Nikki and Brie Garcia (aka The Bella Twins)

00:00:08
Speaker 1: That's okay, becaus no one here is.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: Welcome back to another episode of teen Beat. I am Danielle Fischel, your host on this journey through interesting people's uncomfortable teenage years. I see it as a handshake of sorts. My puberty was televised to millions of households, and now other famous people will return the favor. I see it like this, I gave you my childhood. It's time we hear yours, and this week we get two for the price of one. Since I am sitting down with an iconic duo that first burst onto the pro wrestling scene in two thousand and eight, becoming immediate superstars. But how could they not, The WWE somehow found incredibly athletic, outlandishly stunning, and charismatic identical twins. Not since Earthquake and typhoon the natural disasters has such star power and beauty graced the Squared Circle. The multiple time WWE champs not only found fame with moves like the Bellabuster and the rack Attack, they made moves in Hollywood, starring in two hit reality shows, Total Divas and their own spinoff, Total Bellas. Then in twenty twenty one, they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, planning to slowly transition out of the ring to focus on motherhood and act as ambassadors for the company on shows like The Traders and Beast Games. But do you ever really leave pro wrestling?

00:01:52
Speaker 3: No?

00:01:53
Speaker 2: Because they are both back and better than ever, competing every week on Netflix's WWE Raw, inspiring a brand new generation of fans to have as many dreams as possible. Yes, they are legends who have accolades and accomplishments beyond belief. But I think deep down, somewhere under the six packs, impressive glutes and defined lats are two awkward teens just trying to fit in. So with that in mind, welcome to teen Beat two actual superheroes, Nikki and Brie Garcia, professionally known as the Bella Twins.

00:02:31
Speaker 4: Oh, I love that I got this poetic.

00:02:35
Speaker 2: Isn't it so nice to hear your accomplishments read back to you? Like, isn't that such a great feeling to be like, Wow, we did that.

00:02:43
Speaker 4: Yes, I mean big time. It's it's wild. I know it always makes you like kind of just be like one time has gone by so fast? Yes, and exactly what you said like, wow, right, and our teenage selves wouldn't believe it. Now, I want to go back in tell her, like, hey.

00:03:01
Speaker 2: What exactly isn't that? I know. I actually asked that question a lot of people, like, if you could go back in time and tell your young self something, what would you tell them? Let's start with that question. What would each of you go back and tell your young kid self?

00:03:17
Speaker 1: Wow?

00:03:18
Speaker 4: I think I would tell myself, especially like middle school years. I feel like that's always the hardest, that's seventh eighth grade. But I would definitely say like, you're gonna be okay, like just you know, the struggle was very real at that time, and I'd just be like, hang in there because like really really good. Yeah, I would tell myself, you know, the journey's going to be hard, but it's going to be worth it.

00:03:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, so smart. Well, thank you both so much for doing this. I wanted to first let you guys know I actually spent the entire weekend with you, Nikki, at at least your digital representation, since my kids are glued to the WWE two K twenty six video game.

00:03:59
Speaker 4: So oh my god, I love it.

00:04:01
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh. We've been playing all weekend and I know, Bree, you will be in addition to the game in a few months, which they are very excited about. I was wondering if either of you played video games as kids.

00:04:14
Speaker 4: So yes, we Our favorite was Donkey Kong. Yeah, girl, Yeah, so we it was weird. We were like into it for a little bit and then got out of it. It was there was a period of time where my parents were like remodeling a part of our house, so we had to share room with my brother. We're all like in bunk beds, and so he would play Nintendo a lot. The room was really small, so that was when we were really into it. So we'd all play Donkey Kong. And then I started. I was in college and I dated this pro snowboarder and they were always playing Tony Hawk. Yes, although style games, So then I started to play again. But we were never like huge gamers. But like, if it's at a party and my people are throwing out I'm like, I'll do it. I'll play. Yeah, I love to. Tony Hawk was one of my faves.

00:05:02
Speaker 2: Couldn't agree more. It actually sounds like we have very similar video game habits as kids. I was very into Nintendo I played Duck Hunt. Wasn't that so fun?

00:05:14
Speaker 1: That?

00:05:15
Speaker 4: It was a fun one.

00:05:16
Speaker 2: I loved that and then got out of it for a few years, and then came back for Tony Hawk, which I could play when I was not working. I could literally play for eight hours. It was like, Oh, I literally spent a work day just playing Tony Hawk. Also Tiger Woods PGA Tour that the golf game was amazing. And then I got into Mortal Kombat too, and now.

00:05:37
Speaker 4: It's all loved Mortal Kombat.

00:05:39
Speaker 2: Yeah, and now it's all back with the WWE game. So we're just, yeah, it's very exciting, very cool. Well let's start in Scottsdale, Arizona, where you two are from. I know it's very close to an infamous college town, Mill Avenue, lots of gated suburban homes, but you two grew up on a completely different side of town. Somehow imagined Ali and aj Disney movie cow Bells. Were you too? Real farmers?

00:06:09
Speaker 1: So?

