DARK Sheik wins Luna Vachon Invitational and tells ‘enemies’ to ‘see me, and despair’
DARK Sheik (darksheikftf)
DARK Sheik has won PRODUCE Wrestling’s Luna Vachon Invitational in Los Angeles, then posted a defiant message after a fan was accused of making transphobic remarks during her match.
In an Instagram post after her victory, the out trans wrestler wrote: “Didnt know anyone said anything about me at the show until someone tweeted it, Was too focused on all the girls & gays cheering me on and on doing my job. but, Thank you, EFFY💜 @effylives and, to my enemies: see me, and despair,” after video circulated of content creator EFFY confronting an alleged transphobic fan in the crowd.
Sheik lifted the Luna Vachon Invitational trophy after defeating AEW star Hyan at PRODUCE Wrestling’s PRODUCE Volume 6: Hell Comes To Dogtown event. The tournament is described as honouring the legacy of women’s wrestling and spotlighting top women on the independent scene.
What was said about the alleged transphobic remarks?
A fan in attendance was called out for allegedly making transphobic remarks towards Sheik during the match, and an Instagram video later surfaced of EFFY confronting the fan afterwards.
Sheik said she did not know about the comments until they started circulating on social media because she “was too focused on all the girls and gays cheering me on and on doing my job.”
Sheik became the first out LGBTQ+ pro wrestler to win the Luna Vachon Invitational, and the second winner overall, joining Billie Starkz.
How did DARK Sheik win the Luna Vachon Invitational?
The Los Angeles final capped a tournament that began on 13 September at PRODUCE Volume 4: Night Life in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Sheik beat former WWE star Leigh Laurel in the opening round, then booked her place in the final earlier this month by defeating Corinne Joy at PRODUCE Volume 5: Skoden in New York City.
In the final, Sheik and Hyan went back and forth before Sheik took advantage of a downed referee, raked Hyan’s eyes, then hit a top rope guillotine legdrop to secure the pinfall and the trophy.
After the win, Sheik posted on X: “Independent Underground Undeniable.”
Known as “The High Priestess of the Church of Wrestling”, Sheik is a fixture of the US independent scene, with a theatrical, horror-leaning persona and a devoted queer community following. In 2021, a fan was booted from an AEW Dynamite event for holding up a transphobic sign towards trans wrestling star Nyla Rose.
