IMPACT Wrestling Head of Media Relations Ross Forman Honored On Outsports Power Top 100 List
Last night, Outsports posted an article that highlights what they called the Power 100, which includes incredible individuals across sports with a variety of roles.
Ross Forman comes in at #80 on their list as an openly gay man, athlete, and an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion. You can read his story here.
80) Ross Forman
Head of Media Relations, IMPACT Wrestling
Ross Forman is a true LGBTQ trailblazer, a gay executive in professional who has been out in the industry for many years. Currently the head of media relations for IMPACT Wrestling, he has helped LGBTQ wrestlers like Gisele Shaw and Jai Vidal share their stories.
Here are some cool excerpts from the article…
When he was the editor of the WCW Magazine:
Forman recalls writing a candid article about a WCW talent overcoming drug addiction.
“That was his way of helping himself get past his demons,” he said. “He wanted to talk about it publicly, what he endured, and he trusted me to tell his story. People might say, ‘That’s only pro wrestling,’ but these are real people. It’s flattering and humbling to me when they trust me enough to tell their story.”
Interviewing Bret Hart following his brother Owen’s death:
One story that remains close to Forman’s heart is a piece on pro wrestling icon Bret Hart following the tragic in-ring death of his brother, Owen Hart, during a WWE event in 1999.
“I went up to Calgary with Bret, and we went to the grave site where Owen is buried. At the grave site, there is a bench and in the middle of the bench is a plaque dedicated to his memory,” Forman said. “I have a photo of Bret and I sitting on that bench in my office that means a lot to me. He trusted me to tell his story, to put his life, his world and what he’d been going through out there for everybody.”
It stuck for Hart as well, as a chance meeting between the two at last year’s WrestleCon convention saw him tell Forman that he was his favorite memory from WCW in front of a collection of IMPACT personnel.
“That’s pretty powerful,” Forman said.
After WCW closed its doors, but before he wound up with TNA, Ross took a break from pro wrestling to cover sports journalism.
Forman has covered everything from the HIV/AIDS crisis to prominent DJs to LGBTQ athletes and events. He utilized his role in the Chicago hockey community to help facilitate bringing the Stanley Cup to the Chicago Pride Parade after the Chicago Blackhawks won it in 2010.
His profile of out gay former NFL player Esera Tuaolo earned him the Chicago Headline Club Lisagor Award for Best Sports Story in 2012.
“I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would win sports story of the year,” Forman said, holding the award.
Forman on his role with IMPACT and how it enhances talent and encourages them to be themselves.
And Forman has continued that work during his time with IMPACT. He continues to cover LGBTQ topics for Chicago Pride and sports with Sports Collectors Digest while managing media operations for the pro wrestling organization.
His focus on the LGBTQ community through his work with IMPACT is also a key point of pride for Forman. He helped facilitate IMPACT’s partnership with the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, organized media and advocacy tours for pro wrestlers Kiera Hogan and Gisele Shaw after coming out and continues to highlight fellow out IMPACT wrestlers, including Jai Vidal and “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
Forman said the friendships he has forged with the IMPACT locker room, fans and office, including floor director Ingrid Isley and production supervisor John E. Bravo, are the most gratifying aspect of his time with the company.
“I just think we’re really close-knit. Maybe it’s because we are a smaller company. We don’t have the front office or the wrestling quantity that other companies may have, but it’s a fun place to work.”
The growth of LGBTQ identities in pro wrestling is also a key point of reflection for Forman as he looked back at his own wrestling journey. He expressed amazement at Outsports’ annual QWI 200 list and the amount of out figures throughout the pro wrestling world.
“It’s great with what everybody can do and be themselves,” he said. “It’s a different landscape than 20 years ago. When you can come up with a list of 200 out wrestlers, that speaks volumes right there.”
Forman remains “flattered, humbled and purely honored” at his inclusion in the 2023 Outsports Power 100 as he continues his own story.
“I’ve done a lot,” Forman said. “I’ve been fortunate and I’ve had a lot of people who have supported me. When people have trusted me, I’ve given trust … it’s a super honor that I don’t take lightly.”
Bodyslam.net would like to convey our utmost congratulations to Ross Forman for this truly Prestigeous award, and we look forward to his continued push forward in this space.
Follow Gerard at @BearDown316 on Twitter
If you enjoy Bodyslam’s content, you can help donate to the site here. You can also visit our PWTees store and buy Bodyslam official merchandise here.
You can listen to all of Bodyslam’s podcasts by following us on Spotify and subscribing to our YouTube Channel, or any of your favorite podcast platforms.
Be sure to check out Bodyslam.Net for all of your pro wrestling and MMA news!