Plus serving as inspiration to Cher's friend, and why he wants to "marry" fellow gay wrestler Jake Atlas.

Professional wrestler Fred Rosser, then known as ascending WWE star Darren Young, made history in 2013 when he came out as gay to TMZ cameras, the first still-active WWE wrestler to have done so.

While he would soon experience a freedom he had never known before, his initial reaction to finally saying the words was one of panic and fear.

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“I said to myself, ’What the hell did I just do?'” Rosser tells NewNowNext. “I was fearful of losing my job, fearful of losing friends, fearful of the unknown.”

It was not an altogether irrational fear either, considering he was existing in, as he describes it, “the hyper-masculine world” of professional wrestling.

He says he understood the full weight of what he’d done, and what it meant, only when Cher reached out to him on Twitter.

“I didn’t think my story was a big deal,” he admits, “until, when my story was made public, of all people the icon Cher contacted me directly, and said because of her hearing my story one of her friends—who is a big wrestling fan—came out to his family,” he recalls.

He says it was at that moment he realized “my story was a big deal” and that his “fight is much bigger than [just] in the ring, it’s outside of the ring; fighting bigotry and hatred, and trying to be the voice of the voiceless when it comes to our LGBTQ community, or anyone who gets bullied.”

For awhile, it seemed as if everything was going smoothly. The WWE released a statement embracing him, saying it was “proud” of him and would “continue to support him as a WWE Superstar.”

That support was tested two years later when he was intentionally not included in a WWE tour of Abu Dhabi, due to the country’s anti-gay laws. Rosser tweeted his criticism of the decision to hold events there in the first place, which he later deleted. Subsequent tweets, which remain up to this day, complain of a loss of free speech, and feeling like he wasn’t being supported.

“When I came out, guys I worked with, like Big Show, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Mark Henry—guys that made it easier for me to walk into a locker room—welcomed me with open arms. And it was easier for me to perform, because I was who I was [after coming out publicly],” Rosser says.

“It’s just unfortunate that the people who work under Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE, didn’t have my back,” he continues.

“Someone didn’t have my back, because Vince McMahon gave me a shot—he gave me multiple shots—and one of my last big runs at WWE, it was going very well.”

And while he admits that when he was released, in 2017, he was disappointed, he didn’t allow himself to become bitter.

“There are no hard feelings,” he says. “I truly believe visibility is a powerful tool for social change, so I thank WWE for allowing me for so many years to use their platform to inspire others and live out my childhood dream. So, I have nothing bad to say about Vince McMahon and WWE.”

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He has remained vocal, using his platform to push for progress ever since.

“2017 broke me, 2018 really opened my eyes, and 2019, I’ve been rocking and rolling, speaking to LGBTQ organizations and youth organizations all over the country,” he says.

Rosser has worked with LGBTQ organizations like The Trevor Project, and spoken to various other youth organizations to spread the message of acceptance, both of oneself and others, as well as the importance of working to achieve one’s goals, no matter the obstacles.

He also accomplishes this messaging through his “Block The Hate Movement” initiative, conducted though talks, videos, and social media posts, which aims to “show that we all aren’t as different from each other as we think,” and acknowledge that anyone can be the victim of bulling.

In addition to his activism, Rosser has continued to wrestle professionally under his own name, recently taking on fellow gay wrestler Jake Atlas, who came out last year, after winning 2017 Southern California Rookie of the Year.

“I want to marry that kid, because he is an incredible wrestler, [and] he’s a beautiful human being,” gushes Rosser. “I want to marry him.”

“I’ve been in the wrestling game for 16-plus years, and he’s probably one of my top five favorite matches that I’ve been in of all time,” he tells NewNowNext. “That includes winning the WWE tag team titles.”

He hopes the WWE will take a look at Atlas, saying, “I’m all about using my platform to elevate those that are under me. That’s all I can do, is pass down the baton. Because I’ve been doing this, right out of high school, since 2002.”

But he’s not ready to quit competing yet, either.

“I’m 35, I feel still alive, I make my twenties jealous of my thirties. I’ve still got a lot in the tank,” he concludes, with his trademark confidence.

“I’m going to continue to wrestle, and I’m going to help others along the way, because I believe there’s room for everyone at the finish line.”

Rosser will be recognized for his accomplishments, both in and out of the ring, on Sunday, April 28, in Miami, with the OUTshine Film Festival Vanguard Award, which he calls “my biggest honor ever.”

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He will be accompanied by his mother, whom he credits with being an inspiration to him to live his life openly. She too is gay, and came out to him when he was a child of around 7 or 8.

“My mom is the true meaning of what being gay and what being proud is all about,” he says. “So, having her by my side—she’s the best. She’s tough as nails, and she shows me what being gay, and what being proud, is all about every day.”