Assuming the pictures & info is authentic, who's to say that he's not an equal-opportunist and has had plenty of relationships with black men, hmmmm? Admit it. This issue is about YOU and your need for validation, not about the men in these pics.
jazzi
July 2 2006, 7:17AM
I say, does anyone here notice that Orlando isn't complaining about his contract not being renewed? I don't hear anything about him threatening to sue. Maybe his being dimissed was because, as many of you stated, he lacked a following. He wasn't popular, probably wasn't generating a lot of money, & wasn't connecting with the audience,period.
As for dude liking white guys, SO WHAT? Why does it have to be an issue of self hate? Why are you taking it personally? It's his life. It ain't about you. Why feel dissed over his preferences? Look, if you don't want it then stay away from it but tell the next man what he can or cannot have. Don't accuse me of not loving myself because I dare to live my life in a way that pleases me! Life is too short to not live it the way you want too.
DDC, I only have one thing to say: OUCH! Tight but it's right! These guys here know it, too, if they'll be honest.
jazzi
July 2 2006, 11:13AM
Above I meant to write "but don't tell the next man what he can or cannot have". Very important to spell check.
Alex
July 2 2006, 7:00PM
Those pictures aren't even that taboo. They don't even seem too "gay". I'm sure he was fired for them though and whispers that he's gay or bi. Even though the WWE looks like a one of the most homosexual sports created I'm sure management would never want to actually admit or allude to the fact a wrestler might actually be *gasp* gay!! What would the heartland Americans who eat this entertainment up on TNN think then!
TI
July 5 2006, 10:55AM
These is not about blacks verse whites. It is about black self examination to BE CONSCIENT and alert.It is about historical fact...and the psykological damage we have suffered..we have lost a psykological warfare which deeply damaged our views of ourself.The self hatred among blacks is a fact(like it or not)and we do express it in many ways within the class system, from poor to rich blacks,including the well educated. Nobody is safe. We are all free to choose passivity,denial, and the self sabotage which we have well mastered, or let sing(life is to shot to waste,so let have fun and ignore reality).It is neither sinful nor criminal to be a mixe couples.But the fact is that a great majority of blacks regard such a relations as a form of self improvement socialy in statues,material,etc.(or the notion of white is better than black) some of them are ready to suffered great deal of humiliation around whites than been with other blacks.In that case we shoudn't be suprise by orther races dislike and lack of respect
anonymous truth
July 6 2006, 12:54PM
To dispute the fact with Orlando, he not only dates white but he also dates black as well. Not to confirm if I am a man or a woman as that would add fuel to a confirmed fire, but he actually is a nice person, very respectful, and approached me in a gentleman fashion( a fashion a lot of men in todays age don't do).
We forget and cease to realize this is a man whom has taken a picture in whatever fashion it might seem, with someone he supposedly is in love with it. To me it is weird that we get on him about these pics, yet half the gay black men whom are Dl wouldnt be caught dead taking a pic like this , because of how they would be construed.
Applaud him for being a world public and even having this pic, cause i havent seen any others of any other national black athlete.
jay lassiter
July 9 2006, 6:44PM
I prefer the Greco Roman style to the purely showbiz pro circuit.
in fact, a few years ago they aired a really old greco roman meet on ESPNclassic. it was the soviet union against all these hot american guys. it was from the 70's so a few of 'em even had that "70's bareback porn" look.
i have a boner just thinking about it!
Robert Moore
July 18 2006, 1:09PM
There is a website for wrestling called Real Pro Wrestling the guys there are hot and it has real wrestling as opposed to the fake stuff we see on TV
Quentin Ergane
September 21 2006, 6:58PM
*snores* Boring. Get over the whole... who he is dating and what it signifies about Orlando because you don't know that boy. All you know is that he is white, "twinkish," and seemingly romantically linked to Orlando. No ONE time did any one wonder whether they were in love with each other. So focused on HATE, SELF-HATE and rooting it out, that love never got to be a part of the equation.
And if you ask me, THAT is what is wrong with SGL/gay/bi B/black men, period. We have forgotten about love.
Not ONE of the commenters can say they have not been in some way or manner brainwashed by, complicit with, or guilty of perpetuating white supremacy. There's some self-hatred in all of us and is understandable, however, I doubt it has anything to do with white persons in particular or general because it's the systems and instutitions of white supremacy that means -- don't get it twisted.
I think DDC had h/is finger on it.