KELLER’S WWE HALL OF FAME SEGMENT REPORT 4/6: Torrie Wilson introduced by Stacy Keibler, pays tribute to women of her era, announces her dad Al Wilson died two days ago

WWE HALL OF FAME REPORT – TORRIE WILSON (Segment 2)
APRIL 6 2019
BROOKLYN, N.Y. AT BARCLAY’S CENTER
STREAMED LIVE ON WWE NETWORK

HOSTS: Corey Graves & Renee Young

-A video aired on Torrie Wilson’s career, with various colleagues speaking about how she helped change the perception of women in WWE from just pretty faces to serious athletes.

-Stacy Keibler came out to introduce her. She acknowledged Becky Lynch. The crowd began chanting her name. She smiled and tried to wave attention away from her. She talked about being a big wrestling fan in college, and then applying to be a Nitro Girl on Oct. 18, 1999. She said she met Torrie Wilson that night and she immediately embraced her and took her under her wing. “That night was the start of our friendship, and it’s still going strong 20 years later,” she said. She said she is strong, smart, sexy, fierce, kind, powerful, and does everything with grace and confidence – the embodiment of the Women’s Evolution.

-Torrie Wilson then came out. She had trouble walking the ramp in her heels. She and Stacy hugged, then she stepped up to the podium. Torrie said, “How are you guys? It’s been a rough week.” She told her story going back to fourth grade when a boy asked her to be her girlfriend. It turned into the boy saying a couple weeks later, “Hello fatso, what happened to you?” Then he chased her around the playground yelling “Fatso! Fatso!” She said the walk home from school that day was the worst ever. She was mortified and cried. She said she vowed that the boy would eat his damn words. “So fast-forward to my first day in WWE – stomach in knots in WWE.” She said she walked past Steve Austin and The Rock talking and laughing in the hallway. She said then she turned and saw Bubba Ray Dudley mean-mugging her “and I’m like, oh my god, I have heat already.” She said she lacked confidence and it didn’t feel natural to her, but she stopped herself and decided fear only has one enemy, a confident persona. She said she faced her fears repeatedly.

She said you don’t need to be a WWE Superstar to have a confident persona. She thanked the fans for teaching her and supporting her, and she wants to give them confidence to pursue their dreams. She said the first thing they need to realize is that “permission is for pansies” (yes, it’s an alliteration, but it’s also probably not the best choice of word for an anti-bullying story that encourages people to be themselves). She said you don’t need permission to be who you want to be. She said she isn’t afraid to be sexy and she knows she’s a badass whether anyone else knows it or not. She said the second tip is that you need to “forget the failure.” She said, “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t hired based on my wrestling skills.” She said her list of failures is very long. She said even trying to dance in front of a crowd was cringe-worthy. She said she forgot the failure and kept coming back and improving. She said the third tip is “summon your swagger.” She told a story of sharing the ring with Sable, whom she said owned the joint and was as confident as anyone. Cheers. She said she prayed to God for just five minutes of rhythm or to be stricken dead. “He gave me neither,” she said.

She said she is grateful for everyone she worked with on and off camera. Johnny Ace, Mark Carano, and even the people who were total jerkoffs to her. She specifically thanked Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan. They showed Nash who was listening intently, but didn’t react otherwise. She said they let this “nobody fitness model” backstage at a show and handed her an opportunity she was scared to take. “I ran with it and I’ll forever be indebted,” she said. She thanked and apologized to Fit Finlay for crying so much every time she failed. She said he is so patient and worked so hard to help women crush it. She said when she had a hard time taking herself seriously, Fit believed in them. She said he is a huge reason they get to see women main eventing WrestleMania tomorrow. “That, and all the badass women, of course,” she said. Fans chanted “Thank you, Finlay.”

Next she thanked “Pete, a/k/a Billy Kidman, a/k/a my ex-husband.” She said he taught her how to function in this world. She said he taught her what “heat” was and how to avoid it. She thanked Stacy Keibler next. She said they bee-bopped into WWE “like two clueless blondes.” She said no one understands the full scope of her journey like Stacy does. She said she had a lot of heat, which took the focus off of her for a while. She shifted to Michelle McCool, who was also in the crowd. She said McCool was her road wife “before Undertaker got his hands on her.” She said she’s one of the most honest, loyal, good people you’ll ever meet. She said they spent hours in the car contemplating life. Then came Victoria/Lisa. She said she is one of the craziest and funniest people you’ll ever meet. She said they were friends long before she got into wrestling. She said she builds up everyone and wants them to shine. Then Candice Michelle. She said she’s ballsy and outspoken and all the things she wants to be.

She cried as she talked about her family. She said it’s been a hard week. She said they never let her forget who she is no matter how high or how low she goes. She cried as she talked about her dad who died two days ago. The crowd gasped. She said he made as ass of himself in the ring and he had no idea what he was doing and he was sacred, but he did it for her. “Dawn Marie, you made my dad’s life, by the way, with that!” she said. The crowd laughed.

She finally thanked the fans. “You guys are not easy to win over,” she said. “You say it like it is. But I appreciate everything about you. You are so hardcore.” She thanked them for making her part of their lives. “And for many of you guys, a part of your puberty,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot of that lately.” Lots of laughs and applause. Big E and Xavier stood and clapped enthusiastically.

She went back to Terry, her fourth grade boyfriend. Fans interrupted with a “Thank you, Torrie!” chant. She said he gave her a glimpse at the confidence she needed to find in herself. She said the next time they have a chance to face their fear, check the box yes. (That clocked in at about 18 minutes.)

-They cut to Miz and Maryse. Fans cheered. They showed Shane McMahon and his wife. Boos. Back and forth. Cheers and boos. Miz and Maryse kissed. Cheers. Shane gave his a wife a quick smooch. Boos. Miz made a gross face.

-Graves and Young then threw to a video announcing others being inducted this year, but who weren’t there for the full segments and speeches. It included: Bruiser Brody, Jim Barnett, Hisashi Shinma, Luna Vachon, “Playboy” Buddy Rose, Primo Carnera, Prof. Toru Tanaka, S.D. Jones, Wahoo McDaniel, and executive Joe Cohen. Graves and Young then introduced Joe Cohen who was in the crowd. He stood and waved.