The following are highlights of a new Hidden Remote interview with WWE Diva and Total Divas season three star Rosa Mendes:
Hidden Remote: How did you come to be the newest addition to Total Divas cast?
Rosa Mendes: Well, you know I’ve been off for about a year and a half dealing with some personal issues. I’ve been in the business for about eight years, so I didn’t expect it and it came out of the blue. To be cast on Total Divas is a big promotion, its a really big deal. I don’t think the other Divas expected me to not only come back, but to come back as a Total Diva, so it kind of threw everyone off guard. Not only that, I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life. So it was like, I get back in the locker room; I’m on Total Divas; I’m looking the best I’ve ever looked and it kind of threw everyone off.
I feel so grateful and blessed that I got this opportunity. [Total Divas is] going to open a lot of doors for me and I’m really excited.
Hidden Remote: What has been the most difficult aspect of filming Total Divas?
Rosa: I think the most difficult aspect is that I’ve known everyone for a really long time – like I said I’ve been in the business for eight years. For the past year and a half I had some personal issues and I expected the Divas to be supportive and welcoming. I didn’t expect them to be jealous, and not be happy for me. I’m getting a lot more opportunities now. I’ve always been happy for them when they got opportunities, but now that I’m getting new opportunities some of them are not happy for me and that kind of hurt my feelings.
I’m an open book and I love the attention, so the cameras don’t bother me at all. All the skeletons are coming outside of the closet, but I’m Rosa and I’m myself so that doesn’t bother me. What did bother me and was the real life struggle was the fact that some of the girls didn’t welcome me, that was hurtful.
Hidden Remote: Each Diva on the show brings a unique aspect of their life to the series, what will Rosa Mendes be bringing to the table this season?
Rosa: I’m an open book. All of the skeletons will be outside of the closet, I’m not holding anything back. What you see is what you get. When I’m feeling something, I say it; if I want to walk around naked I’m going to walk around naked. You’re going to see the real Rosa Mendes and I’m really, really excited for the WWE Universe and fans of Total Divas to see that side of me.
Hidden Remote: In the season three promo, you share a lot of screen time with fellow Canadian Diva Natalya. How would you describe your relationship with Natalya?
Rosa: Natalya and I have always been pretty close, she’s like a big sister to me. When I was going through my personal issues she was there for me and she’s been there for me through a lot of hard times. I’ve always gone to her for everything and she’s helped me in the ring as well. She’s helping me get comfortable in the locker room and get adjusted to the road, and I really appreciate having her as a friend.
STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 3, 2014 – “I will conduct an intervention with the Bella Twins in an effort to achieve sibling harmony,” said Jerry Springer, legendary talk show host, who will make an appearance on the season premiere of Raw® this Monday at 8/7C on USA Network.
The Bella Twins™ have been embroiled in a sibling war since Nikki turned on her sister Brie at SummerSlam two weeks ago.
Nikki and Brie Bella are also featured on the popular E! reality series Total Divas, which will debut its third season this Sunday at 9pm ET/PT.
Springer will bring more than 20 years of experience in moderating family feuds to bear when he steps in the ring this Monday night. Springer has been the host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991, and last appeared on Monday Night Raw in February, 2010.
With Total Divas season three beginning this Sunday, September 7th, WWE fans will notice the newest member of the group Rosa Mendes on the show. This was a surprising move by WWE to add Mendes out of all the divas on the roster. She is never on WWE programming. Even when she was on, Mendes was only there for her looks as a valet.
WWE fans will already notice that WWE is going to showcase Mendes a bit more since she has become part of the Total Divas show. She teamed with Natalya against Summer Rae and Layla on the September 1st edition of Main Event.
With all this said, here are three better options WWE could have chosen for the newest member of Total Divas.
Layla
Speaking of Summer Rae’s new best friend, Layla would be a very appropriate addition to the E! reality show. Layla has had a very successful career in WWE. She is a former Women’s and Diva’s champion. Her run with Michelle McCool as LayCool was one of the best storylines divas were having at that time. WWE is capitalizing on the success of LayCool by having Summer Rae join Layla in the 2014 version.
With Layla partnering with a current member of Total Divas already in Summer Rae, the choice to add her to the show is a logical one. WWE fans would see how the two work together backstage before they enter ringside together as partners.
