Subhojeet Mukherjee on August 29, 2025
Elayna Black had a very active dating life during her time in NXT, as she was linked to both Bron Breakker and Harlem Lewis. However, that doesn’t mean fans can constantly bring up her dating life now and that’s why Black called out fans for being parasocial.
While speaking on Inside the Ring, Elayna Black talked about how some wrestling fans act like they really know the wrestlers. She said it feels very parasocial, like fans think they are owed something.
Not all fans are like this; many are kind, respectful, and supportive, and she is thankful for them because they are the reason wrestling is successful and why she has her platform. But a few bad fans can ruin things for everyone.
“For some reason, I feel like fans think it’s okay in wrestling to act like they really know the wrestlers. There’s this very parasocial thing where they feel like they’re owed something. That’s not to say all fans are like that, because there are amazing fans who are so supportive and never disrespectful. Those are the fans who genuinely love wrestling and support it, and I’m so thankful for them because they’re the reason wrestling is what it is and the reason I even have the platform I do. But it only takes a few bad eggs to spoil the whole carton.”
When asked about being open with her relationships in NXT, Black said it never caused problems with the people she dated or with her work. Everyone she dated in wrestling was respectful and professional, and she never let personal issues affect her job.
What really affected her was sharing her personal life online. Posting about being happy felt natural at the time, but when breakups happened, she got a lot of backlash. Because of that, she now keeps her private life to herself and focuses on protecting her peace.
“Honestly, everyone I’ve ever dated in wrestling has been respectful and professional, and I’ve never had an issue working with or being around anyone I dated. That’s just who I am too. Even if something ended badly, I’d never bring it to the workplace or let it affect bookings. That part never affected me personally. What did affect me was that when you share your life and post about being happy with someone, you don’t think about the backlash if the relationship ends. That’s why I keep my personal life very private now. I’ve learned a lot over the past few months, and it’s better for me to just keep things private and focus on myself.”
What bothers Black the most is when fans still bring up relationships from years ago. She finds it pretty strange because people would never bring up their friends’ exes from years ago in real life, so it should not happen online either.
Elayna Black said she wishes nothing but the best for her exes and hopes their careers are doing well. The negativity does not come from her; it often comes from fans, who seem to hold on to things more than the people actually involved.
“What really gets to me is how fans feel parasocial with wrestlers in a way that makes them think they’re allowed to comment on or bring up old relationships. I still get comments about people I dated three years ago. Like, drop it. Do you bring up your friends’ exes from three years ago in real life? No, because it would be weird. And the craziest part is that I wish nothing but the best for anyone I’ve dated. I hope their careers are thriving. There’s no negativity from me. Yet fans carry more negativity about these relationships than the people who were actually in them.”
Black explained that fans sometimes think they are owed explanations or that it is funny to bring up old relationships, but in reality, most of them would never say those things face-to-face.
Online, people hide behind screens and say things they normally would not. She made it clear that she does not care what her exes think of her and has moved on, but Black wishes fans would show the same respect that the people in those relationships have for each other. For her, the lack of respect from fans is the craziest part.
“Fans act like they’re owed explanations, or they just think it’s funny to bring it up. But in real life, you wouldn’t say these things to someone’s face. It’s only because people are hiding behind a screen online. I don’t need to sit behind a screen and say things—I say them here. That’s the difference. At the end of the day, I don’t care what my exes feel about me. I wish them well. It is what it is. But I wish fans had the same respect that the people in the relationships have for each other and their careers. That’s what’s really crazy to me.”
At the end of the day, Elayna Black just wants to protect her peace, move forward, and keep her private life to herself. So we just hope Black doesn’t have to deal with such parasocial fans ever again, for her sake.
Do you think wrestling fans often cross the line into wrestlers’ personal lives, or is it just part of the business? Sound off in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
August 29, 2025 4:41 am
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