00:06:09
Speaker 4: I mean we did come from a farming family, and so my mom'side the family, they were all produced farmers, and then my dad was a tree farmer. So yeah, we were surrounded by farming, and you know, we my sister. When we lived in Brawley, we really got into the fields because I guess that's just what you did. Ye. My dad would take us when we were in scottsil to his tree farm. It was out in buck Guy. We'd go with him a lot because it was kind of fun. We'd just run around and he did. He wasn't nervous, like you knew. We could just make sure we got back in for lunch. But I feel like our biggest chore, the farming that we had to do was feed the horses. We bottle fed on house. Yeah, we'd muck so our type of farming. Her and I we had to do the chores. So we didn't do that stuff. Well, right, we do that before school, like even like middle school. I just remember, like this is so uncool, but it had to get done, and we did. We were big into riding horses for a while. I just it was funny because when we first moved to Scottsdelle, we came from a small town called Brawley, which is outside of like two and a half hours outside of San Diego. And here we are city girls riding our horses and the alleys and I just remember it we were just so we called it a city, but it was nothing like a city, right, And I think Scott Sell felt like what people consider in New York as a city. We were like, this is such a crazy city. But here we are riding our home everywhere and had our farm, had a pig. But it was fun to be raised and be surrounded by farmers, like we have always really appreciated that atmosphere, those style of people, so it's been great.

00:07:45
Speaker 2: Yeah, so you'd have to do that sometimes before school. So would you just get up and then okay, every day and then roll out there you're getting dirty and sweaty, and then and then go in and shower and get ready for school. So what time would your day start?

00:08:00
Speaker 4: I mean I feel like six am? Right, I mean yeah, I was just doing them, especially in the winters how cold. Well, and my parents would do it where each kid got a week. Yeah, you're right. You have a brother, so it'd be like Nicole's week, Breonna's week, JJ's week. Yeah. They kind of sput up like that, but we'd also help each other out. But you know what was funny, I never mind the hot days. It was because sometimes the desert can get freezing cold when we have to go out there and it was so cold and I would just be like shivering. But yeah, because we would walk to school, so we had to make sure we gave ourselves enough time to walk. So, yeah, our mornings started early.

00:08:37
Speaker 2: Yeah and hectic. You've got a time time to do all your chores. Shower, get yourself ready. Pretend you didn't do any of those chores, because, like you say, it's not cool.

00:08:47
Speaker 5: Yeah.

00:08:47
Speaker 2: What do you think the most difficult chore was you had to do?

00:08:52
Speaker 4: I mean shoveling, I think mucking a whale, barrel poop, pig poop, and we had even our pickens, the cows, but also when we're cleaning that up and then with them in the you're doing it early in the morning, and then you have the horses in the pen with you, and you're like that one would be the hardest, especially on the days that are cold and they're just steaming.

00:09:20
Speaker 2: Oh gosh.

00:09:22
Speaker 4: It's actually funny because now my husband will see how I clean our chicken coop and like I just put on my garden gloves and I'm just grabbing poop and how I do it all. And he's always like, oh, my God, I'm like what, I'm like, I'm mourning blessed. But I think I was so used to it growing up, like surrounded by poop.

00:09:38
Speaker 2: I'm like, you were really prepared for motherhood also, you.

00:09:41
Speaker 4: Know, oh, I definitely was, very very much so.

00:09:45
Speaker 2: Now you both live in Napa Valley now, so again you're surrounded by beautiful nature. Bree, you still live a little bit of a crunchier life, right, You were always a little different in your interests that way. I saw Nikki as a little more or of an uptown girl nowadays. But I also have heard a little bit about bre Mode at high school parties.

00:10:07
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, yeah, real Remode aka Keg Killer. I definitely like to have fun, but I was shocking about my fun, like I would just take it. I'd go zero to a thousand, like I would just one, like let's go streaky or something. She just get this looking her eye, and I was like, there's Bremode. Brianna is gone, and Brimode has entered the building. But no one complained about her. So exactly, it was a lot of fun, and then you all around. It still is a lot of fun.

00:10:48
Speaker 2: That is so cute. I mean, immediately when I read that, I was like, oh, that's that's what today they call the full full setend like just but we're here, we're at a party. Yeah, okay, I can we can ramp this up totally.

00:11:01
Speaker 4: Oh there's this reel that went viral and they this group has a friend who's totally like a bre mode and so they're all just in their living room partying. But he is of course at like one thousand, so he's like amping up and then he does a front flip but like you know when you can land it and fly forward? Did I see this in his head? Goes through the fish tank, and fish tank just shatters and everything, and then he thought of it. He's trying to like catch fish, but like, I mean, it was unreal, and I was like, I'm I've never done Oh my gosh, I feel like.

00:11:34
Speaker 2: That's really hard to do because I think fish tank glasses pretty thick. So that guy, I kind.

00:11:41
Speaker 4: Of for him. I'm like, did he survive that? Like Geez had to have a massive concussion, So Remode would have just taken off her top and smashed hers against the fish tank.

00:11:50
Speaker 2: Yeah, I would have avoided the head into That's smarter, way.

