Goth Aesthetics in Wrestling

When I got into wrestling, I noticed something. As a goth girlie, I found myself looking for fashion inspiration from both the men’s and women’s. Then it hit me, a lot of them have a goth aesthetic.

It got me wondering why. Based on my observations, I have some theories as to why leather, black liner, studs and chains feel right at home in the ring.

Rhea Ripley

Aesthetics That Stand Out

Every wrestler is a bigger-than-life character. Even though I’ve only gotten into it over the last two years, watching old tapes of older wrestlers, it was always a thing. The wrestlers are either a face (the superheroes) or a heel (the super villains).

From what we’ve seen in movies, villains or anything in a fantasy and horror setting wear over-the-top outfits. Those same outfits are what goths gravitate towards. The ones that are different, stand out and are almost scary for the average person to wear.

So it’s only natural for that same style to be in the ring.

For those who grew up with wrestling, take a look at The Undertaker. He was not just a wrestler. He was a walking funeral procession with entrance music that felt like the gates of something very unpleasant opening. He even had a manager named Paul Bearer!!! The aesthetic made the character instantly legible. You saw the hat, the coat, and your brain whispered: this man definitely buries people. I mean, isn’t his finisher also called the Tombstone?

I also knew, had I grown up with wrestling, this man would have been my fashion inspiration as well! I always gravitated towards the dark side of life, and his aesthetics would have instantly made him a favourite of mine.

In modern wrestling, you have Rhea Ripley and Damien Priest. The leathers, chains, and dark makeup. They both look like they front a metal band or even lead the Cenobytes into battle. The goth edge communicates danger, rebellion and dominance.

Damien Priest

Outsider Energy

Goth has always carried outsider vibes. And as mainstream as wrestling is, it still isn’t on the same level as the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, etc. It’s still surprisingly quite niche for what it is. So it makes sense that the characters also reflect that in the ring. They carry that outsider aura.

As someone who is goth inside and out, the clothes signal that energy. In a world where a lot of people want comfy, plain clothes (not that it’s a bad thing!!!), goths stand out with their attire.

For characters to stand out, they also need to channel that fashion. They need clothes that make them stand out. To give them that main character energy, otherwise, they’ll just blend in with the rest.

Also, let’s be honest. A lot of us wrestling fans are already into the subcultures. At least the ones I’ve talked to. So many of us are comic book lovers, horror fans, fantasy adventurers, metalheads or at some point, were into the alternative scene. Hell, even a lot of wrestlers are into those themselves. Not saying all of them are, but a lot of them seem to be, especially in the day of social media and all that. We can see a lot of their personality come through.

So it’s only natural that for their characters to resonate with all that!

Theatrics Love Darkness

Wrestling goes beyond the goth-inspired clothes. Remember how I mentioned The Undertaker had the whole funeral vibe going? The music, the lighting, the fog, and the slow walks. All that pairs with the goth aesthetic.

Some current wrestlers that fit the whole aesthetic are:

• Aleister Black (aka Malakai Black) with Zelina Vega

• Damien Priest

• Rhea Ripley

• Stephanie Vaquer

• Raquel Rodriguez (to some extent)

• Alexa Bliss (the kawaii goth)

• Wyatt Sicks

• Liv Morgan (the horror lover inspired goth)

That’s just to name a few. See how these wrestlers hold themselves and how their whole aesthetic ties it all together. And you know it works because they’re well-beloved characters. They tell a story about their character through the use of their entrance music, gear, and how they choose to enter the ring.

The Wyatt Sicks

Goth Culture is Prominent in Wrestling

Wrestling is heightened emotion and moments. Goth is heightened aesthetic. They both channel main-character energy, hence the marriage of the two scenes, just goes together well hand-in-hand.

It is not just fashion. It is visual storytelling.

Like I wrote in my “Goth is a Subculture; Not Just an Aesthetic” article, this still stands. Yes, in wrestling, it’s used as an aesthetic. But it does tell a story. A lot like how goths in the subculture use their fashion to tell a story. How they feel in society and all that. In a way, they’re also telling a story about their life, and they’re not afraid to. They go against the norm.

In wrestling, it’s all about storytelling; these characters are all larger-than-life. And sometimes, the best way to tell all that is through what you wear.