Watch CBS News

WWE Diva Naomi Proves Fake Pro Wrestling Storylines Aren't As Fake As You Think

WWE Diva Naomi is this week's guest on Turnbuckle Weekly with Chuck Carroll.

Part 1

WWE Diva Naomi on Turnbuckle Weekly with Chuck Carroll - Part 1

Topics

- Real-life marriage trouble playing out on WWE TV

- Funny Mizdown breaks concentration

- What's with all the couples in WWE?

- Divas reaction to Vince McMahon's "lack of ambition" comment

- Satisfaction of getting a title shot vs. being Divas Champion

- Has WWE dropped a hint she'll win the title?

- Wrestlers pitching ideas have more success in WWE

Part 2

WWE Diva Naomi on Turnbuckle Weekly with Chuck Carroll - Part 2

Topics

- Making opponent look better in the ring

- Her process of laying out a match

- Helping make Cameron a better wrestler

- What her goals for 2014 were

- Her goals for 2015 (hint: being Divas champion)

- Promising to record more music

- WWE's biggest achievements of 2014

- Ways WWE can improve in 2015

I once asked Terry Funk what he says to people who say pro wrestling is fake.

His response: "It is. I just put a fan up my rear that turns on to break my falls."

Snarky retorts such as the Funker's have become commonplace when critics question the physicality of the squared circle.

But what about all of those over-the-top story lines? You know… where a former tag team champion gets jealous that the current tag team champion is promising his wife that he can help get her a break in Hollywood if she helps him win.

That's something only writers actually in Hollywood (or scripting pro wrestling) can think up, right?!

Wrong!

Trinity Fatu, better known as WWE Diva Naomi, who really is married to former tag team champion Jonathan Fatu, better know as Jimmy Uso, told me a lot of what we see on TV is based on real life.

Ergo, wrestling again is not as fake as one might think.

"It definitely has some real elements to it, which I think everyone can relate to," Trinity Fatu said. "Sometimes not taking his advice and information that really does happen because I'm very strong and sometimes stubborn and independent. Sometimes I do have to find out things the hard way. So, it's actually cool that we get to tell this story and play it out because it comes natural… some elements of it."

Her marriage had become a focal point of the hit E! reality series Total Divas. However, Trinity will reportedly not be part of the cast for the upcoming fourth season of the show.

Despite an apparent parting of the ways, she wishes the show and her fellow Divas nothing but the best in the future.

"I would love to see Total Divas grow more. The show is doing awesome," she said. "I think we're great role models for young girls. We're definitely getting a lot of popularity off that show. A lot of female viewers, who may not have known about wrestling or watched it before, are tuning in now because of Total Divas. I think that's a huge accomplishment. I just hope it continues to open more doors for Divas like myself and for people to get to know us and who we really are and see how hard we work and how tough it is doing what we do."

I caught up with the Diva as WWE prepares to put a cap on 2014. The touring schedule affords wrestlers little down time for the holidays with upcoming shows in Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago and elsewhere.

The full interview can be heard at the top of the page and is more than worth your time.

Buy WWE tickets for an upcoming event.

Read more from the world of Pro Wrestling.

Chuck Carroll is former pro wrestling announcer and referee turned sports media personality. He once appeared on Monday Night RAW when he presented Robert Griffin III with a WWE title belt in the Redskins locker room.

Follow him on Twitter @TheChuckCarroll.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.