00:11:55
Speaker 4: Smarter yeah, smarter at least I'm sick.

00:11:57
Speaker 2: So being twins, I feel like you face a totally different set of possibilities for childhood embarrassment, and that is dressing alike. So did you dress alike as kids?

00:12:10
Speaker 4: We did for a while, and then all of a sudden, one day I went up to her and I was like, like in second grade, right was second or third grade or yeah, something like that, And I was like, I don't want to be a twin anymore. My mom was like why, And I'm like, I don't want to dress alike anymore. And that's when she knews. She's like, okay, I gotta stop dressing them the same. So then we started dressing on our own, and that's when you really saw our personalities and like the outfits weird, was like, that was third grade, but this is the thing. But then when you know how then it was a really big deal if you were going to fly on a plane. So we would fly to our grandparents every summer Toake Tahoe, and you w'ld always get a new airplane outfit for that every summer, and for some reason, we were always in the same prince. But she got the dresses and I was in pants and and I'm like, first of all, you got the better crib. And she always got to be in pinks and purples as a newborn. I was in yellows and blues. It was like, how is this fair? She had what do you call a bassinet? Her crib was gorgeous. Mine was just a plain wooden one that was like no thought, you know, it was a miracle baby. What can I say? Whatever?

00:13:17
Speaker 2: What did you ever ask your parents like, hey, what's up with my crib?

00:13:22
Speaker 4: No? I actually I should know we did. I think she said they were just hand me down, so like for her, she was like, you know whatever, Yeah, but you should have asked why was Breonna place so gently and nicely in the beetle I love us, sir, And they're like, yeah, we lost you out. What do you mean you rolled under the bed as a newborn man? Like how did I get there?

00:13:41
Speaker 2: Yeah?

00:13:42
Speaker 4: How did I roll in bed? Who wasn't watching me?

00:13:47
Speaker 2: Someone was busy?

00:13:49
Speaker 4: Yeah exactly, I kicked me under.

00:13:54
Speaker 2: Do you remember some of your favorite fits growing up?

00:13:57
Speaker 4: Actually? I do? Yeah, So I don't know if I got this at Charlotte Rousse or I loved Charlotte ruel white seal, Oh my gosh. And I remember it was like these black pants because you know, especially middle school, we idolized, no doubt when still her style. So there were these black pants, white stitching, little Jinko style where it was like real big. And then I had this little white kind of crop top and it had these lady bugs on it. Oh my god, I remember that it was almost like the lady bugs were actually made out of like kind of this material, like that pleather shiness. I thought I looked so cute in it. I thought it was such a vibe, you remember. I loved that.

00:14:42
Speaker 2: It actually sounds like it would be perfect for today.

00:14:45
Speaker 4: No, honestly, I mean nineties is so bad. Oh it's crazy. Do you remember Buffalo Exchange? Oh that was our field exists, yeah, yeah, it still exists Mill Avenue, right Mill Avenue, I think one of them. So I will never forget when I found iHeart Brad Pitt shirt from there, and I would wear that middle school. I thought I was so you know what else mindr Bona teach got you also found there it said find your inner Brittany. Oh I love Brittany. Yeah, I have that one. I got like all the cool saints from Buffalo Exchange. James had the best, like used T shirts and Doc Martin's Yeah, snake skin, Doc Martins, Oh my maroon ones.

00:15:30
Speaker 2: Cut You guys sound like we were very stylish, very so.

00:15:34
Speaker 4: She liked thrift story. We thrift. We'd always go throughstor shop. We'd walk. There was a couple like secondhand shops by us. Her and I would go walk and just like we get legitimate bell bottoms, like yeah, probably donated it, and they would be so cheap. Love them because now sometimes you go thristoff shopping and you're like it's expensive. Back then it was like five bucks or like great pair of pants. Yeah, just different little things like that to fun like accessories, we'd like mix in.

00:16:02
Speaker 2: I do think accessories at thrift stores are just the belts you can find that I mean, but like you said, now they're like, oh, this is a one hundred dollars belt. You're like thrifty. I know.

00:16:13
Speaker 4: I'm like, uh, totally no. And they try to tell you channel and I'm like, we'll see about that, yeah, just because as a c on it, Yeah, I mean the channel.

00:16:36
Speaker 2: You both were able to avoid the statistical possibilities of having twins yourself. Did either of you imagine that you would end up with twins or did you want twins?

00:16:46
Speaker 4: I wanted twins, Yeah, she really wanted. You know what's crazy is with Birdie, my daughter, she was twins. My first ultrasound, there's two embryos. She was identical. Just stop the second Umbera stopped crying, which I kind of had a feeling because one was bigger than the other one. But my first Ultha, my husband's filming and he was our doctor, turns on. She goes, are you an identical twin? And I'm like yeah, and she's like, oh my gosh, you're pregnant identical twins. She's like, there's two embryos here, and I go, what you should see? My husband slowly put the camera down, and but she was like, one is bigger than the other. So two weeks it looks like second uber maybe stopped growing, and sure if I went back two weeks it was gone. But but yeah, I mean I look at my daughter at times I'm like, wow, there could yeah love that because I mean, even though I'm one and done anyways, but then I didn't know if I would be one and done. But I thought, oh, if you could get two and one pregnancy, how amazing, right.

