janet jackson: on marriage rumors, drastic weight loss & wanting to have a baby

Janet: on marriage rumors, drastic weight loss and wanting to have a baby

TO SAY THAT JANET JACKSON HAS BEEN UP, THEN DOWN, THEN UP AGAIN IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, especially since that fluctuation applies not only to her career, but also to the world-renowned pop artist's love life and her weight.

Right now, she's on top of her game in all respects: Her career is soaring, she's beaming with love and she looks fabulous. After losing 60 pounds in a few short months, her 5-foot-4 frame is taut, flab-free and as sexy as ever. It's hard to believe she turned 40 earlier this year.

The media has focused on her dramatic weight loss, for last fall she was photographed on a Santa Monica beach and elsewhere looking somewhat pudgy. She says she gained weight for the role of a full-figured waitress in the Lee Daniels movie project Tennessee, which originally was to start filming in fall 2005.

When the movie was delayed, Janet says she had to bow out of the starring role and quickly get in shape for the release of her new recording, 20 Y.O., which celebrates the 20 years since her groundbreaking CD, Control.

That recording put her at the top in pop music and proclaimed to the world that she is more than just the youngest of the large and talented Jackson music clan, that she was taking control of her life and her career. To date, she has sold more than 50 million records, and she is one of the most popular recording artists on the world stage.

Janet Jackson is not the same woman or artist she was 20 years ago. "I've experienced more, I've matured," she says. "Even though I'm still a kid at heart, I've experienced life. Twenty years is a long time, even though it went by so quickly.

I've gone through a lot, and people have heard it on my records over those 20 years, especially with the Velvet Rope."

Janet's life and moods have always been reflected in her music and lyrics. Yet, there is an air of mystique that surrounds her. As a teen, she secretly got married, but the union was quickly dissolved.

After a couple of unremarkable recordings, she commanded attention and respect with Control, which was shepherded by hit producers Jimmy (Jam) Harris and Terry Lewis. With Jackson, the producers again rocked the music world with the Rhythm Nation 1814 follow-up and a succession of other hit CDs.

Then came the startling revelation that Janet and her longtime beau, Rene Elizondo, had been secretly married and were getting a divorce.

Some time later, Janet started dating Jermaine Dupri, the younger music impresario who captured her heart and made her smile again. Marriage and pregnancy rumors persist. The current rumor is that the two will get married this fall on Jermaine's birthday, or about the time the new CD is to be released.

There are others who believe that the loving couple is already married.
During several interviews with EBONY, Janet insists that though she loves Jermaine dearly; they are not husband and wife and there are no wedding plans.

"They are even telling me how much money I'm spending on the [wedding] dress, and how much the wedding is going to cost," Janet says of the rumors. "So I'm just waiting for them to tell me how many guests are attending."

Is a wedding being planned? "No," Janet says emphatically.

"And, no, we are not married. A lot of people think we're already married. I can understand that because of what I did last time," she says, referring to her secret marriage. "That is probably why people won't believe me anyway."

Janet explains that the current rumor started when Dupri--as he escorted her on the red carpet at a music event--commented that her upcoming CD was "kind of a marriage as far as us working together for the first time. He said that we were getting married on this [album release] date." She adds that Jermaine quickly said that he was just joking, but the press overlooked that comment.

For most of her life, Janet has been exposed to media scrutiny, whether it focused on her specifically, her brother Michael Jackson, or other members of the Jackson clan. She expresses no interest in discussing the 2004 Super Bowl halftime incident when her right breast was exposed during what she called a "costume accident."

That is in the past, Jackson says. She is living in the present, and the present is a very happy place for her to be because of Jermaine Dupri.

"It's been beyond good," she says of the five years they have been a couple. "I thank God for him, and I tell him all the time that I thank God for him. It's like no other relationship that I've had in my life. I've never experienced anything like this. I just didn't think it was going to happen for me.

I've been married and divorced twice, and I said, 'Okay, these obviously are my cards I'm being dealt. I've got to play with this hand, and I'll just date. I don't think I'll ever marry again.' And just out of nowhere it catches you off guard. It really blindsided me, and I'm so thankful. It's something I've always wanted and God gave it to me."

The "it" is love. "It's just unconditional, true love from my soul. Cause I know how I am in relationships. Love is what drives me. Nothing else, none of this matters," she says waving her bejeweled hand about her. "It's really about that for me. And I never thought I would be with someone who would give that to me.

