After being absent from the ring for more than six months, Thunder Rosa made her highly anticipated return to AEW Dynamite on February 21, 2026, defeating Julia Hart in her comeback match. Known as a former AEW Women’s World Champion, Rosa faced renewed attention, not only for her wrestling but also for responding to a hateful message aimed at her identity.
Thunder Rosa Confronts Hate Targeting Her Identity
Shortly after her match, Thunder Rosa addressed a disturbing message she received on social media. Although she chose not to reveal the specific content, Rosa revealed the message attacked her personally rather than critiquing her professional work. She connected the hostility to broader issues of discrimination based on background and origin in the United States today.
I want to address something real. I received a hateful message that doesn’t critique my work, but it really attacks who I am and where I came from. I’m not going to repeat it, I’m not going to give this guy more oxygen. I will say this: in the United States right now, a lot of people are being treated like suspects. Not because of what they’ve done, but because of their names, their accents, or the place that they came from,
Rosa said.
That is not strength, that is fear dressed up as power. I am Thunder Rosa, and yes, I’m proud to be Mexican, and yes, I’m proud to be from Tijuana.
Standing Firm Against Intolerance Within the Wrestling Community
Rosa’s remarks gained additional weight following a recent incident in Florida where an independent wrestler was detained by ICE, reflecting ongoing challenges faced by many in the wrestling community and beyond. She expressed her commitment to wrestling, emphasizing that while she accepts constructive criticism related to her performance, attacks that dehumanize individuals are unacceptable.
Debate is part of it, but dehumanizing people, threatening them, turning into immigration into a punchline, that’s not fandom, that’s hate. So here’s my message to the locker room, to the audience, and to everyone listening. We can keep wrestling tough without being cruel. We can be loud without being dangerous, and we can protect this community by refusing to normalize intimidation.
At 39 years old, Thunder Rosa’s career spans several years, during which she has earned the AEW Women’s World Championship. She is preparing for a potential title rivalry with Thekla as she continues to make her mark in AEW, while also advocating for respect and inclusivity inside and outside the ring.
