The wrestling world is buzzing after former WWE superstar Val Venis launched a blistering verbal assault against All Elite Wrestling and its president Tony Khan. During a recent podcast appearance, the controversial figure didn’t hold back his opinions about AEW’s inclusion of transgender talent, specifically targeting the promotion’s handling of Nyla Rose.
Entertainment as Cultural Manipulation
Speaking on The Monty and the Pharaoh Show, Venis painted a picture of wrestling promotions as puppet masters pulling cultural strings. His theory? Companies like AEW deliberately craft storylines to reshape public opinion through strategic character placement.
“Entertainment has always been a tool to be able to sway culture. Where does pop culture come from? It comes from the entertainment industry. And we see a lot of that—clothing brands, the way we speak… things catch on.”
The former Attitude Era performer argued that AEW’s booking decisions extend far beyond simple entertainment value. He believes there’s a calculated agenda at play, using wrestling programming to influence viewers’ perspectives on transgender issues.
Direct Accusations Against AEW’s Booking Philosophy
Venis didn’t dance around his criticism of how AEW presents Nyla Rose in competition. He drew sharp distinctions between comedic gender-bending characters from wrestling’s past and what he sees as AEW’s current approach.
“When you start to normalize something that is a very real mental disorder—gender dysphoria—and you start putting a man with a women’s title on there… not making comedy like Santino or anything like that, but having a man wrestle women as a woman… it normalizes, in the minds of the people, transgenderism, which is normalizing gender dysphoria.”
His comparison to medical conditions was particularly striking. The former intercontinental champion equated transgender representation with serious health issues, claiming the normalization serves no beneficial purpose.
“You might as well be normalizing cancer… or schizophrenia. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Tony Khan Called Out by Name
When podcast hosts pressed Venis about whether AEW’s leadership bears responsibility for these booking decisions, he didn’t hesitate to implicate Tony Khan directly. The conversation took an even more intense turn when religious undertones entered the discussion.
Asked whether Khan and AEW were “using Satan’s work,” Venis responded affirmatively without missing a beat.
“Yeah… when we’re using entertainment to promote evil like this—I mean, it is evil to reinforce another human being’s mental disorder.”
Rejecting Scientific Consensus on Gender Identity
Venis went beyond criticizing wrestling companies, challenging widely accepted scientific understanding about gender dysphoria. He dismissed genetic factors entirely, instead pointing fingers at external influences.
“I don’t believe it’s a genetic thing at all. The mind is incredibly malleable… Propaganda, especially when the population does not think critically anymore…”
His alternative theory places blame squarely on media manipulation and educational systems. According to Venis, these institutions work together to “program” individuals rather than allowing natural development.
Educational System Under Fire
The former WWE star expanded his criticism beyond wrestling, targeting schools and teachers for allegedly contributing to what he considers harmful programming.
“So when people say it’s genetic—I say BS. There’s no evidence of that. It’s just people saying it’s genetic. But what is true is gender dysphoria is a programmed mental disorder.”
“It may be caused from a combination of trauma and programming from entertainment, mainstream media, or the education system.”
His critique of modern education focused on curriculum choices and teaching methodologies. Venis argued that schools prioritize inappropriate content over fundamental critical thinking skills.
“Teachers having these kids read these hyper-sexualized books… We should be teaching these kids how to comprehend what they read and think critically. They don’t teach that anymore.”
Wrestling Community Reacts to Explosive Comments
The wrestling landscape has always been a battleground for cultural debates, and Venis’ remarks have reignited passionate discussions across social media platforms. His statements represent a stark contrast to AEW’s progressive approach to talent representation.
These controversial opinions arrive at a time when wrestling promotions face increasing scrutiny over inclusion policies and roster diversity. Major companies continue navigating the balance between traditional fan expectations and evolving social perspectives.
Venis’ willingness to directly challenge industry leaders like Tony Khan demonstrates how deeply divided opinions remain within wrestling’s extended family. His comments guarantee continued debate about entertainment’s role in shaping cultural attitudes—but will AEW or Khan respond to these pointed accusations, or let their programming speak for itself?
