Transgender former WWE star Gabbi Tuft teases return to the ring as she insists female wrestlers WANT to train with her… but admits she has concerns over the women’s locker room

Transgender wrestler Gabbi Tuft has said she “absolutely” plans to return to the ring, but acknowledged the potential awkwardness of using the women’s locker room.

Tuft, who was previously known as Tyler Reks during her first four-year career with WWE, came out as transgender three years ago.

And while she hasn’t competed since 2014, a second wrestling act could be in the offing, with other female wrestlers even asking to train with her.

“My intention is to definitely return to the ring,” she said from NewsNation “Banfield.”

“And if it does happen to be with WWE, that would be the perfect story. And when I go back, I think the whole world will be watching and wondering if I get in the ring with a guy or a girl, what happens? And I know there are people who are not happy about that.’

Tuft performed as Tyler Reks for four years before being released by the WWE in 2012

She continued, “Even when I’m in the ring training with girls and practicing, they’re the ones who have asked to train with me and they’re happy to train with me and they know I’m going to protect them in the ring .

‘And as far as sending a message: I think it’s a wonderful message that the women are asking to work with me. They know I’m going to keep them safe, and they know what we’re going to do in the ring is going to be explosive, and it’s going to be incredibly entertaining.”

Tuft said she has not yet fully transitioned and therefore has concerns about sharing a locker room with other women.

“I think my biggest concern would be a locker room situation because I haven’t fully transitioned yet. And honestly, I would never want to impose or invade a safe space for women,” she said.

“So I think my biggest concern would be where I get changed, and if I had to figure out a way to have my own space that I don’t impose on anyone, if I had to pay for it myself or something, then I would doing. just to make sure that the girls, the women, the females felt safe and that I wasn’t invading their space in any way.”

The 45-year-old has lost about 50 pounds since appearing as Reks by changing her diet and fitness routine. Reks was billed at 6 feet 1 inch and around 250 pounds for her entire WWE run.

But while she enjoys getting into the ring with women, she said sport needs “better standards” when it comes to transgender people competing in athletics.

She also shared that she wouldn’t wrestle if it was a “legitimate, directly competitive sport.”

“But since it’s entertainment, it’s a different story. …I recognize that I have more muscle mass on my body than a natural born woman.

‘My bone structure is very different. I feel it in the ring. I know. It is very different when I work with a born woman than with a man. And I can feel the difference in muscle mass. I can feel the body frame. I know that. I know that very well. But thank God this is entertainment, and that’s what we bring.

Tuft previously teased a potential return by entering a venue where All Elite Wrestling was holding a show.