Gabbi Tuft, the former WWE wrestling star formerly known as Gabe Tuft, turned out to be transgender.
Tuft, who was active in the WWE between 2009 and 2012 under his ring name “Tyler Reks”, posted a statement on Instagram on Friday.
“This is me. Shamelessly, shamelessly me. This is my side that hid in the shadows, afraid and afraid of what the world would think; afraid of what my family, friends and followers would say or do,” Tuft wrote.
“I am no longer afraid and I am no longer afraid. Now I can confidently say that I love myself for WHO I am.”
However, while Tuft was full of positivity in his post, the former fighter wrote that “the previous eight months were some of the darkest in my entire life.”
Tuft wrote: “The emotional turmoil of being transgender and having to face the world has almost ended me on several occasions.”
Tuft continued to write that, as soon as she stopped caring about what other people might think of her, she was able to be her “authentic self” and that his wife, family and friends accepted her.
“The outer shell may change, but the soul remains the same.”
In an Instagram story, Tuft wrote, “This is probably the most exciting day of my life, after my son was born and my wedding day.”
Tuft appeared on “Raw”, “SmackDown” and “WrestleMania”, but left WWE in 2012 to spend more time with his wife Priscilla and daughter Mia, who was born in 2011. Tuft and Priscilla were married in 2002, and Herself herself Priscilla posted on Instagram following the news.
Priscilla posted a montage of clips and photos of the life she and Tuft have had together so far and wrote that: “The soul is androgynous and love is eternal. 23 years of love with a life ahead of it.”
Tuft spoke about his experience so far in an interview with Extra TV: “When I was 10 … when my parents were not at home, I sneaked into my mom’s closet and tried on her clothes and it felt right. all my life, just for the sake of society, knowing that people would not accept it. So I pushed down as much as I could. “
Tuft and Priscilla said their relationship is now experiencing an “interesting progression” as they navigate how to be together. The two also talked about how they are talking to their daughter about the news, and Tuft said it is an “ongoing conversation”.
Tuft remembers telling Mia that she would not go out in public in case people made fun of her and it affected Mia. Tuft said, “She leans over, gives me the biggest hug and says, ‘Daddy, I’ll never make fun of you.'”
Tuft also promised to be “100% transparent” when sharing her story, as she wants to help others who are going through the same struggle with her transgender identity as she.
“Knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel may just be that ray of hope that keeps someone with us, that keeps them alive and lets them know: ‘Yes, I can do that too.'”