Torrie Wilson
| Torrie Wilson | |
|---|---|
| File:Torriewilson1.jpg | |
| Born | July 24, 1975 Boise, Idaho |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Torrie Wilson Samantha |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Billed weight | 133 lb (60 kg) |
| Trained by | Madusa Billy Kidman Molly Holly |
| Debut | April 1999 |
Victoria (Torrie) Anne Gruner (born July 24, 1975 in Boise, Idaho) then lived in Galveston, TX, is a fitness competitor and model and performer for World Wrestling Entertainment, using her maiden name Torrie Wilson.
Wilson has found considerable success in both World Championship Wrestling and in World Wrestling Entertainment as a valet and a diva. This success led to her becoming one of several WWE divas to pose in Playboy. Outside of the ring, she is good friends with fellow WWE divas Stacy Keibler, Trish Stratus, and Victoria.
Modeling
A Boise native, at age ten she moved to the small town of McCall, Idaho after her parents divorced. She was painfully shy[citation needed], but she quickly found friends in her school. She quickly found her niche in many school activities, including cheerleading and dance, and was very competitive in track and field.
During high school, after Torrie's interest in modeling grew more serious, her mother urged her to pursue it. They visited an agency and were informed that Torrie would have to lose weight to actually be considered for jobs. She lost eight pounds, but, in the process, began a four-year-long bout with bulimia.
A few years after her battle with bulimia, Wilson developed an interest in fitness modeling. Torrie thought that this was a more appropriate path for her, and she began working out and building muscles. She decided to enter herself in the 1997 Ms. Galaxy fitness competition, and, with no experience in the field, she placed thirteenth. A year later at the same competition she placed first.
World Championship Wrestling
Torrie debuted in WCW in 1999. Encouraged with her accomplishments, Wilson moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She began acting classes and was introduced to an agent, who helped her gain a few jobs, including an uncredited appearance on Baywatch. However, it was a meeting with Kevin Nash backstage at her first WCW event that landed her a full time job. She debuted as Samantha and served as the valet for David Flair. At the '99 Bash at the Beach, Wilson lead Flair over Dean Malenko to capture the WCW United States belt.
Wilson began managing Billy Kidman as well as his Filthy Animals teammates in the fall of 1999.
World Wrestling Entertainment
The Invasion
She entered the WWF as part of The Alliance during the WCW/ECW Invasion storyline in 2001 where she regularly teamed with fellow WCW performer Stacy Keibler. The two of them made their wrestling débuts in WWF/E when they took on Lita and Trish Stratus in a Bra and Panties match at the WWF Invasion PPV. Despite her relative lack of in-ring experience, Wilson (alongside Keibler and Ivory) regularly feuded with the WWE Divas as well as interfering in matches on behalf of other wrestlers in the WCW/ECW stable. Her interference in a match between Matt Hardy and the Hurricane on a September 2001 edition of RAW, for example, cost Hardy his WWF European Championship.
She turned face amidst the Invasion storyline, when her character began an on-screen romance with Tajiri. This new romance caused Keibler to turn on Wilson, and as a result, Wilson defected to the World Wrestling Federation|WWF. Wilson defeated Keibler in the first-ever lingerie match at the 2001 No Mercy PPV after executing Tajiri's back handspring elbow.
Smackdown!
When the first ever brand separation of the roster took place in April 2002, Wilson was drafted to SmackDown!. Soon after this, Tajiri became very jealous of the attention that Torrie received from other men, so he forced her to wear a geisha outfit and appeared to mistreat her in matches. Torrie finally tired of this, and, during a match, she got onto the announce table and stripped off her clothing. The distraction allowed Tajiri's opponent Billy Kidman to pick up the win. Wilson briefly dated Maven on-screen after this.
Her most high profile feud during her first few years with the company came in 2003, when Dawn Marie tried to marry her father "Al Wilson" as blackmail for a lesbian relationship between the two. It eventually turned out that Dawn had feelings for Al, and the two got married. Al then died in kayfabe from a heart attack after having sex on their honeymoon[citation needed]. Wilson defeated Dawn at both No Mercy in October 2002 and at the Royal Rumble in January 2003. She defeated Dawn again at 2004 Judgment Day.
