Natalya: “My dad has always been very much himself. My dad is very wild, he’s very crazy, he’s very charismatic, he’s very unorthodox, but he’s been very, very consistent in his character. He really is himself, whether people like or hate it,” the Diva said.
Natalya described her dad as loyal, private and a firm believer in relationships. While he was often traveling with WWE when the young Natalya was growing up, she said he always managed to find plenty of time to spend with his children. And although at first he wasn’t in favor of Natalya’s sports-entertainment dreams, he backs her 100 percent today.
“My dad has totally embraced it. He’s so excited for me because he sees how much I love it. He sees I’ve done my homework, which he taught me to do,” she said. “I’ve been disciplined, I’ve been true to myself and I have confidence in the ring, which was given to me, by him. He instilled a lot of his morals in me. Now he’s totally embraced it. He’s one of my biggest fans. I’m very, very grateful to have my dad in my life.”
Michelle McCool: “He always instilled discipline. He was the tough dad – he showed tough love. I totally respect that more than I did when I was younger. It made me the person I am,” the SmackDown Diva said. “He’s loving, he’s caring, he’s funny and he would do absolutely anything in the world for me – he and my mom. They’re there for me. That’s what makes him the best father, ever.”
Kelly Kelly: “He’s been an amazing dad. He’s supported me through everything and he’s so proud of me. He’s so excited for me. He always comes to the shows, he always watches ECW and he always tells his friends,” the Diva said. “It’s great to have parents who are so behind me and love everything I do. I love my dad to death – I owe everything to him and my mom.”
Victoria told Diva Dish she recently had a great bonding experience with her dad during a road trip from California to Las Vegas to visit a sick aunt.
“The whole trip he did not stop talking – I couldn’t get a word in. I was like, who is this man?” Victoria laughed. “I think that as the years go on, you get closer and closer with your parents. That drive to Vegas from California was good bonding. It was amazing. It brought us a lot closer. I love my papi.”
The SmackDown Diva also mentioned her dad has his eye on a Chrysler 300M, thanks to his daughter’s recent Black Widow Customs business venture and win in the YouTube Chrysler 300 Spin It Your Way contest.
“Maybe we’ll enter his for the next contest – who knows? He liked our Chrysler we pimped out so he’s looking into getting one of his own,” she said. “Like daughter, like father? Wouldn’t that be cool?”
Beth Phoenix: “He is always that voice of reason I can go to when I get hot-headed, because yes, even I am known to have a temper. He’s always been there for me as long as I remember. He’s the No. 1 man in my life and always will be.”
Eve: “He has a lot of perspective on life. He’s been through a lot, but he’s always had a sense of humor about everything. He kind of keeps everything very light. He’s fun to be around, he’s always joking. He’s kind of like the comic relief in our family.”
Katie Lea: “We both love art and culture, but we have sort of a thing for the seedy, underground world. There’s kind of like a fascination there,” the Raw Diva said. “My dad is an amazing person because he is very creative. Actually, my dad used to be an opera singer. Then he was a musician for the rest of his working career. He’s an amazing musician – he can sit down at the piano and just play stuff.”
Cherry: “My father had a stroke about two or three years ago. We were not very close at all, but ever since that stroke, we have been extremely close,” she explained. “I guess it kind of shows you what your life would be like if you didn’t have that anymore. Anytime I’m not on the road, we spend time together.”
Lilian Garcia: “My dad taught me a lot of discipline and tough love, but not overly tough. He has a lot of respect for me, and I have a lot of respect for him. He always encouraged anything I did. He told me I could do anything I want. He told me to graduate from college and pursue anything, and he’d back me up. Not all parents are like that, so it was special for me to have that in my life.”
Maria said she and her father are very similar in many ways. Like her dad, she likes to be the family caretaker.
“I got that from him,” she said. “And he and my mom have been married for 27 years. I am willing to work in a relationship – I got that from him. I never give up in a relationship, ever. That’s the stuff that makes my father special.”
Layla: “I respect when I see a dad holding his kids, being with his kids and being a part of their lives. I think it’s beautiful, beautiful thing. Cherish them because you have a relationship that blossoms into a lifetime thing,” the ECW Diva said. “Happy Father’s Day to all the men out there, enjoy this special day. All you kids, treat your daddys right!”