00:17:48
Speaker 2: Right, just have two kids one experience, Yeah, Taco Tuesday, Yeah, two two for I always imagined that I would have a boy and a girl. My mom, I'm my brother. I have a brother, and so my aunt has boys and girls. I was just like everyone around me, my best friend has a boy and a girl. Just thought that was going to be my future. And then when I found out my second was a boy, I had a real grieving process of like, oh, because I knew I wanted to and no more so then I had to really kind of grieve, like, oh, I didn't realize how much I was just assuming my future involved also having a daughter.

00:18:26
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:18:27
Speaker 2: Now I can't imagine it any other way. And I love being a boy mom and it's the greatest. But there's always that feeling at first when you're like, oh, the thing I thought I was going to have, I'm not going to have. And now there's a little bit of a grieving process.

00:18:41
Speaker 4: Yeah, I see that for sure, And especially because if people do not have boys, they don't understand the boy energy. Oh, like boy moms get a lot of credit.

00:18:50
Speaker 2: It is very confusing for parents of girls. They're like, oh oh oh they are they always like this. It's like oh yeah, this starts at six a.

00:19:00
Speaker 4: Yes, yeah, wild yeah wild.

00:19:04
Speaker 2: I know. I remember walking into Adler's room, my first walking into Adler's room and it barely being six am, and I like turned on his light and I have this, you know, little gentle good morning song I sang to him every single morning since she was born. And in the middle of my good morning song, he's like, I am hawks right right, okay, I do which this energy? We are? We are hulk okay.

00:19:31
Speaker 4: Am that explained. That is everything that is a boy. That is how it goes.

00:19:35
Speaker 2: And do you remember the maybe the worst part about being twins in middle school or high school?

00:19:44
Speaker 4: I feel like, wow, she's so quick to answer. I know, I do, I know, and you'll probably agree with me. But I feel like when you're a twin, you're constantly compared. Yeah, so, which I guess helped us growing up because we never mind being compared to anyone or anything, because our whole lives has been that. But it like people almost thought we should be clones, like they would literally comparison, like, so you guys are identical and be like yeah, they're like, no, you're not, because your nose is a little like this and yours are like this, and we're like, oh my god, cause I art. Yeah, but that would constantly be or anything we did, it was like instead of just giving a good job or like recognizing it, it was like a right away a comparison to your twin. Yeah, so that it happened a lot, I felt like in middle school and high school even actually now still does. But I'm always like, why just because we're twins, like we have to be identical and everything and everything we do and all of it.

00:20:40
Speaker 2: It's just that's a really smart way of thinking about it. That people it's really just showing their ignorance that they don't understand what the identical versus fraternal twin means. It's it's just about the egg, not about the people being clones. There's still individual people. They're just whether or not they were from one egg or that split or not. So yeah, it is really just showing their ignorance. But that is that's a good way of thinking about it, is that people think you're going to be a clone? What do you think, Nikki?

00:21:12
Speaker 4: That's a good one. I feel like what but there's something deep down. No, actually no, I loved being a twin.

00:21:21
Speaker 2: Oh what's the best part about being a twin in middle school in high school?

00:21:26
Speaker 4: I think having like when you're going through all those crazy changes, you have someone to talk about it with or be really open and honest with. Because I feel like even at that time, you know, when girls were going through puberty, because that's such a big time for girls to go through it, sometimes you were embarrassed to tell your friends, like I got my period and I'm only in sixth grade. So having her even I mean, this is TMI, but even getting pubic hair so young, not even in middle school yet, Like you know, I just remember you cover up around your friends, you get embarrassed all those things. But that was like such a plus having a girl identical twin. Yeah, we don't want to be a girl identical twin. I five a girl, but meaning, but that was like such a plus in that and never going through some yeah let's have some new open up. We never experienced the first day of school alone. Yeah, we all each other, going to birthday parties, like all those things that like at those awkward ages when you're growing up, it's really nerve wrecking to yeah, walk into those things. The confidence isn't like you don't really have it yet. So we had each other, so we walked in like all confident as we were just yeah, you know, I mean, you know, we would even break up with each other's boyfriends. You know how you'd have those two week boyfriends in the middle.

00:22:46
Speaker 2: Of course, yes, you barely talk to him.

00:22:48
Speaker 4: You just would see him from a farm're like, yeah, that's my boy.

00:22:51
Speaker 2: That's my boyfriend. There he is.

00:22:52
Speaker 4: Yeah. But then why was it so hard to break up with them? It's like I barely talk to them.

00:22:57
Speaker 2: Boy.

00:22:57
Speaker 4: We didn't want to hurt their feelings. So we would each other.

00:23:01
Speaker 2: That is so cute, like over the phone.

00:23:03
Speaker 4: Yeah yeah, So she would like call and then break up for me, and then I do it for her. I felt. I still remember one guy's full name. I feel so bad about that I had to break up for because you told me to tell him. When he said why, I was like, oh, because you're too nice. Oh, I was like, and like too nice and her feeling no, yeah, you said too nice, So I had to talk too nice And he was.

