Another historic first for pro wrestling is coming this weekend.
On Sunday, out trans wrestler Saraya Saber is set to challenge NWA World Women’s champion Kenzie Paige for her title at New South Pro Wrestling’s “Action Clash” event in Scottsboro, Ala., making her the first out trans female wrestler to challenge for the NWA’s top women’s championship in the organization’s 76-year history.
The importance of the moment isn’t lost on Saber, even if it is “a bit overwhelming.”
“I have been busting my butt for two years now and even then I never thought this match would happen,” Saber told Outsports. “I know, in the grand scheme of things, it is only a small step, but to be able to say that, in over 70 years of the NWA, I get to be the first trans woman to challenge for this title is still crazy.
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“When I started wrestling, I often wondered if there would ever even be a place for me as a trans woman in the South, but for there to not only be a place but somewhere like New South that is giving me this opportunity to do something that most of the country probably wouldn’t like, it really makes me feel like we’re doing something special.”
Saber’s title match makes her only the second out trans wrestler to battle for any NWA championship and the third out trans wrestler to feature in an NWA-associated match, joining reigning NWA World TV champion Max The Impaler and Jamie Senegal.
The then-NWA Unified World TV champion, Max relinquished their NWA World Women’s TV title in order to face Paige for her title at the company’s “NWA 76” event last month. It was the out non-binary transmasculine wrestler’s second opportunity at the title since joining the NWA in 2022. They additionally challenged for the NWA World Women’s Tag Team titles with Angelina Love in 2023.
Senegal competed in the inaugural Mildred Burke Invitational match at the company’s “NWA EmPowerrr” event in August 2021.
While the groundbreaking nature of the match resonates with Saber both personally and professionally, she views it as much more than something just for herself.
“I have a promo planned where I say ‘I fight for every trans person who came before me and every trans person who come after me,’ and I mean that,” she said. “I am honored to be the first but I hope and pray that I am not the last. Hopefully, by having this match, it can show those who thought they would never have a space in this business that they can do it and they belong here.”
