On the Beat with Torrie Wilson

Usually our interviews are pretty informal.  We aren't exactly 60 Minutes (although many readers say we are more enjoyable).  The interview Matt did with Torrie Wilson at Wizard World was more of a conversation between two old friends than a real interview.  Still, we are very happy to have logged in the former wrestling diva.
Wilson was active on the wrestling scene for close to ten years.  She retired to pursue other interests (and partially because of back injuries suffered throughout her career).  She had a store called "Officially Jaded" in The Woodlands (TX).  The store closed a little while back, but Matt, who lived near there for a few years) talked to Torrie about the store.
Sharp eyes will notice TNA's Tara (Lisa Marie Varon) in the background posing with fans and showing off her newly won tag team championship belt).
There was more to the interview, but I'll take the blame here as I was not in a good position to capture enough to make it viable.  Sometimes, space and crowd noise cannot be overcome at these events.

On the Beat with Torrie Wilson

Sometimes interviews are scheduled and sometimes we just walk into one.  The latter was the case at the Chicago Wizard World last August when Matt walked into an interview with Torrie Wilson.
We had a full schedule of interviews already set, but when we walked up to Torrie's booth, Matt started talking to her about her store in the Woodlands (TX), very near to where Matt spent his high school years.  Matt and Torrie discussd some mutual friends.
Torrie talked about retiring from wrestling due to back injuries.  Fortunately, Torrie got out before the injuries really piled up.  In her relatively short career in wrestling, Torrie developed a large fan base and is still remembered fondly.
Unfortunately, Torrie closed the store when she moved to California.  While we are happy for Torrie, we are saddened that we won't have the opportunity to talk to her at the store (since we go back to Houston several times a year).

Torrie Wilson (oh and Billy Kidman, Too)

Torrie Wilson made her wrestling debut in 1999 in the WCW. In 2001, when the WWF (now WWE) bought the WCW, Wilson joined them.
Wilson's tenure in the WWF was marked by silly storylines, usually having her as the arm-candy of a male wrestler (presumably to increase his crowd appeal). Wilson never was allowed to develop any real depth to her character or in-ring ability.
During most of this time, she was dating or married to wrestler Billy Kidman. Kidman was usually a midcard wrestler at best (occasionally winning the Cruiserweight Championship or a Tag-team championship).
I first met the pair in the hotel bar while at the Brian Pillman Memorial Show. Wilson was quiet but very friendly, like most of the wrestlers there. Kidman, on the other hand, was a jerk. He ignored most people, rudely refusing to take pictures or sign autographs.
I understand that everyone is allowed a bad day, especially since this was his own time. However, the next day at the actual event, he wasn't much better. The thought was that he wasn't happy that Wilson was outshining him and his actions did little to convince me otherwise.
In 2007, the couple divorced and Wilson refused to say much about their split. She did maintain that the decision was final and there would be no reconciliation.
After leaving the WWE (with little fanfare), Kidman has mostly wrestled overseas. Last I heard, he was wrestling in an Australian organization.
Wilson is now retired from wrestling. It's just another example of a talented woman not given a real chance and then leaving wrestling (pushed out?) at the magical age of 30+. I could be wrong, but it all seems too coincidental.

Torrie Wilson, Billy Kidman and me in Cincinnati, OH-May 2000.