After appearing on the cover of Playboy Magazine for the first time in April 2003, Wilson feuded with returning diva and former centerfold Sable. For weeks, Sable played mind games with Wilson, leading to a bikini contest at Judgment Day. Wilson won the contest and then kissed the former Women's Champion. At the 2004 Great American Bash, Wilson lost to Sable after Sable pulled Wilson's tights.
Wilson managed Billy Gunn upon his WWE return in the summer of 2003. The duo feuded with Jamie Noble and his girlfriend Nidia. Later the fued ended after Nidia and Noble both turned face by siding with Gunn and Wilson during that time before Noble turned heel again by turning on Nidia.
After a feud with Hiroko, Wilson began feuding with Melina. That led to a loss for Wilson in a Bra and Panties Match at the 2005 Great American Bash. This match saw all the women involved, including special guest referee Candice Michelle, lose their clothing.
Vince's Devils
On the August 22, 2005 edition of RAW, it was revealed that Torrie and Candice Michelle were traded to RAW. Along with Candice, Torrie would turn heel on the same night, attacking the 2005 RAW Diva Search winner Ashley Massaro. This turn marked the first time that Wilson was a heel in WWE after the end of the Invasion storyline.
Torrie also began carrying her small dog Chloe down to ringside during matches. Torrie and Candice's feud with Massaro continued over the next couple weeks, as the duo, along with their enforcer Victoria, made things difficult for Massaro. Massaro evened the score on the September 12, 2005 edition of RAW, as she brought out a returning Trish Stratus and proceeded with Stratus to take out the heels. This led to a tag match at Unforgiven, as the team of Stratus and Massaro defeated Wilson and Victoria (with Candice Michelle).
The feud continued into "WWE Homecoming," where Trish Stratus and Ashley defeated Torrie, Candice, and Victoria in the first ever three on two Bra and Panties Match, by stripping all three of their opponents.
Torrie was reported to have been released from the WWE on October 31, 2005, as she had not been seen on TV for a few weeks and had been taken off the list of competitors on an all RAW diva match at that year's Taboo Tuesday, but the rumors were proved wrong a day later via WWE.com: "Torrie will not appear at the Taboo Tuesday 2005 Pay Per View and currently has taken time off from the WWE due to personal issues."
Then next rumor to appear about Torrie Wilson's sudden disappearance from WWE programming was that Wilson had left the Australian WWE tour to take care of her husband Peter Gruner. Gruner (aka Billy Kidman) was said not to be doing so well since he was released from WWE. However, when Kidman missed an indie booking, he told a promoter that it was due to Torrie’s status with WWE.
On the November 28 edition of RAW, Torrie Wilson returned to the ring and competed in a Six Diva Tag Match, in which the team of Candice Michelle, Victoria, and herself lost to the team of Trish Stratus, Ashley, and Mickie James.
Vince McMahon began referring to Torrie Wilson, Victoria, and Candice Michelle as "Vince's Devils," which seems to be a play on Charlie's Angels.
At New Year's Revolution 2006, Torrie was involved in the first ever Bra and Panties Gauntlet Match. Torrie was the third entrant in the match but was eliminated when she was disrobed by Maria Kanellis.
Torrie, Candice, and Victoria helped guard the lottery drum with the entry numbers at the 2006 Royal Rumble.
Feud with Candice Michelle
A few weeks later, after losing a match against Ashley, Torrie Wilson was told by Candice Michelle that she (Candice) was to appear in Playboy Magazine. Candice Michelle also mentioned that it would be the hottest cover ever. Torrie didn't look so happy. The following week, a Diva Battle Royal for number one contender for the WWE Women's Championship took place, and Torrie Wilson participated. During the battle royal, she was eliminated by Candice. The next week she accompanied Candice Michelle to the ring for her WWE Women's Championship match. She held on to Candice Michelle's arms to try and pin Trish Stratus but was caught by the referee. After Candice Michelle came up short, she slapped Torrie Wilson backstage in blame for the loss. The following week on RAW, Torrie Wilson was attacked by Victoria and Candice Michelle during Candice's the Playboy Uveiling.
