Nyla Rose Says She Doesn’t Blame Tony Khan for AEW Absence

Nyla Rose has been off AEW television for nearly two years, but the Native Beast says she doesn’t hold Tony Khan responsible for her lack of screen time. Rose addressed her standing with the company during an appearance on Jasmin St. Claire’s podcast, where she was told she remains a valuable piece of the roster despite the extended absence.

Rose has been one of AEW’s original signees dating back to the company’s launch in 2019, and she made history early on as the promotion’s first openly transgender wrestler. She’s held the AEW Women’s World Championship before, and for a stretch she was a fixture on weekly programming, both as a singles competitor and alongside the Hardy Family Office faction. Nearly two years without a televised appearance is a notably long gap for a talent with that kind of resume and history with the company.

What stands out here isn’t just that Rose is missing from TV — it’s that she isn’t pointing a finger at Khan for it. In an era where wrestlers regularly air grievances about booking, creative direction, or being buried on the roster, Rose choosing to publicly separate her AEW boss from her lack of TV time is notable. It suggests either genuine contentment behind the scenes, a business-minded approach to not burning bridges, or simply that she views her situation as more complicated than a single decision-maker’s call.

AEW’s women’s division has undergone plenty of shuffling over the past couple of years, with new signees, returning veterans, and a rotating cast of contenders cycling through weekly TV. Someone with Rose’s size, look, and championship pedigree would seem to be an obvious fit for a division that has often searched for fresh dynamics, which makes her prolonged absence all the more curious to longtime viewers. Whether that’s a matter of creative not having a clear direction for her, other commitments, or something else entirely wasn’t detailed in her comments.

For now, Rose’s remarks leave more questions than answers about when — or if — she’ll resurface on AEW programming. She didn’t use the podcast appearance to request a release or air frustration, which for many fans will read as a sign the door remains open for a return down the line. Given her track record with the company, from being part of its inaugural class to headlining title matches, a comeback wouldn’t be a surprise if and when AEW finds the right spot for her.

Until then, Rose’s name will likely keep coming up in absence discussions rather than match previews, a strange spot for a former women’s champion to occupy. Fans hoping to see the Native Beast back in an AEW ring will have to keep watching this space.