00:23:31
Speaker 2: Like, oh, now that's the reason why all men are like they don't want the nice guys.

00:23:35
Speaker 4: Yeah, exactly, marrying a nice guy, I'll say, yeah.

00:23:40
Speaker 2: Yeah, we usually wise up.

00:23:43
Speaker 1: Yeah.

00:23:44
Speaker 2: I have been very honest about my own case of boy crazy. Growing up. I literally only cared about school because it meant I could go to school and talk to boys and passed to boys and love boy. I just boy completely obsessed. Were you guys also boy crazy? I know you were very athletic. You played soccer, right, Yes, we.

00:24:05
Speaker 4: Saw competitive soccer players started a competitive league in fifth grade, so like soccer was our life, okay, And I think that's why I liked school, because it was the one time I could be around boys and we were crazy boy crazy. I even remember a parent telling other parents in sixth grade, those Garcia twins are boy crazy, and I was like, oh my gosh. And I think because we also loved hanging out with boys because of beinger athletes. But like during recess, I had no fear like sweating and playing soccer against the boys and to arm rustle them. And this was all like middle school too, not just like elementary school. But I loved the energy of boys, like things they talked about. They talked about sports, and I was a big basketball fan at the time, and then I loved soccer and so in football, so they would talk about sports, which I loved. And then I liked my girly side to be with my girls. But I loved boys, and I loved like the boys and the magazines and on TiVo. Oh, I'm like, we're so lucky that we got like the grunge era boys too, the pretty boys that like were you know, doing all the shows with you, like Jonathan Taylor Thomas and then also Casper the movie Casper. Yes, I thought he was so But then at that time then we had Gavin Rosdow. But then we had Gavin Rosdell and Kirk Cobain.

00:25:25
Speaker 2: And Jared Leto.

00:25:27
Speaker 4: Jared Leto and I even was so obsessed with like my faves like Anthony Ketis and Slack. They made the binder front like you know, yeah, Ethan Hawk actually made my binder Brad Pitt the Legends of the Fall.

00:25:42
Speaker 2: Legends of the Fall, Brad Pit. Oh, yeah, that was.

00:25:44
Speaker 4: On my wall. Like I remember my dad called me boy crazy and tore that poster.

00:25:49
Speaker 2: Now, how dare you dare you with his long blonde hair.

00:25:55
Speaker 4: Yeah, I was like, but Yeah. When I saw him in that, I think that's why Anthony Kitty's too is really long hair. Yeah, away music video, I remember that came out, I want to say, so, I'm fourth or fifth grade and I was like, oh my gosh, that's the most beautiful man in the world.

00:26:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, join the club. This sounds exactly like my sounds exactly like my youth's boy it was. It sure was fun though.

00:26:20
Speaker 4: It was such a fun fun. It was such a fun time. I actually am sad that the younger generations, and I know they hate that we all say this, they did. They don't get the youth we got because this was a wholesome boy crazy, do you know.

00:26:35
Speaker 2: What I mean?

00:26:36
Speaker 4: And none of us felt like we had to take pictures of ourselves or you know, it's just so weird. We're just so authentically us like growing up going through it. It was different, and I don't think the youth gets what we all had, and that makes me sad.

00:26:51
Speaker 2: I know it makes me sad too. I didn't think so much of it, Like you said, when you think about taking pictures, so much of it is the change from you know, you talk about your binder. We used to rip out pictures of people for magazines. We anywhere we could find their pictures. We weren't inundated with their images exactly. So when we would open a magazine and see one, we would have to cut it out in order to ever be able to even see it again. It wasn't like we could just google them and have them. And it didn't translate to talk about the innocence of it. It didn't translate to then us being promiscuous as kids. It just meant we.

00:27:25
Speaker 6: Were like girl fangirling amongst ourselves, going through our hormonal energy with each other, Oh my god, they're so cute, and then being too nervous to hold a boy's hand at school.

00:27:36
Speaker 4: Yeah, thinking like the day I have a boyfriend, which then I felt like you would have one at thirty, is like this is what I want him to look like or be like, or I may have a chance with him when I'm al But yeah, it's so true. And the rest on either, like I know, everyone was so innocent, like just it was so pure, like even when I think of school parties and even when you do, like dare to maybe peck someone, it's such a peck totally.

00:28:06
Speaker 1: And then you're like.

00:28:06
Speaker 7: Oh god, yeah, But this is what I feel is because people see what gets the most likes, y's people who dress sexier and all that, so then people start to really they crave the likes, so they're gonna do whatever they can.

00:28:19
Speaker 4: They get the more likes. So it's almost manipulated the youths like mindset on what is popular and what people want. But it's not. We're only flaggy tea's and pans like as chokers. You know so much, such a backpack.

00:28:38
Speaker 2: Yes, such a time. Brie. You are married to fellow wrestler Brian Danielson and Nikki You are playing the field, possibly in a literal sense if you follow gossip sites. How hard is it maintaining a relationship and being as busy as you two are.

