Cast of ‘Total Divas’ discuss the show, WWE and SummerSlam

“Total Divas” was a surprise hit when it premiered on E! last season. The show, which features a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a WWE Diva, begins its third season on Sunday, Sept. 7. The cast was in town Saturday to talk with Hannah Mitchell, the daughter of Times assistant sports editor Houston Mitchell, about the show, WWE and SummerSlam, WWE’s pay-per-view event that will be held Sunday at Staples Center. Mitchell sat down for a quick Q&A with several cast members.

Brie and Nikki Bella

Brie, most people don’t have their engagement shown on TV like you did, when the show televised Daniel Bryan proposing to you. Did that make it more special?

Brie: It was very special and it was funny because I know Daniel was worried whether we should do it on TV or not. Then we thought, “You know, our fans are responsible for where we are and they mean so much to us,” and that’s when Daniel decided it would be good to share that moment with them. Now when we have kids, I can say “Hey, want to see how Dad proposed to Mom?”

Nikki: And I got to see it too, which was cool. Usually you don’t get to see anyone’s engagement. I was like, “Bryan, you did good. I’m very proud.”

What was it like growing up with a twin sister?

Brie: Amazing.

Nikki: I’m standing right next to you, so be careful.

Brie: The amazing thing is you always have a best friend. Anytime we moved, I knew I’d be OK because I had her next to me.

Brie, What do you have planned for Stephanie McMahon during your SummerSlam match?

Brie: A lot. I have a lot planned. I have been training so hard. The one thing I know is that Stephanie has a lot of power and a lot of tricks up her sleeve. But I’ve been in that ring for the last couple of years and I have been working hard. Plus, with Daniel Bryan as my husband, I learn a lot.

If you both get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame one day, who would you want to induct you?

Brie: I would love for Natalya [Neidhart] to induct us. We grew up together in developmental and have been on this long road with her in WWE and on “Total Divas,” so I’d really like her to do it.

Nikki: Maybe I’m being a little biased, but I’d really like to see John [Cena] induct me because he is so engaging and I’d really love for him to.

Brie: OK, maybe John and Daniel together.

Nikki: Yeah, maybe Nattie starts it and John and Daniel finish it.

The WWE Divas have been getting more TV time on “Monday Night Raw” and are becoming more and more popular. Do you ever sense the male wrestlers getting a little jealous?

Nikki: I definitely think so. It’s like being on the playground with 80% boys and you are beating them in all the sports.

Brie: We used to have one segment on TV and the guys 10 or 11. Now we are in more segments so I think the guys are definitely worried. But leave it to the women to keep them on their toes, right?

How competitive are you with each other?

Nikki: We are very competitive with each other but in a good way, where we make each other better. It’s made us better in our careers and it has made us better as sisters.

Brie: I think we are also each other’s biggest cheerleader, so when she does a new move in the ring I get maybe a little jealous, but I am so happy for her.

Nikki: You’re good, but I’m the strength of the Bella!

Brie: Yeah, right.

Nikki: See, there some bickering. It’s like a 30-year marriage!

Natalya

You are the most experienced wrestler of all the Divas. Do you have to hold back when you are in the ring with them?

No, I don’t. Because the great thing is we all have so much confidence and we really bring everything we have into the ring. And we do a lot of training too, so when we get to the ring, it’s “Go time.”

Who was your favorite wrestler when you were a kid?

I had a couple of favorites. I always loved Shawn Michaels and I love watching my family wrestle. I loved watching Bret “Hitman” Hart and my uncles, Owen Hart and the British Bulldog, and of course my dad, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. I also loved watching Trish Stratus and Sensational Sherri and Molly Holly. Those were the Divas that I loved.

If you could go back in time and give youself some advice when you were first becoming a pro wrestler, what would it be?

I would have to say to have more fun. When I was first starting out in WWE, I wanted to be perfect and sometimes when you start trying to be too perfect, you stop having fun.

If you get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame one day, who would you want to induct you?

I would probably pick my husband, Tyson Kidd, to induct me, because nobody knows me better than him.

Naomi

You and Cameron used to be best friends on screen, now you are enemies. Was that a difficult change?

Absolutely. Cameron and I debuted together, so it was tough.

What was it like being a Funkadactyl?

It was awesome. It was something Cameron, Brodus Clay and I created, it was original, it was a lot of fun. And it worked, because the fans loved it.

What is it like walking down the ramp at a big event like SummerSlam, with all those people watching?

It is a feeling that I can’t explain. You can literally feel the energy from the crowd and you get this insane adrenaline rush. I think that’s what keeps us all excited to perform. It’s really like being on a roller coaster. It’s amazing because you are able to control the audience reaction with what you are doing. That’s a pretty powerful feeling.

If you get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame one day, who would you want to induct you?

My husband, Jimmy Uso, also known as Jonathan Fatu. He has been with me since Day 1 of my career here and he has taught me so much. He knows me more than anyone else in the world, so that’s my goal, to one day have that happen.

Summer Rae

Did you have to take dancing lessons before you joined Fandango?

Yes, but only two or three. They asked me one day, “Can you dance?” And I said “Yeah!” Then they asked “Can you do the splits?” And I said “Yeah!” And I couldn’t do the splits at all. So I took two or three lessons. But it’s OK, because the worse dancer I am, the more people booed us.

If you get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame one day, who would you want to induct you?

Stephanie McMahon. She is such a role model to me and a lot of the girls. Being single and being in the WWE, a lot of times I think that I can’t have a husband or a boyfriend or a relationship because there are so many things that I want to accomplish. But Stephanie breaks that mold. She is such an incredible businesswoman and so busy with WWE, but she is such a great mom. She has three beautiful children, she is in their life. So Stephanie to me embodies not having to choose things, which I think for me is very hard.