Digest

Candice Michelle reflects on her wrestling career, from the WWE Diva Search and early struggles to developing skills and memorable matches. She discusses the impact of injuries, her transition to motherhood, co-founding a chiropractic business, and overcoming panic attacks through spiritual guidance. Michelle shares her views on the evolution of women's wrestling, the significance of stipulation matches, and her dream of making a positive impact. She also recounts her Playboy cover shoot, the story behind her magic wand prop, and her surprise 24/7 Championship win. The conversation touches on Tommy Dreamer's call for a final match after a decade, the intense training involved, and the enduring impact wrestlers have on their fans. Finally, she expresses gratitude for faith, health, and family, and explains her choice to start an intimate podcast.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction, Career Beginnings, and WWE Diva Search

Candice Michelle discusses her return to wrestling as a TNA agent, her early move to Los Angeles for modeling and acting, and her entry into the WWE Diva Search, driven by a desire for financial reward and a childhood passion for wrestling. She details how the Diva Search, despite not winning, led to a WWE contract and her initial self-training.

00:15:18

Developing Wrestling Skills, Mentorship, and Early Career Challenges

Candice shares her gradual development as a wrestler, highlighting key matches and learning experiences. She acknowledges mentorship from Victoria and discusses locker room dynamics. Her career was impacted by significant injuries, including a concussion and broken collarbone, and she reflects on the limitations of short matches and memorable stipulation matches like the "Bra and Panties" and "Evening Gown" matches, as well as the infamous pudding match.

00:20:46

Post-Wrestling Life: Motherhood, Business, and Spiritual Growth

After being released from WWE due to injuries, Candice embraced motherhood and co-founded a chiropractic business. She describes a spiritual awakening that led her to move to Texas, establish a new practice, and overcome severe panic attacks through spiritual guidance, emphasizing intuition and self-management.

00:29:01

Navigating Identity and Career Transitions

Candice discusses the challenges of transitioning away from labels like "model" and "wrestler," re-entering the workforce as a mother, and coping with the loss of fellow wrestlers. She emphasizes resilience and the willingness to start over, sharing her philosophy on continuous self-improvement and humility.

00:34:04

Injury Management, Match Storytelling, and Paving the Way

Candice recalls advice from John Cena and contrasts her injury recovery with Randy Orton's. She details her significant wrestling injuries and the challenges of returning. She discusses the era of short matches and the importance of storytelling, reflecting on how even unconventional stipulation matches paved the way for future women's wrestling.

00:44:43

Shifting Dynamics, Championship Win, and Dream Fulfillment

Candice discusses the shift towards more serious matches, her strong in-ring chemistry with Beth Phoenix, and her strength in elevating other wrestlers. She reflects on her Women's Championship win and her journey to becoming a Playboy cover girl, a lifelong dream that taught her about self-belief.

00:52:58

Current Aspirations, Character Evolution, and Iconic Props

Candice expresses her current dreams of making a positive impact and finding longevity as a TNA agent, potentially making a comeback. She explains the "too hot for SmackDown" incident stemming from a GoDaddy commercial, discusses the evolution of her entrance music and character interactions with Vince McMahon, and shares the humorous origin of her magic wand prop.

01:01:06

Royal Rumbles, WWE Appearances, and Lessons Learned

Candice addresses her absence from Royal Rumbles, her WWE Hall of Fame appearance, and positive experiences returning with her family. She reflects on lessons learned from Trish Stratus about the hard work behind making wrestling look easy and the importance of earning respect.

01:02:44

The Final Match and Enduring Fan Connection

Candice recounts her surprise 24/7 Championship win with Melina. Reflecting on a decade since her last match, she shares how Tommy Dreamer convinced her fans deserved a goodbye, leading to intense training with Rikishi. She expresses surprise at the enduring fan appreciation through autograph signings and shares her gratitude for faith, health, and family, explaining her choice to start an intimate podcast.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Candice Michelle currently doing in the wrestling industry?

  Candice Michelle is currently working as an agent for TNA Wrestling, providing backstage support and contributing to creative aspects.

• How did the WWE Diva Search impact Candice Michelle's career?

  The WWE Diva Search was a crucial turning point, leading to her signing a WWE contract and launching her professional wrestling career.

• What were some of the challenges Candice Michelle faced in her wrestling career?

  Challenges included significant injuries, the limitations of short match times, and navigating unconventional stipulation matches.

• How did Candice Michelle overcome her struggles with panic attacks?

  She overcame panic attacks through spiritual guidance, self-discovery, and developing coping mechanisms.

• What is Candice Michelle's perspective on the evolution of women's wrestling?

  She believes her generation's matches paved the way for the more serious and longer matches seen in women's wrestling today.

• Why did Tommy Dreamer call the speaker for a final match after a decade?

  Tommy Dreamer believed the fans deserved a proper goodbye and a final match, as they never got to see the speaker's farewell.

• How did the speaker prepare for their final match after a decade-long break?

  The speaker trained from the beginning with Rikishi and his students, enduring painful drills to regain wrestling conditioning.

• What realization did the speaker have about their impact on wrestling fans?

  The speaker realized they mattered significantly to the fans, evident through continued fan engagement and appreciation.

• What are the three things the speaker is grateful for?

  The speaker is grateful for their faith, their health, and their family, including the wrestling community.

• Why did the speaker choose podcasting?

  The speaker chose podcasting because it is an intimate medium, allowing for a personal connection with the audience to share their unique perspective.

Show Notes