10 Most Cringeworthy Moments From WWE Total Divas

Giving Divas a chance to embarrass themselves.

John Cena Nikki Bella Total Divas
WWE

This is, quite possibly, the most metacognitive, self-aware thing that the WWE has ever done.

Total Divas is a reality show about the backstage of a wrestling show, which itself is a scripted drama about a wrestling show. It stars the Divas, the strangely condescending name for the female athletes who wrestle in the women's division of the WWE. We see them get ready for their matches, fight with their boyfriends and husbands (many of whom are also wrestlers), and fight with each other. 

Total Divas purports to be real, but then again, so does the rest of the WWE. Are the producers filming anything that's casual or spontaneous? Or is this just another 'worked shoot', a fictional 'show behind the show', where the arguments are scripted and predetermined? Where the reality actually begins and ends is anybody's guess. 

After a while, just as with wrestling, you stop asking questions about what you see, and enjoy it for what it is.

The best parts of Total Divas, as with professional wrestling, are the moments that are believable. Every now and then, the camera captures something that seems a bit more 'real', for lack of a better word. And whether it was planned or not, it's these brief moments that keep viewers watching in voyeuristic fascination.

If you'd like to get in on the Schadenfreude, Total Divas airs on the E! Channel, Tuesdays, at 9PM ET.

10. Daniel Bryan Pulls And Prays, Kids!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxDr4CSBn-8

Season 3

Episode: "Girl vs. Girl Bye"

We've learned a few things about Daniel Bryan over the course of Total Divas. He's a bit of a ballbreaker when it comes to humor. He believes in Eastern medicine, to the point that we worry he'll end up like Steve Jobs. But we never thought we'd learn that Daniel Bryan practices birth control with Brie by pulling out during sex.

Yep, the leader of the YES! Movement practices contraception like a 16-year-old who flunked 8th Grade health. It was also funny to watch Nikki freak out as she reflected, in classic, self-centered fashion, how this could possibly affect her.

Contributor
Contributor

Kevin is an AP English Language teacher and freelance writer from Queens, NY. His focus is on American pop culture and American issues. He wrote a weekly column for Complex called "Throwback Thursdays," which spotlighted video games and trends from previous console generations. Kevin has also been published in VIBE, Salon, PopMatters, Joystiq, and Racialicious. Follow him on Twitter to learn more.