Of course, I love my career and all of that, but God can take all that away. But what drives me to do this is having that love ."
When talking about Jermaine, Janet gets dreamy-eyed. Just what is it about Dupri that she likes so much?

"Everything, everything," she says. "Things that used to bug me in relationships, things that guys did, well he'll do the same thing and I eat it up. So that's what I'm talking about. I told myself that this is so different because before, that would have driven me crazy. But I love it with him. I love it."

Janet goes on to talk about how her friends and family are crazy about Jermaine, how she maintains a good relationship with her siblings, and how she mentors her many nieces and nephews. "I tell them not to grow up too fast, you have the rest of your life to be an adult," she says, adding that she tells them what brother Michael told her when she was 14.

"Think about your future" and what you truly want to accomplish in life and what steps you need to take to reach your goal.

When asked if marriage and children are on the horizon for her, Janet becomes pensive. "I really don't know. I didn't think I'd get married again. I never thought I'd have kids. I never thought I'd make a good mother, never really wanted kids in the relationships that I've had.

There was too much going on. I thought adoption was the only way I would have children. But with Jermaine, it's just different. I'd love to have children. I guess I'd better hurry up."

In the meantime, Janet is busy making videos and touring Europe and the U.S. to promote the new CD; she is planning a major world tour for 2007. When it's time to prep for the concert tour, her exercise program will become more intense. "That's an hour of cardio and an hour of lifting each day," she says. "I mean serious cardio, either running on the beach or riding the bike, but nonstop.

There are times when I swim for 45 minutes without a break. It's like training for a competition. It's that intense, and it continues during the tours. It gets harder, actually, but you get stronger."

To lose the 60 pounds she gained for the movie role, Janet says she limited her calorie intake and ate healthy foods that included "lots of protein and vegetables" and an occasional "little sweet dessert" with artificial sweetener.

She says she snacked on strawberries, but never consumed the maximum of five cups a day. She also did a cardio workout and resistance training each day.

Janet says many were startled by her weight gain when she sported her full-figure at Jermaine's birthday party in Las Vegas last September. Some friends even thought she was wearing "some kind of fat suit that I could just step right out of." The response, says Janet, was.

"Oh, my gosh, she's gotten so heavy. Is she pregnant?"
At times it was difficult to tie her shoes or even sit the way she wanted to. "I'm sure that a lot of things were being said behind my back, but never to my face," she says. Through it all, Janet says Jermaine "never treated me any different. And that's the first time I wasn't treated differently for gaining weight by my mate."

That close relationship transitioned well into the recording studio as Dupri worked with Janet, Jimmy (Jam)Harris and Terry Lewis to produce the new recording. "A lot of people feared or wondered if this record would break us up," she says. "It was so smooth working with him. So easy and so fast. Jermaine and I are so much alike, it's kind of frightening."

Says Jermaine: "It was cool working with Janet on this CD. Janet is a fun person to be around, she's very sweet. It's hard not to like Janet, hard not to love her."
With a love in full bloom and the delivery, of 20 Y.O., fans and admirers--just like Jermaine--can't help but to be forever in love with Janet.

trish stratus: injury hasn't hurt stratus' sass, wicked wit

Injury Hasn't Hurt Stratus' Sass, Wicked Wit

Trish Stratus hasn't lost the attitude, but she's relieved that she's finally lost the back pain that prevented her from living a normal life, let alone wrestle.

The blonde beauty returned to RAW on Monday night, siding with WWE Diva Search winner Ashley Massaro against Torrie Wilson, Candice Michelle and Victoria. And what a feeling it was for Trish.

"I'm back, baby! It's super exciting. I was so energized, I couldn't sleep Monday night," says Trish. "I can't compare that adrenaline to anything else. I know what moved me as a fan and I want to bring that to the ring. I want to rock and roll out there."

No wonder she's so excited. She just spent 134 days away from WWE thanks to a herniated disc in her lower back.

"It was painful and frustrating," says Trish. "My body had been telling me that I needed some time off. Two months into it, it was scary ... I still couldn't do everyday things."

But her turnaround came after she inserted yoga into her daily routine. Yoga repaired her body and calmed her mind. And the whole while, her lifestyle, which as a WWE diva and women's champion means constant travel, gave her a different outlook.