00:29:09
Speaker 4: I mean, it's hard, but my husband and I always like kind of joke. So we've been married eleven years, congratulations, fifteen thank you, and he and I say, we're like, it's worked this long, and we still get excited to see each other time because we've been busy. It's like we missed each other. Yeah, and it's nice because we come from the same industry, so we understand each other's busyness, but we're going through it. All of a sudden, I get a call to go on the road. I mean, I'm still waiting for that call. But when I get that call and I can go and be like, hey, I got to leave in two days, he's like all right, like good, he has it like it's nice, there's no fighting whatever. So I feel like the busyness has actually made the relationship really healthy. No total, we're not like yeah, and we also make time for each other to like we do date night, actually more date days. He and I. We get tired at night, so we do lunch.

00:30:04
Speaker 2: Dame. I love a date day. Why the kids are at school or you know, it's like, let's go spend the afternoon doing something because at night by eight thirty, I really just want to have my face washed.

00:30:16
Speaker 4: Wow, and just maybe an episode of a show and then yes, yeah, he and I both are like that he needs his reading. But he and I think like after that, where like put the kids down unlikely?

00:30:27
Speaker 2: Uh huh, it's yeah exactly, it's a full hour.

00:30:30
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean bedtime routine is no joke.

00:30:34
Speaker 1: Yeah.

00:30:34
Speaker 4: My mom though, will talk to Nicline and be like wow, like here is bedtime routines. Like really, it's a lot, I know, but the kids expect it.

00:30:45
Speaker 2: And it is nice. It's nice to like really spend that kind of And when I think about it, I also like thirty minutes to wind down. And so the fact that we spend thirty minutes with each kid basically winding them down with reading or talking or it's like you know, it is it is a hard thing to just expect for a kid to be like, nope, that's it, get in your room, close the door, lights off, fall, fall asleep after all the stimulation of the day.

00:31:11
Speaker 4: I completely do you imagine doing that? You know, And it's such a special bonding time at that time, like they really just have their guard down and you get to hear such magical things from them because since they're winding down, they're just talking yeah, stuck out that dating, Yeah, which sometimes can be things that were hurtful at school, Yeah, or you know, like things that were you know, really like to them shine. Yeah. I love it. But what about you single lady? Yeah, you know it's hard because co parenting, traveling, I you know, there's a lot of fun messaging that happens. I feel like I talk more with people in that way, and then it's just kind of hard also to date in the industry because I feel like if you want a date with someone else and you're making lines like they're together and they're all these things, and you're like, what can I just experience people like everyone else does without it automatically people assuming we're together. So that's like been hard, But it's weird because it's like I'm not I'm not ready for anything serious at all, right, I do that much, but I do, like, obviously it's always nice to have attention from a man, you know, like get flowers or sweet text messages. So I don't have any of that right now. But yeah, so just look at like Leslie and we were we're here in New York and we went to dinner and I was like, I want the booth in the bar and he's like really, and I go, girl, that's like we're all the guys will go out. She made us even wait for one. The whole was like em dam, I'm like all right. So we're like having a drink and then there's this really handsome guy and so we're like looking, I go, Bree, do you see a ring? And she's like, I don't see a ring. I'm like, okay, good. So then he starts looking and then you know, you'd make the idea I was selling Brigo. Oh my god, I feel like embarrassed. I haven't. It was like blush sheet. I was blushed because how hard like he would stare and I haven't had that kind of like where it's just a complete stranger and your locking eyes. Yeah, Worth And I was like, oh my gosh, I was like blushing.

00:33:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're like everyone can tell me.

00:33:17
Speaker 4: Yeah. And so we're talking and then he's like, yeah, I don't know about these divorce sees like their kids are my problems. And he's like I don't want to raise their mistakes something like and he so her and I were like, no idea, and I was like and we kick each other on the table and I was like, oh cool, Yeah, nice to meet you. And then we said bye when we were walking out, and I could tell he was like, wait a minute, like.

00:33:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I'm like you, So that's correct. Thank you for ripping off the mask in the first conversation so that you didn't have to go on even one date before you figured out the truth of who he was right.

00:33:55
Speaker 4: I couldn't even he said it. I was like, you just met us like two minutes ago. Yeah, and I feel like you look at us. We probably I think we look.

00:34:04
Speaker 5: Like thinking younger, messed up. I don't know, but he does not think we were. He did not think I was ever married or had a kid, obviously, but our faces. When he said that, I'm like.

00:34:16
Speaker 4: I've never heard that from a man, just straight out like.

00:34:19
Speaker 2: I'm honestly as as repulsive as it is. I'm so it's so great. Please, sir, be authentically you to every woman you meet, because eventually you'll find someone who who doesn't has never and who doesn't know how offensive that is. We'll just like you. But in the meantime, for the rest of us, please just keep being you, sir, Just unapologetically authentic, honestly. No, he's single, exactly. Oh wow. Yeah, well, Bree, you just recently shocked the WWE universe by popping up at Royal Rumble. Now back on the roster full time girl? What went into making that decision?

00:35:03
Speaker 4: Gosh, you know, it was crazy because Nikki for being back the last year. Actually it's been a little more than a year. When I saw her I could see she was having fun. Yeah, and I really got the itch. And I'll be honest, I was trying to go back with her for a really long time and I kept getting the acts like no, and I think too, like when you get told no, you're like you want it more. But when you're a wrestler and you've been in the business, you'll always have this feeling of being there, like you just miss it. Like pro wrestling is so fun. Ours be like just the sisterhood, being in the ring with everyone. It's just it's fun. And so I missed that part and I loved my life, but there was this little part of me that was like, wow, I'm really comfortable, Like I challenge myself. I'm forty two. My kids think I'm a mom. Like literally, my son one night and putting it in bed, like don't you want to do something like cool? And I was like what do you mean. He's like, well, Dodo's a wrestler, and I go, I used to be a wrestler and he's like, no, you weren't. Like He's like, you're just a mom, and I'm like, oh, like I wanted to be like yeah, the hardest gig in the world raising you kid correct, So like I just you know, I was like, you know, my kids, my daughter's seen me, but she was young, really young. So I was like, you know what for my kids to see that, ye inspire my daughter and even my son that at any age you can go out and challenge yourself and do something. And actually all the women and the young girls who watch Nikki and I, that's I kind of I wanted them to know that, like just because I'm in my forties and it's like game over and so I really wanted that. And it's fun to be back. I mean I went back and I'm like hello, they got calm.

00:36:52
Speaker 2: I'm like, hello, Hi, I'm here.

00:36:55
Speaker 7: I know.

00:36:56
Speaker 4: I literally thought after Saudi at Raby, I'd be on TV every week. But but it's you know, I think there's a lot of good coming. I feel like Nicky and I will be back at TV. We keep pushing to get back there, but I think we're going to be there sooner than later. And I think twenty twenty six is going to be incredible for us in They're incredible.

00:37:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, there has truly never been a better time in my opinion for women's wrestling. It is I mean, I'm such a fan of so many Riha, Ripley Live, Roquel Rodriguez, Charlotte Bianco, bell Air, Tiffy. I What do you think is the biggest difference backstage between now compared to the diva's era.

00:37:38
Speaker 4: I mean, I guess I'll let you start on this, because you've been in that locker room, yeah, last year. It's you know, there's definitely different energy there. And I think the first is it's different for women because now they're respected, So what they do is being honored, it's being respected. And I think that's the first thing. It was hard being a woman back then. Ye you weren't respected about being in a male dominated industry. You weren't respected for the effort you were putting in for what you were doing, and it was hard for a lot of us women in so many ways. So that was my first thing I noticed, like, it's so great to be a woman now, doesn't matter how good you are, whatever, it is like you're backstage and no matter what, you are respected and you're treated equally as a man. And I think that's been the biggest thing I've taken away. Also, these all these women are so amazing and so sweet. Not only are they just incredibly athletic in their own way, but they're just a great group of women. They truly support each other, They empower each other. They all want the best for each other. You know, obviously there's gonna be times where you're dealing with TV time and they'll be tension. But everything I've experienced, I'm like, wow, this is like a red up fresh air. Yeah, yeah, just amazing. But the last two shows, I will say this, I feel like Nick con has done a great job at making the backstage better atmosphere. I really recognize that at the Royal Rumble and the Raw right after, I go, oh, this is way different. This is professional. It feels different. So I have to say he's done a lot of good in that back page for just a professional, really comfortable, calm, safe atmosphere. And I love that.

00:39:28
Speaker 2: Yeah, great, I love that.

00:39:30
Speaker 1: Now.

00:39:31
Speaker 2: You know, you talked about that, you're still competing for TV time, of course, but because women are more respected and are getting more airtime, there's less of a reason to have that scarcity mindset, and now the women are able to be to be the supportive you know, it's like it fosters a better environment for everyone when we're like, there's room for everyone. Yes, if you come here prepared, ready, athletic, and capable, we're all going to get our time.

00:40:01
Speaker 4: Oh my gosh, I'm so sure because it was hard. I mean, we were in that era fighting for time too. There was one being told right, and then you were getting paid per show, so you wanted to get on that show to get a payday. And you're exactly right. Now we're so lucky. We could have three matches in one night on each show, maybe four, we get three stories going. I think WrestleMania. I feel like there's going to be a maybe not quite equal to the amount of men matches, but maybe I think we're going to get quite a few female matches each day, which honestly there should be because I've been kicking ass all year. They've been they have heard so. But yeah, I think you're exactly right. When there's more room for opportunity, we don't have to fight each other that way back him. You know, I saw this real and I really loved it. This woman was I can't remember what island she was from, and she was on there but the moon had been out but the sun was out, and she was just like, look at this, Like the moon is patiently waiting for its time to shine. It's allowing the sun to shine, and it knows that when the sun goes down that's its time. And then the sun patiently waits. She goes into this beautiful thing, and I was like, it's so true, and you realize what the women now they do that for each other. Yeah, everyone's time to shine, and they celebrate and support when it's not their time. And that's something different than I've ever experienced. But I was like, wow, this is a really tight knit sister. It makes me so proud like that women support each other like that.