On the March 13 edition of RAW, Wilson interfered in a match between Trish Stratus and Victoria, costing Victoria the match by giving her a Sitout Facebuster (dubbed the "nosejob") behind the referee's back. Later she was found backstage unconscious, with Candice's Playboy left as a calling card beside her. As a result, Torrie Wilson was replaced by Mickie James as Trish's partner in a tag team match against Victoria and Candice at Saturday Night's Main Event.
On the March 20 edition of RAW, Victoria defeated Torrie Wilson in a match due to Candice Michelle's distractions as she came out and hit Torrie Wilson with a pillow. This came after an announcement stating that the two women would face each other at WrestleMania 22 in a "Playboy Pillow Fight." On the last RAW before WrestleMania, Torrie Wilson and Trish Stratus teamed up for the match originally scheduled for Saturday Night's Main Event. In this tag match the two women defeated Victoria and Candice Michelle. At Wrestlemania 22, Torrie Wilson finally got her revenge and defeated Candice Michelle with a rollup in the Playboy Pillow Fight.
The next night on the April 3 edition of RAW, Torrie and Trish teamed up again against the new WWE Women's Champion Mickie James and rival Candice Michelle. Wilson got the "Mick Kick" from James and lost the match. On the April 24 edition of RAW, Wilson participated in a bikini contest along with Maria, Victoria, and Candice Michelle. During the contest (when Torrie was showing off her bikini), Candice Michelle and Victoria scorned her chances of winning. The judge, heel Jonathan Coachman, was biased towards Candice and selected her as the winner, despite the fact that Torrie and Maria received much louder cheers.
On the May 1, 2006 edition of RAW, Torrie Wilson and Maria defeated Victoria and Mickie James in the first ever Tag Team Cheerleader Match after interference from Stratus.
On May 12, 2006 edition of Heat, Victoria and Rob Conway defeated Viscera and Torrie Wilson in a mixed tag team match after Victoria nailed the Widow's Peak to Torrie Wilson. Ten days later, Wilson lost to Mickie James on RAW. On May 29, 2006 edition of RAW she and Beth Phoenix defeated Victoria and Candice in a tag team match.
Personal life
Wilson is married to former WWE professional wrestler Peter Gruner, a.k.a. Billy Kidman, with whom she resides in Tampa, Florida.
In wrestling
Finishing and signature moves
- Nosejob (Sitout facebuster)
- Swinging neckbreaker
- DDT
- Schoolgirl
- Wedgeface (Stinkface)
- Springboard back elbow
'Wrestlers managed by Torrie Wilson
Chloe
Chloe Wilson, known as just Chloe, is Torrie's pet dog. Chloe can often be seen accompanying Torrie ringside during her appearances on World Wrestling Entertainment's RAW brand.
Torrie Wilson had been traveling with the little white dog since December 2004, so she was used to being on the road, but it wouldn't be until late 2005 before Chloe would make her first appearance on RAW.
Chloe joined Torrie as part of the stable Vince's Devils, along side Victoria and Candice Michelle. Chloe even made appearances in the ring, acting as interference during the divas' matches. Her first in ring experience came during Carlito's "Beat the Clock Match" against Victoria. Chloe ran across the ring to her owner Torrie to distract Carlito. The next week on RAW, Chloe again got involved during a match between Victoria and Maria; Torrie held Chloe up and pushed the little dog's behind into the face of Maria. (This move would later be referred to as the "Chloe Tush Push.")
On February 9, 2006, it was announced that Torrie and Chloe Wilson would present WWE Best in Show, a look back on all the best canine moments from WWE history, which would air the following Monday afternoon, exclusively on WWE.com (in reference to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which aired in place of RAW that Monday).
Championships and accomplishments
- 1999 Miss WCW Winner
- 2002 Winner of the 2002 Coveted Golden Thong Award
- May 2003 Playboy cover girl
- March 2004 Playboy cover girl (Along with Sable)
- 2004 WWE Divas Magazine cover girl
- 2006 The twenty-second Most Desirable Woman in the World according to "Askmen.com"
External links
Torrie links:
Chloe links: