World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has taken another big step backward in terms of workplace equality yesterday with Stephanie McMahon’s announcement of an upcoming Royal Rumble match in which men are not allowed to participate.

“This is discrimination, plain and simple,” reads a statement issued today by a coalition of outraged male talent on the WWE roster.

“First we men were excluded from ‘Bra and Panties’ matches — not to mention Lingerie Pillowfights and Mud Pit Bikini Brawls — and now we have been excluded from an upcoming Royal Rumble match. This bigoted, exclusionary matchmaking is unacceptable.”

A formal complaint to WWE’s Human Resources department has been filed on behalf of the male roster, who say they are “sick and tired of playing second fiddle to the female talent.”

As further evidence for their claims of discrimination, the male wrestlers pointed out:

• There is a show called Total Divas, but there is no Total Divos
• Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tubemen are used to herald the entrance of female wrestler Bayley, whereas the pyrotechnics budget for the men has been drastically slashed this year
• Asuka only wrestles female competitors, despite the fact that Brock Lesnar has repeatedly asked for a shot against her

Although men’s wrestling has made great strides in recent years, WWE’s pro-female bias is clearly still dominant, given the announcement of the No-Men Royal Rumble.

Here’s hoping the men of WWE will someday get the recognition they justly deserve and emerge from the long shadow of the Women’s Division once and for all.