Alicia Fox
Alicia Fox is a diva who has an on again off again relationship with WWE programming. She had a great run as Divas Champion in 2010, but since then has been used as a jobber until a few months ago. Fox took on the role of a crazy diva, similar to AJ Lee, and found herself as the number one contender to the divas title. While she didn’t win the gold, at least she was showcased more temporarily.
Because of this run as the number one contender, she would be a logical choice to join Total Divas in season three. It wouldn’t be so obvious that WWE was only giving Fox TV time because of the show like they are doing with Mendes. Plus, Fox can play the role of a babyface or heel so WWE would have options with her direction on the show.
Eden
Cody Rhodes, I mean Stardust’s real life wife Eden would be an excellent addition to third season of Total Divas. Like Summer Rae and Eva Marie, Eden would give fans the prospective of a newcomer. However, unlike the other newbies, Eden would give viewers a look into the development of an announcer rather than a wrestler.
Eden also makes a great addition to the cast due to her relationship with Rhodes. Clearly WWE loves when the divas have real life relationships with their superstars. Nattie and Tyson Kidd, The Bellas with John Cena and Daniel Bryan. Eden would add a nice combination of being a newcomer and having a relationship with a WWE superstar.
Who do you think should have been the newest member of Total Divas? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Seth Guttenplan is a math and computer technology teacher for special education students in New Jersey. In his free time, Seth writes about wrestling. Follow Seth on twitter @sethgutt
WWE has announced that popular talk-show host Jerry Springer will be appearing at an upcoming edition of WWE RAW.
Following the season three premiere of Total Divas on E! this Sunday night, Springer will be appearing on the following night’s RAW in Baltimore, Maryland.
WWE.com reports that Springer will be at RAW to moderate a discussion between the Bella Twins.
– The film “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which features Batista in a prominent role, has officially passed the $550 million global mark, as it has now earned a total of $554,304,119. The movie is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray this November.
– Rosa Mendes’ role on the upcoming third season of Total Divas, which premieres on E! this Sunday, will be that of a “former” WWE Diva who was pulled off the roster and is now returning. The official synopsis for the first episode of season three of Total Divas reads as follows:
“Season 3 begins with Nikki planning her future without her current boyfriend John Cena; at the same time, life turns topsy-turvy for Eva when she’s forced to choose between family and her husband; and tensions are high when a former diva returns to the roster, revealing a dark secret.”
– WWE Diva and Total Divas star Natalya will be doing a live Q&A on Twitter tonight at 8pm EST. to promote the season three premiere of Total Divas, which airs this Sunday on E!. Fans can submit questions to Natalya by using the hashtag “#AskTotalDivas.”
– Filming began for the sequel to the “Magic Mike” movie, which featured Kevin Nash in a small role, this past weekend. There is no word as to whether or not Nash will be appearing in the sequel, which is called “Magic Mike XXL,” however he did re-tweet an article on People.com about the new movie.
– WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin tweeted the following during the RAW main event on Monday night, which featured Seth Rollins, Kane and Randy Orton vs. John Cena, Roman Reigns and Chris Jericho.
– It was announced on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW in Des Moines, Iowa that Total Divas star and WWE Diva Eva Marie is on the cover of the latest issue of “Iron Man” magazine, which is available on newsstands now.
– Also on Monday’s RAW, Jack Swagger’s manager — Zeb Colter — finally made his return to WWE television. Colter had not appeared on WWE television since the SummerSlam “Flag Match” between Swagger and Rusev.
– The person who played The Miz’s makeup artist during his tag-team match on Monday’s RAW was independent female wrestler Sarah “Crazy Mary Dobson” Bridges.
– During the Total Divas Twitter Q&A, which we reported about on Sunday, Brie Bella noted that she would like to feud with NXT Divas Champion Charlotte in the future.
– A while back, we reported that The Bella Twins were scheduled to be the hosts at a Liquid Sunday event at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut on Sunday, August 31st. Their appearance ended up being quietly canceled a few weeks ago and the two were replaced by a DJ that was already booked to appear.
– WWE posted the following Total Divas clip on their official YouTube channel today.
