It’s that time of year, when the fanboy in many of us emerges for WrestleMania. Although the WWE most likely dominates our brains with images of jacked up men jumping off ropes and enough testosterone to fuel the resurrection of the Trojan War, don’t let your mind play tricks on you. There’s plenty of room for the ladies and they are pretty easy on the eyes. Just ask three-time WWE Diva Champion, Eve Torres. ‘LLERO had an opportunity to pick the brain of Eva the Diva on everything from why she gravitated towards the WWE, leaving the biz in her prime and where life is taking her next.
“You will always encounter challenges as a woman working in male-dominated industries,” the 28-year-old Nicaraguan and German former pro-wrestler affirms. “The biggest challenge…is earning respect. It comes down to standing your ground and letting people know you’re not an easy target, while still being likeable and respectful.”
As a former gymnast and dancer, Torres naturally gravitated toward the WWE because it had “a little of everything I was passionate about – competition, performance, traveling the world, and community service initiatives. I thought to myself ‘I just might be good at this!’” So she submitted an audition tape for WWE Diva Search competition in 2007 and won.
Humility is another trait she possesses because “good” doesn’t quite explain just how successful her career has been. In addition to becoming a three-time Diva’s Champion, Eve has appeared in WrestleMania – the annual pay-per-view event that is the most successful and longest-running professional wrestling event in history. She was also prominently featured as one of the main storylines on WWE Raw, another accomplishment that can’t be ignored. If you’re a pro-wrestler, the resume of Eve Torres is certainly one to measure up to.
Success is a personal measure, however, and at what was arguably the peak of her career, the diva from Denver decided to retire from the WWE. She currently resides in Redondo Beach with fiancé Rener Gracie, head instructor and co-creator of Gracie University with a 4th degree black belt in Gracie jiu-jitsu himself. While admitting that this change was one of the most difficult decisions of her life, her reasons were grounded. “It [was] time to start moving towards my personal goals – family and discovering how I can best contribute to the world.”
One of these invaluable contributions is teaching women through Gracie Women Empowered Defense program, a self-defense technique with a jiu-jitsu foundation. “I am on a crusade to encourage every woman in the world (especially Latinas) to learn both the techniques and mindset of self-defense,” Torres says.
“I have seen lives change through this empowerment process, including mine, and love to share it with others.”
The motivation to teach, and master this form of defense and martial art herself, stems from her own fearful experience of fleeing what could have been an attack from strange and aggressive men at a gas station in 2008. “I ran to my car, locked my doors, and took off,” she explains. “It was the first time I realized that despite how fit I thought I was I wouldn’t have stood a chance against a man much larger than I.”
While another person might not be willing to share such a personal story, her courage and willingness to open up, reminds us of the champion that Torres is. The decision to use that experience to help others demonstrates the special woman she is. From entertaining thousands daily to teaching women self defense, it’s clear that Torres is leaving a legacy of talent, hard work and an army of women who can kick ass and take names.
Editor’s note: If you’re interested in learning more about jiu-jitsu and the Gracie Academy visit www.GracieUniversity.com. Keep up with Eve on her websites www.EveTorres.com.
Photo credits:
Photos courtesy of Eve Torres
Eve Torres in blue & silver dress: 2012 Alexander Tamargo/WWE/Getty Images North America