I’m not usually one to purchase shoot interviews or DVDs of the wrestling variety at all for that matter. I guess I’m satisfied (or less satisfied) with what I see on TV and online, so have never felt the need to go out of my way to buy a WrestleMania DVD or anything. As a consumer, I’m very particular about the products I buy – case in point – I haven’t bought a CD in nearly 10 years until last November, when Leona Lewis released her debut album ‘Spirit’. But when I found out that my favourite Diva of all time, Torrie Wilson had her own shoot interview in the works, I placed an order immediately. To me, you’ve got to really admire the person to want to buy their product. Having watched the DVD in full earlier today, it brought back many memories. Torrie is the first and only Diva who I’ve ever felt a real profound connection to, enough so to want to purchase this shoot. Hearing her talk about her career for the first time like this, it took me back to where I was when such-and-such happened or remembering updating my now neglected fansite with such news. The one and a half hour long shoot and the “face-off” between Torrie and Dawn that follows it, was a great watch for me as an avid Torrie fan but even I felt a little unsatisfied.
I put it down to having a male interviewer, who like most wrestling journalists, isn’t as absorbed in all things Diva in the same way that we true die-hard Diva fans are. The questions that I, as a Diva fan and as a Torrie fan, would know to ask, aren’t asked. The interviewer perhaps doesn’t have the extensive knowledge of Torrie’s background, her friendships in the business and such as we do and the things that I think would interest me and things that I would like to find out about, I couldn’t look to this DVD for an answer. Instead, the interviewer skirts around briefly on subjects rather than really getting into detail about key moments in Torrie’s career. Where I would focus on her thoughts on her WrestleMania matches, appearing on covers, appearing on FHM’s 100 Sexiest list and such – a more in-depth focus on the person herself. It seems that some of these questions are pretty generic and I wouldn’t be surprised to ask the same question asked to other shoot DVD participants. What was Vince Russo like? What was Kimberly Page like? Blah blah… Sure interesting enough, but to me it wastes time that could be used on really getting to know Torrie more personally.
I have to be really honest, the first half hour or so is kind of a blur to me – as it seems to be to Torrie herself, who admits she has a horrible memory. Talk of the WCW days seemed to drag on before we got to the good stuff, her WWE career. Here is where I would have loved to see Torrie talk in-depth about different things she’s done, different people she’s worked with; these are all touched upon but not in detail. The biggest focus here seems to be the 2002 storyline with Dawn Marie, with Torrie talking about how this was the biggest storyline of her career. A very intriguing part of the interview, but then we go right back to skipping through Torrie’s career from start to end without much detail.
As a huge Diva fan and Torrie fan, I would love to have known more about her training, working with Trish, working with Lita and Victoria. What the Divas lockerroom was like and such. Torrie does allude to the T&A aspect multiple times throughout saying how she, Dawn and the other SmackDown Divas would put time in the ring, work house shows etc. and then when it came to booking for television, they ended up in bikini contests or pudding matches and such. There’s not a lot of focus on her later years, I feel Torrie had her best year of wrestling in 2006, showing vast improvements and having great matches with Mickie, Lita and Victoria. Yet that isn’t talked about. Arguably, Torrie is the top Diva in SmackDown history, but no mention of that. Torrie alludes to wanting the Women’s Championship but this isn’t given much depth, I feel she could have been asked here what it felt like not to be able to win the title etc.
For all my negative points, there was some great informative stuff in the DVD and some funny stuff too. For example, Torrie and Trish Stratus knew each other before they worked together in WWE through fitness modelling. After starting with WCW, Torrie had a photoshoot with Trish who wanted to get into wrestling and Torrie tried to pull some strings to have Trish join WCW. Torrie also talks about how she pitched an idea to Vince after moving to Raw in 2005, which would see her winning the Women’s Championship. At the time, Vince was all for the idea but the idea never came to fruition. To me that’s a big disappointment, Vince verbally okayed Torrie as champion and it never happened! Torrie also reveals the true story of what happened in November 2005 when she was released and brought back two days later, which is pretty cool.
As for the ‘juiciest scoop’ coming out of the DVD, Undertaker’s ex-wife Sara hated Torrie and wanted to fight her at one point. Torrie outs her friend, Michelle McCool‘s relationship with ‘Taker also; talking abou how she used to be scared of ‘Taker but now she’s gotten to know him more and talks to him more as he’s dating Michelle. A really touching part of the interview for me was when Torrie talked about how Mickie James showed her respect as a veteran. When talking about the multitude of battle royals WWE books the Divas in, she talks about how when the Divas are planning out the match and figuring out who’s going out first, Mickie always stands up for Torrie and says: “Torrie’s been here longer than any of you combined, she’s not going out first.” Torrie also talks about how Sable and her got along when Sable was first brought in but after they did their joint Playboy cover (in March 2004), Sable changed and they had a huge ‘blowout fight’ in the office with Jim Ross and John Laurinitaus with the rest of the lockerroom listening in! She recalls that once, she and Dawn were in the lockerroom and Dawn was fiddling through her bag when Sable walked in. Sable went up to Dawn and said, “Dawn can you come here, I want you to stand witness to this.” She then told Torrie, “My Playboy sold better than yours.” Torrie laughs recalling the situation and in turn, the viewer does too.
Torrie not only looked beautiful but came across every bit the sweetheart I know her to be. She really does come across as a genuine, down to earth, likable person and a near-decade long career in sports entertainment hasn’t gone to her brain at all. Watching this DVD is a true pay off for any Torrie fan, because this isn’t a character – this is the real person and she is genuinely a lovely person. Despite sharing her honest opinions, Torrie doesn’t name-drop, which I really admire. It’s all too easy to completely trash someone, but I think it says a lot that Torrie doesn’t mention names of people who have been mean to her, disrespected her and such. Talking candidly about her divorce, one can admire Torrie’s deep appreciation for her fans even though she doesn’t talk in full blown detail about it – which one can definitely understand. After watching this, I think I appreciate Torrie even more and respect her that much more.
While I would love to know Torrie’s thoughts on the Divas Championship, her infamous attack by Krissy Vaine, I think this is a decent interview. Perhaps it’s not for everyone, but I think if you’re a big Torrie fan (as I am), you’ll enjoy the DVD. Perhaps you won’t feel satisfied by it’s content, but I think you’ll appreciate Torrie that much more. The DVD ends poignantly with Torrie talking about her back injury, she says WWE wanted to keep her on contract but it was her decision to leave. Torrie says it was her dream to be Women’s Champion and if she couldn’t do that, why be there? And for that, I have all the respect in the world for Torrie, for walking away.
I’d definitely recommend a watch, if you’re a Torrie fan or an avid Diva fan. But be prepared – I think it’ll leave you wanting more, wanting unanswered questions answered – like me!