– Zeb Colter, who has been absent from WWE television since the SummerSlam pay-per-view a few weeks ago, announced that he has returned. Colter tweeted the following on Sunday night:
HELLO @WWE UNIVERSE. AFTER AN EXTENDED ABSENCE, I HAVE RETURNED. ANYBODY MISS ME? #WeThePeople
– WWE is advertising an “Ask Total Divas” Twitter Q&A for Monday to promote the season three premiere of WWE Total Divas, which airs next Sunday night, September 7th on E!. WWE tweeted the following today to promote the Twitter chat.
– The Motley Fool website has a new article up about top hedge fund company Citadel Advisors selling approximately 772,000 shares of WWE stock.
– WWE’s Brad Maddox was in attendance at the Pro Wrestling Guerilla “Battle of Los Angeles” event on Friday night in Reseda, California. Maddox has also been doing some stand-up comedy as of late.
– Below is another clip for the season three premiere of WWE Total Divas.
WWE Diva and Total Divas star Trinity Fatu, better known to WWE fans as Naomi, one-half of the former Diva tag-team “The Funkadactyls,” took to Twitter on Saturday to explain to her fans why we haven’t seen much of her on WWE television as of late.
Naomi revealed that she has to undergo a “minor procedure” to “correct a problem from the orbital fracture” that she suffered during a WWE television match where Aksana dropped a knee on her eye.
Naomi tweeted the following:
To my fans-I had to have a minor procedure done to correct a problem from the orbital fracture, I'll be back with a whole new feel #SLAYOMI
Above is a new teaser clip for episode one of season three of WWE Total Divas, which premieres next Sunday night, September 7th at 9pm EST. on E!. The clip features the returning Rosa Mendes talking with Natalya backstage at a WWE event.
The official synopsis for episode one of this season of Total Divas reads as follows:
“Season 3 begins with Nikki planning her future without her current boyfriend John Cena; at the same time, life turns topsy-turvy for Eva when she’s forced to choose between family and her husband; and tensions are high when a former Diva returns to the roster, revealing a dark secret.”
– Apparently Natalya had a “wardrobe malfunction” during Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. As a result, the WWE Diva and Total Divas star was trending on Twitter during the show. The reason it wasn’t seen on the show last night, however, was because WWE’s production truck likely caught it in time and due to the delay, were able to avoid showing it on the air.
– Below is a behind-the-scenes look at the WWE and Ad Council Fatherhood PSA’s which features Roman Reigns and Titus O’Neil. It’s worth noting that Alberto Del Rio was also part of the campaign, but after his WWE release, he was removed from the campaign.
– While Dean Ambrose is away filming the WWE Studios film project “Lockdown,” Roman Reigns will be taking his place at the WWE live events. For example, at the WWE live event in San Diego this weekend, Reigns filled in for Ambrose, defeating Seth Rollins in a tables match.
– Below is a new AfterBuzz TV interview with WWE Diva Natalya, who talks about the upcoming season of WWE Total Divas, NXT and more.
– KENTA’s endorsement company, PARCO stores, signed a deal with WWE to produce and sell historical t-shirts and merchandise, including the nWo, Andre The Giant, Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage starting on September 1st.
– The following is a new AfterBuzz TV interview with WWE Diva Cameron, who discusses the upcoming new season of WWE Total Divas and more.
Eva Marie, who has previously eloped with her longtime boyfriend Jonathan Coyle, re-married the part-time Total Divas star in California recently. WWE had cameras at the ceremony to film the footage for a future edition of Total Divas, the third season of which premieres on Sunday, September 7th on E!.
WWE.com wrote the following regarding Marie and Coyle’s marriage:
Eva Marie marries Jonathan Coyle
Congratulations to Eva Marie on her official marriage to Jonathan Coyle!
Eva Marie, who had previously eloped with her boyfriend Coyle, sealed their union with a ceremony in Napa, Calif., that she dubbed the #RedWedding on Twitter. Eva’s fellow Divas Summer Rae, Cameron, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella and Layla were in attendance, as was an E! camera crew who captured the evening’s festivities for the upcoming season of “Total Divas,” which begins Sunday, Sept. 7, at 9/8 CT.
Due to the fact that Summer Rae was away filming The Marine 4 during a large part of the upcoming season of Total Divas, it’s being said that Rosa Mendes will be in somewhat of a lead role this season.
The storyline is that Mendes has returned and is wreaking havoc on everyone in WWE after being gone for 18 months.
– On Wednesday, WWE will premiere their special, “The Shield: Journey to SummerSlam” on the WWE Network.
