TOMPA BAY GRONKANEERS

It's hard to believe, but both photos show the same person. For years, WWE fans knew Tyler Reks as a strong, muscular wrestler who fought stars like John Cena and CM Punk in the ring. But behind the tough-guy image, the wrestler was hiding a secret that went back to childhood. As a kid, she quietly struggled with her gender identity and would often sneak into her mom's closet to try on her clothes. For decades, she suppressed those feelings, spending hours in the gym and building a big, muscular body to hide who she really was. In 2012, she left WWE to spend more time with her wife and their daughter. Years later, during lockdown, she began dressing as a woman at home. Her wife helped with her hair and makeup, and the two talked for hours. In February 2021, at 42 years old, the former wrestling star finally told the world she was a transgender woman and introduced herself as Gabbi Tuft. Her wife supported the transition, but admitted she was no longer attracted to Gabbi. The couple eventually separated but stayed close. In June 2024, ten years after her last match, Gabbi stepped back into the wrestling ring, this time as a woman. She won.