Saturday, October 5, 2024

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Total Divas Redux: Episode One, ‘Welcome to the WWE’

We’ve seen the commercials. We’ve trolled their Twitters. We’ve waited for months. And finally… it arrived! The premiere of Total Divas was everything it needed to be and then some. It had drama, romance, the usual cattiness you have when a group of women get together, and surprises. Not only did this episode introduce us to the cast of characters that we’re about to take a very special journey with, but it also focused on World Wrestling Entertainment’s marquee event, WrestleMania. WrestleMania is the Super Bowl of professional wrestling, the single event that all the men and women involved in the company work towards every year. To actually get a chance at being featured on such a grand stage is a big deal, and we got to witness the heartbreak of what happens when your spot gets taken away.

Brie and Nikki Bella were introduced as the faces of the company, so to speak. They’re beautiful, popular, and we also got to see a bit of their lives behind the camera. Brie and her boyfriend, Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson), are basically the perfect match. They’re hippies at heart and live a very organic lifestyle. Brie revealed that herself and Daniel have been a couple for two and a half years, and are currently in the process of ring shopping. Wonder if we’re going to a get a proposal before the season is over?!

On the other side of the spectrum, we saw John Cena secure his status as the world’s most perfect boyfriend when he indulged Nikki by acting out a scene from The Notebook, buying her what is apparently her dream vehicle, and reassuring her that he cares deeply about her during an awkward, uncomfortable dinner conversation about their future. It was a surreal moment of vulnerability from both Nikki and John, and not something that I ever expected to see.

They are such an interesting couple to me. John Cena is the biggest star in the world of professional wrestling and his celebrity does extend far past the squared circle. He’s known for his work with the Make A Wish Foundation, he’s done some movies, and even most non-wrestling fans have heard the name John Cena before. He’s basically the representation of everything that is good about wrestling. Then you have Nikki, who has a reputation of being a mean girl so to speak. She’s known for being catty, and witchy (trying to keep this PG!), and just not a friendly person in general. It’s kind of a case of opposites, so to speak. I think they’re actually adorable, and this relationship is definitely one that comes with a lot of baggage. Cena’s divorce was publicized by the media, and clearly he’s going to have reservations. Nikki came off as slightly jealous of Brie and Daniel, in my opinion, and there’s probably going to be a rollercoaster this season when it comes to their personal lives! You gotta love it.

The Bellas were part of the match that was axed during WrestleMania. They were full of sorrow and disappointment and so were Naomi (Trinity) and Cameron (Ariane). WrestleMania week seemed rather emotional for the duo who go by the name The Funkadactyls in the ring. An incident during WrestleMania rehearsal brought the tears out in Cameron, and the rage out in her boyfriend, Vincent, who was backstage and seeing her at work for the first time. Naomi and Natalya had to play the mother during the fallout and afterwards, we got to see a moment between Naomi and her fiancee, Jimmy Uso (Jon Fatu). They’re shockingly cute, and Naomi is seemingly all in with this relationship. She told Cameron that she only had a couple of more years left in wrestling because she wants to start a family, and that was part of the reason she was so upset having had their match cut.

Natalya (Nattie) also had a lot of disappointment over WrestleMania. She was flat out told she wouldn’t be having a match, and on top of that, the company leveled her with a babysitting job, so to speak.

They put her in charge of the new girls, Eva Marie and JoJo. The fact that JoJo is all of 19 years old is insane, but also explains why she looks so young and innocent. She looks like the little sister of the Divas, to be honest, and Eva Marie has that look of trouble about her. The big controversy surrounding Eva was her brown hair, and when told to go blond by the company, Eva decided to take matters into her own hands. To be fair to Eva, blond would not have been her color. She rocks that flaming red hair better than Rihanna, but her defiance towards the company didn’t go unnoticed.

The general consensus of Total Divas is that it’s going to be amazing. These five women are giving us a look into their personal and professional lives, and kudos to them. For wrestling fans, this is unprecedented. The WWE is fan friendly anyway, but this is taking it to a whole other level. For John Cena, Daniel Bryan, and Jimmy Uso to take this journey with their loves speaks volumes about them. We know that there will be other special guests and other boyfriends, and special appearances, but the first episode definitely set the tone for what’s to come. Personally, I can’t wait! Next Sunday is going to take foreeeeeeeever to get here and the previews for the season that came after the episode aren’t going to make the waiting any easier.

Seriously, who wasn’t left screaming over the previews?!

JoJo and Justin Gabriel had me in tears. Natalya being super concerned over the fact the age difference between these two is massive was brilliant. I don’t like to think of the sexy South African stud as a sexual predator, but dude, really… she’s only 19! She’s also not old enough to serve you alcohol, Bellas. That part of the episode totally bugged me if I’m being honest. The evolution of Eva Marie is going to be interesting. We were privy to a clip of her taking off her engagement ring for some reason and who knows what’s the going to lead too. Eva Marie seems to a woman very focused on getting what she wants, and it could come back to haunt her. We now know that Stephanie McMahon, who’s father owns the company and is in a top position herself, has to sit down with Eva and lay down the law.

Just a random observation, but that hair totally made Eva Marie. Gorgeous, gorgeous girl.

Anyway, what I’m most interested in is the fact the previews showed Tyson Kidd (TJ Wilson) just sitting on the couch watching television while Natalya was prancing around in black lingerie. Like, are you kidding me? She’s one of the most beautiful women ever, with a body to die for, and he’s going to watch television. I don’t care how long you’ve been with someone, you have to keep the sexiness alive! Nikki screaming at Brie and Daniel also intrigued me, and then Daniel telling Brie I believe that she is a “grown ass woman” is brilliant as well.

I don’t know who, or what, or why, or whatever this show was made with the cast it was given, but thank you. It’s entertainment at its finest, and whether you love it or hate it, you have to respect the fact that scripted or not, these people are letting you see a different side of them. John Cena and Daniel Bryan are superstars. They certainly didn’t have to agree to go on the show. But they did, and for all those people who love both of them they get a chance to see their favorite wrestler away from the ring. The same goes for all the other people involved. I encourage wrestling fans to keep an open mind when watching this show. It’s harmless and it’s not going to hurt your favorite. For non-wrestling fans, maybe this will make them turn on the product, support it, and watch it. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m totally hooked.

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