– The Los Angeles Times website currently features an interview with the cast of Total Divas. You can check that out at LATimes.com.
– The official WWE website has a new “WWE.com Exclusive” video interview with Rob Van Dam where he talks about his recent string of good luck. You can check that out at WWE.com.
– “Rowdy” Roddy Piper discusses his experience at last week’s RAW in Portland and also interviews “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan on the latest edition of his “Piper’s Pit” podcast. You can check that out at PodcastOne.com.
Backstage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sunday night following a successful WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view, Stephanie McMahon accepted the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” that was extended to her by Maria Menounos.
Prior to being doused with a huge trash can full of ice water, Stephanie extended the challenge to the entire San Francisco 49ers, the entire cast of WWE Total Divas and every member of the WWE Universe.
You can watch the video of Stephanie McMahon taking part in the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” with help from Ronda Rousey and the Four Horsewomen above.
WWE Diva and Total Divas star Natalya once again trained with several members of the MMA female faction “The Four Horsewomen” last week.
According to various sources, footage of Natalya training with Jessamyn Duke, Shayna Baszler and Colleen Schneider will be shown on the next season of WWE Total Divas.
As noted, Rousey and the Four Horsewomen were in attendance at the WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view on Sunday night in Los Angeles, California.
SEASON THREE OF E!’S “TOTAL DIVAS” PREMIERES SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH AT 9PM ET/PT
Los Angeles, CA, August 13, 2014 – E!, WWE® and Bunim-Murray Productions will once again shadow WWE Divas The Bella Twins™ (Nikki and Brie Bella), Natalya™ (Nattie), Naomi™ (Trinity), Cameron™ (Ariane) and rookies Eva Marie™ and Summer Rae™ giving viewers an inside peek into how these women, who are on the road for 52 weeks a year, balance their personal lives while fighting for the spotlight. In addition, the brazen Latina, WWE Diva Rosa Mendes™ joins the cast when “Total Divas” returns for 10 all-new episodes beginning Sunday, September 7th at 9pm ET/PT.
In the season two finale, Brie Bella and WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan™ had just tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by friends, family and many of the gorgeous girls. While most of the Divas were living large, Nikki was patching up her relationship with WWE Superstar John Cena™ as he had discovered her long kept secret —unbeknownst to anyone but her twin sister she had been married before. Now, the Divas are back with an even more prominent position in WWE as each woman has become a serious contender for the WWE Divas championship title.
Following an off-the-grid honeymoon, Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan are back in the ring, but are quickly challenged with unexpected newlywed hurdles as Daniel faces an injury and Brie considers motherhood. While Brie has babies on the brain, her sister Nikki contemplates freezing her eggs when she learns that John doesn’t want children… adding to the growing list of issues they don’t see eye to eye on.
The relationships in “Total Divas” continue on a rocky road as Nattie and her WWE Superstar husband, Tyson Kidd™ take a stab at couples therapy to work through their marital issues, Trinity and Ariane end their professional relationship as a WWE tag team, and Eva is forced to pick sides between her stubborn new husband and her disapproving father, who learns that his cancer has returned. Luckily, things are looking bright for Ariane as she takes the next step with her boyfriend Vinnie, and Summer Rae jets off to film a lead role in “The Marine 4: Moving Target” alongside WWE Superstar Mike “The Miz™” Mizanin. Just when the girls are ready to let out a sigh of relief with their nemesis Summer out of the picture for a while, former model Rosa Mendes returns to the WWE’s Diva roster after a year and a half hiatus.
During the sophomore run of the series, Total Divas reached over 7.7 Million Total Viewers and 4.6 Million A18-49. On the digital front, Total Divas garnered 17,000 Tweets and ranked as the #2 ad-supported cable or reality program of the night (excluding sports). Season two averaged a #3 social rank among ad-supported cable and #2 versus reality. The season two finale episode notched 1.55 Million Total Viewers as well as netting nearly 1 Million Adults 18-49 (961,000K).
Season three of E!’s hit “Total Divas” returns on Sunday, September 7th at 9pm ET/PT followed by an all-new episode of “#RichKids of Beverly Hills.”
“Total Divas” is produced by WWE and Bunim/Murray Productions. Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein, Jeff Jenkins and Russell Jay are Executive Producers for Bunim-Murray Productions. Kevin Dunn and Will Staeger are Executive Producers for WWE.