HOME / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

WWE NXT superstar Toni Storm, 25, comes out as bisexual: 'We couldn’t be more proud'

'Toni Storm coming out is awesome for a lot of reasons,' a fan tweeted about the 25-year-old wrestling icon from Australia

Wrestling icon Toni Rossall, recognized by her stage name Toni Storm, recently came out as bisexual via WWE NXT's Instagram story. Storm took over their official Instagram account for a day to celebrate Pride Month and used the opportunity to declare herself as 'bi' and a proud member of the LGBTQ community. Her fans wholeheartedly celebrated her coming out and flooded Twitter with congratulatory posts hailing her courage. 

The 25-year-old professional wrestler from Australia was born in New Zealand. She developed a keen passion for wrestling at the early age of 10, after coming across WWE on television. She started training in Australia when she was 13-years-old and later moved to the UK to train under professional wrestler Dean Allmark. Storm debuted in the professional wrestling arena in 2009 and is currently signed on to WWE's NXT roster. She won the SWA World Championship in 2016, followed by the World of Stardom Championship in 2017. In 2018, she defeated Io Shirai to claim the 'Mae Young Classic' title at WWE Evolution. Before Storm, WWE NXT star Tegan Nox had come out as a lesbian in 2020. 

READ MORE

Who was Pat Patterson? Wrestling's first gay star dies at 79, WWE colleagues say he's an 'absolute legend'

Who is Gabbi Tuft? Meet ex-WWE superstar Tyler Reks who came out as trans woman: 'I love myself for who I am'

Speaking to WWE fans through the account, she said: “So when it was announced that I would be taking over the Instagram for Pride month, I noticed a lot of people were like ‘Toni, are you just like an ally? Are you part of the community? What’s going on over here?’ and I guess now is a good time to say, well, both. I am an ally and can’t exactly say that I’m straight. I’m bi and it feels good to say and it’s something I’ve been really comfortable with for a long time. I just never really expressed it. I don’t know, I just never found the right time and it’s Pride Month and I’m on your Instagram so now is a good time, I guess.”

'Big shoutout to Toni Storm today'

Storm's fans supported her decision as the wrestler admitted she had been comfortable with her sexual identity "for a long time" but she "never really expressed it". "I just never really found the right time, and its Pride Month and I am on your Instagram; so now's a good time," she shared with a laugh. 

"A member of the community and an ally. Thank you for sharing this with us, Toni Storm. We couldn’t be more proud," WWE NXT posted on Twitter along with Storm's coming-out video.

Wrestler Triple H hailed Toni Storm tweeting, "Proud of Toni Storm today and everyday. #WeAreNXT." Screenwriter Bill Hanstock tweeted, "Good for toni storm."

"Chris Kanyon battled depression and anxiety and felt he had to hide who he was for years. Cheers to Toni Storm for her reveal today. This should no longer be an issue, we are better than that and we all know and love someone who is of any race or sexual preference. #ChooseLove," a fan reminded while celebrating Storm. Another fan tweeted, "Toni storm coming out is awesome for a lot of reasons and i love her and i’m proud of her but please push her, she’s the best thing going in the division."

A third fan swore to support and protect Storm tweeting, "Fair play to Toni Storm for coming out as bisexual, in this day and age it takes a lot to come out and comfortably tell people that. I'll be instantly blocking anyone who is a d**k about it or a d**k to her."  

"Team Switch hitter wooo! Big shoutout to Toni Storm today. #Pride," a fourth fan wrote.

Meanwhile, Storm is presently in a long-term relationship with NJPW star Juice Robinson for more than a year. She confirmed their relationship last year in May and recently celebrated their one-year anniversary.