"I got to do a lot of interesting things," she says. "Like barbecuing. It was always takeout and delivery, but I had time to cook again. And I got to spend time with family. You get a new appreciation for life."

She says her character still has some sass, and you can bet she won't lose the mischievously wicked sense of humour that gives her so much personality.

"This is a new challenge for me," she says. "I left as a big heel. But what Stone Cold did was not exactly Babyface 101. The fans respond to real. When I came out (on Monday night), it was to shut some girls up. I was telling them: 'You're not ruling the school while I'm here.' And the fans decided to cheer for me."

Trish says she has some unfinished business with Lita when she returns from a knee injury.
"I'll probably kick her ass again," says Trish.

That's okay, we're just glad to see our diva kicking ass and taking names. And it starts at tonight's Unforgiven pay-per-view with Ashley and Trish facing Torrie and Victoria.

trish stratus: trish is still stratusfying

Trish is Still Stratusfying

LET’S get a disclaimer out of the way. If this blog leads you to believe that it was penned by a writer who feels like a schoolboy-with-a-crush, your assessment is accurate.
Trish Stratus does that to a lot of men.

The Canadian fitness model, with only cursory knowledge of the art of wrestling itself, broke into World Wrestling Entertainment in March 2000, when blonde hair and a kickin' hot body was all you needed to land a prime gig on global TV in sports entertainment.

In front of an audience that had already seen Sable, Sunny, Terri Runnels and a host of other disproportionately-built femme fatales, Stratus still commanded attention.

As a heel, she got enormous heat. At times, she made the audience forget what was going on in the ring, with their focus shifting to the busty blonde sex symbol.

As a babyface, she got the audience to actually care what she said, not just wait for her to strip down to the skimpiest of clothing.
Although, when she did strip down, no one ever complained!

I can't seem to recall any objections I ever raised to a script that involved a scantily clad Trish Stratus.
Hey, hey hey. Easy. It was good for ratings. Uh huh. And I read Playboy for the articles, too!

But here's where Trish really earned everyone's respect.

In an environment where she could have made fantastic money just taking an occasional bump, doing the typical bra and panties matches and stealing the show on all the Divas In Paradise DVD releases, Trish Stratus wanted to offer more.

She wanted to give the WWE audience a more complete package than just a busty glamour girl.
She desired to be respected by her peers not just for her awesome looks, but for her drive, ambition, and talent.

Trish was not satisfied just being pro wrestling's hottest babe. She felt compelled to push herself past her own limits and learn how to be a great female wrestler.

So Trish trained in the ring with the same vigour that she attacked the fitness world a few years earlier. She didn't want to just be good, she wanted to be the best. And that was no easy task.

While Trish had to devote so much of her time to building her body, it would be even harder to learn how to become a top notch wrestler.

As gruelling a workout schedule as Trish must have had in the 1990s to become a famous cover girl, learning the tricks of the wrestling trade required dedication, sacrifice and pain.

None of which she had to endure because Trish would have survived, even THRIVED, for years "just being Trish".

But that wasn't enough for her.

“I want to do it because I know I can,” she'd tell people. “And I'm going to do it, because it's the type of challenge that drives me!”

While no female wrestler's career can truly be compared to The Fabulous Moolah's, I think you'd be hard-pressed to say that Trish Stratus wasn't the greatest female wrestler of the modern era.

And when she was at the height of her popularity, having achieved enough respect that she actually had hands-on influence in her own storylines, Trish decided to conquer other worlds.
She could have easily made big money for no less than another five years in WWE.

But instead, she ventured out into the unknown and tried her hand at other things that interested her.

Though Stratus had travelled the globe with WWE, she really never got the opportunity to sample all the many cultures of the continents she performed on.

An avid lover of different customs and beliefs, Trish put together Stratusphere - a new television show for the Travel and Escape Channel in Canada.

Bungee jumping in Bali, sword fighting in Northern India, Vo Binh Dinh grappling in Vietnam, the woman whose outfits left so very little to the imagination on WWE Raw gets to show you even more of herself as she experiences different lifestyles around the world.

From all accounts, the show is a critical and ratings success.
It's poignant, funny, and informative.

