Aaron Rourke just made history as the first openly gay WWE singles champion.
The professional wrestler known as “Evil Gay” — who often wears colorful makeup across his eyes and has even been photographed in a feather-lined robe like a modern-day Rick Flair — defeated Jackson Drake in the WWE Evolve Championships on March 18 in a match that won him the title.
“The road will be long and hard at many points for you kid, but keep your head up,” Rourke said after his win, according to an announcement from the official WWE account. “Someday your dreams will come true. Thank you to everyone for the love and support. This is just the beginning.”
Rourke, who also goes by the nickname “The Dime Piece,” shared a video clip from the match on his Instagram account that shows him standing on the ropes and jumping off to land on Drake’s chest, nearly straddling his head.
When Rourke first joined WWE ID in November 2024, he became the first out LGBTQ+ wrestler signed to their Independent Development program, and while he’s now the first solo gay title holder, Darren Young came out in 2013 and went on to win a tag title with his wrestling partner Titus O’Neil, Cageside Seats reports.
“It’s time I step up to be the leader,” Rourke said in a video ahead of the match while wearing a sparkly pink half shirt. “It’s time ‘The Dime Piece’ stands in the spotlight.”
