A theatrical tampon stunt by female pro wrestler Priscilla Kelly is dividing the wrestling world.
In a Suburban Fight match at a bar in California in December, Kelly taunted her opponent “Tuna,” who sat in a chair. “All right, Tuna. Do you want to taste the tuna?” she asked, before appearing to reach into her crotch and pull out a tampon. She dangled the item in the air for all to see and then shoved it into the other woman’s mouth.
“You sick f***!” the audience chanted and cheered.
A fan posted video of the match to Twitter, where it caught the attention of others in the wrestling world. Several of them were not amused.
“I am actually disgusted with this,” pro wrestler Tessa Blanchard commented.
Tessa Blanchard
✔
@Tess_Blanchard
I am actually disgusted with this.
Adam Ramirez
@AdamRivalPro
Priscilla Kelly giving Tuna the TUNA! #SuburbanFightProWrestling #SuburbanFight #PriscillaKelly #Tuna @priscillakelly_ @Suburbanxfight
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“Embarrassing,” wrote WWE commentator Jim Ross.
“Whoever thought that was a spot that was gonna get a pop and was worth it….. NO. how about telling a story in the ring with your wrestling instead?” asked another pro, Gail Kim-Irvine.
Apparently, the spot did “get a pop,” and as Kelly watched the moment gain traction, she decided to remind viewers of the unspoken truth: None of it was real.
The Priscilla Kelly
✔
@priscillakelly_
Hey guys. Ya know, it's all fake.
21+ show with a bar. Can't take life so serious all the time.
Call me what you will... ��
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She had plenty of defenders, as well.
“Wrestling is an art, and people just react in different ways to art,” wrote photographer Justin Cesi, who was at the match. “If that spot caused people to cringe and be repulsed, then it kind of served its intended purpose. I was there, and the crowd lost it. Hell, I almost dropped my camera out of shock.”
As several drew comparisons to other moments of shock art, in wrestling and other areas, Kelly added that she thought sexism was to blame for this controversy.
“A ρenis is funny and awesome. A νagina is disgusting and trashy. #Equality?” she asked.
It could also be that period jokes are where people really draw the line. Joey Ryan, a wrestler known for his phallic stunts, pointed out that the legendary Mae Young once faked giving birth to a rubber hand in a graphic WWE skit when she was in her 70s.
“Would you say the same about Mae Young?” Ryan asked a fellow wrestler who said Kelly’s stunt was why people despise their sport. “Or is period blood somehow worse than placenta? Cause they showed that s*** on TV. Honest question.”
Regardless of where most people fall in this debate, it’s pretty safe to say Kelly’s generated plenty of interest in her next fight.