00:41:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, so beautiful. Well, I will be seeing you too in Vegas for Russellvania, which I'm very excited for. Did you miss competing in it while you were gone? It is such a big deal.

00:41:48
Speaker 4: Oh my gosh. Yes. You know what's funny is like when you're in it, you're like, oh, I'm so nervous and all the feelings, But then when you're away from it, you miss being nervous, you miss the flies and preparing for something no use. So I'm so excited. That's side of competition. It never leaves you it's like the minute you start to break a sweat in anything you do in life, it's like that comes straight back, that adrenaline rush. Yeah, fan, you go into storyland and it's like I've realized, like it just never leaves us, Like once it's in you, it's just always there.

00:42:24
Speaker 2: Well, ladies, Every week we listen to a voice memo sent in from a listener detailing their own awkward adventures of youth, and this week we hear from Alison, who made a very embarrassing mistake.

00:42:36
Speaker 4: Hi, Danielle.

00:42:37
Speaker 3: When I was in high school, everybody was on aim messengers and chat and I accidentally chatted my crush do you think fill in the blank name here will ask me to the upcoming dance? And he thought that I did it on purpose to try to get an invite, And it really was just I chatted the wrong person as I was also talking to my friends. Needless to say, very mortified, but we did end up going to the dance together.

00:43:05
Speaker 2: Oh listen, it paid off. Being direct paid off.

00:43:09
Speaker 4: Right, he definitely did. And also, I mean I could say, you can I remember messenger? Oh yeah, a messenger? You easily? Was it BBM or she talked about like the instant.

00:43:21
Speaker 2: She's talking about instant Messenger. But I loved BBM too.

00:43:25
Speaker 4: I loved I was Mexi for four four I was pink Diamond for Mary Monroe, which everyone in school thought it was for something else. But I could say, how you can mess it up? But good first, she kind of in a weird way manifested in the situation.

00:43:40
Speaker 2: That's exactly right, and I would I would like to think that if you have something like that happened and you go, wow, had I just done that on purpose, it would have worked out the same way. I need to be taking more bold steps, yes or sure? Wait? What did people think pink diamond was.

00:43:55
Speaker 4: For my vagina? And I had did? The seniors gave me the hardest time, and we had no idea when everyone in school was talking about it, and I'm like, and I literally just got to marily Monroe because I was obsessed with her, and I was like pn K and then diamond was spilled a pool way and everyone's like And then I remember senior walking up and be like, I can't believe you named your messenger after your vagina, Like, excuse me? I did my sister, by the way, and I never lived it down that I was known as Ping Diamond for ever.

00:44:35
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh.

00:44:36
Speaker 4: I was so humiliated. I had so many embarrassing moments.

00:44:40
Speaker 2: I feel like, I'm glad you didn't go with that as your wrestling name.

00:44:44
Speaker 4: Yeah, how did you not think of that? I go, well, who nicks? How do you think that's a nickname for that? Tina, I'm just kidding.

00:44:54
Speaker 2: Did you both go to prom? Did you have states to prom?

00:44:58
Speaker 4: We did? But oh you're yeah. I didn't have a date, but I went with everyone. But did you go? But you went junior year? Was that prom? Or homecoming? No prom?

00:45:11
Speaker 2: There's junior prom and then senior prom? Right, yeah?

00:45:14
Speaker 4: Or problem? It was juniors and seniors?

00:45:16
Speaker 1: Yeah?

00:45:17
Speaker 4: Because when Yeah, I remember both years I went. I can't remember you went junior year, but I can't remember. Who.

00:45:25
Speaker 2: Have you ever made that very common mistake with texts where you text the wrong person something you shouldn't.

00:45:31
Speaker 4: Yes, Oh, I remember I was dating this guy and I want to I did go off on him, but to my sister, I just was like over him, wrote this like detailed text about him, just uh. And I sent it to him and I was like no, no, no, no, because you know when you're thinking about that person. So I did that and goes, well, it's good to know how you feel about me. I'm like and but I guess it did in a way. Being that bold it opened up with them like, well, it's because you hurt my feelings, like yeah, and I can't really for angels, just do that on purpose, I think, to like make us you know, through that and feel that and be like this is how you need to be in life.

00:46:12
Speaker 2: Like exactly direct right. I've done that way too many times. It's always a mortifying experience. I know you need to go. It was so wonderful talking with you both. I can't. I'll see you at WrestleMania in Vegas next month. Thank you both for being here. I wish you nothing but the best. This was a real joy talking to you.

00:46:32
Speaker 4: Thank you, Danielle, oh yeah, so much.

00:46:34
Speaker 2: Thank you and your boys. Yes, I'll bring them.

00:46:38
Speaker 1: Yes.

00:46:41
Speaker 2: Team Beat is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fischel, Executive producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudboch. The theme song is by Mark coppis, Yes that Mark Coppas. Follow us on Instagram at teen b Pods.