But most of all, it's centred around a host who is never content with just doing enough.
And while I'm sure the next time I see Trish Stratus I'll have to tell myself to "stop staring", the human being underneath all that beauty is a truly remarkable person.

trish stratus: stratus sets new standard with 5th reign as women's champion

Stratus Sets New Standard with Fifth Reign as Women’s Champion

Trish Stratus made history Sunday at Bad Blood, winning the Women’s Championship for a record fifth time; not too bad for someone who came to WWE just four years ago with the most basic of wrestling knowledge.

Her victory over Lita, Gail Kim and Victoria, all champions themselves, was a testament to how far she and the women’s division has come in a relatively short period of time.

When Trish arrived on the scene in March 2000, the women’s division was something of an afterthought. On occasion, WWE’s Divas would grapple, but for the most part, they worked as valets and entertained the crowd with their beauty much more than their brawn.

As Trish and the other female competitors demonstrated this past Sunday, and every night on RAW for that matter, today they are every bit as athletic as they are beautiful.

"When I came to WWE in March 2000, I just had some very rudimentary training and some basic knowledge," Trish said. "I think the turning point for me came when I had my ankle injury in 2001 and then made my return in October. About that time WWE began to put more focus on the women’s division and Fit Finlay came aboard to help train all the women. He’s been a godsend to me and all the women on the roster."

Though this is Trish’s fifth time wining the championship, her victory was no less sweeter than any of her other title wins.

"Each championship is unique and special," she said. "The first time was the most surprising, at the 2001 Survivor Series. I went in as the underdog and everything just came together. My fourth win, at WrestleMania XIX, was maybe the most emotional moment of my career. The crowd was so into the match and behind us. It was an incredible feeling."

Trish’s success has not come without a lot of hard work and dedication. Beyond the weekly grind of wrestling a WWE schedule, she’s suffered numerous injuries and spent countless hours learning the ropes and improving her wrestling skills. Few could have succeeded as she has, and the hard work has only made her championships that much sweeter.

"I’m very proud of becoming the first woman to win five World Championships," she said. "I’m focused in everything I want to do. I set my goals high and work very hard to achieve those goals."

"But as much as I am personally proud for winning five championships, I’m equally proud just being part of a women’s division that has gotten so much better with all these great athletes here. It all stems from the emphasis that WWE puts on the women’s division. Without it, the fans would not be so into our matches and the championships wouldn’t be as rewarding."

The record for number of world title reigns, regardless of gender, is currently held by Ric Flair, who has 16 to his credit. Although Trish is flattered by any type of comparison made with the man many consider the best to ever lace up a pair of boots, she realizes that even coming close to the Nature Boy’s record might be stretching things a bit too far.

But who knows what the future holds? Who would have guessed in March 2000 that just over four years later, she would become the most decorated female Superstar in history? When it comes to Trish Stratus, anything is possible.

trish stratus: eye weekly

Trish Stratus

When former WWE personality Trish Stratus retired from wrestling last year, she left the squared circle behind for a different kind of mat. Now a certified Ashtanga yoga instructor, Stratus is putting the finishing touches on her new yoga studio, Stratusphere, which opens in Vaughan at the end of April. EYE WEEKLY chatted with her about how she went from dishing out signature moves like the Stratusfaction to perfecting her downward dog.

Most of us know you as a wrestler. How long have you been practising yoga?

I’ve been doing yoga for about almost four years. I had an injury from wrestling; I had a herniated disc in my back and going to traditional physiotherapy just wasn’t helping me.

After two months of that, I did yoga for the first time at a class up here in North York . Two and a half months later, my back was completely back to normal…. I went back to wrestling and finished off my career for a few more years with no back pain.

Not only did yoga give me rehabilitation, but it centred me. I had this crazy lifestyle of being on the road for 250 days a year [and yoga] really allowed me to go back and handle everything. It was a great addition to my repertoire.

What was your motivation for starting a yoga studio of your own?

I found that to do yoga, I had to go downtown or I had to do one type of yoga at one studio. We’re trying to do something like your one-stop yoga shop. We have three different studios, so one day you feel really stressed, you can go do a restorative class.

One day you feel like you need a challenge, so you go do a power class…. Sometimes I kinda go, “I think I opened the studio just to give myself a place to practise every day.”

That’s part of the reason. I’m a certified Ashtanga instructor as well, so I’m going to teach classes eventually but we’ve hired the top instructors in Toronto, so I’m going to let them handle that. But I’ll be doing my daily practice there.

Many of us have been in hibernation all winter. Why should we get off our asses and get active this spring?

It just feels so good when you’re active, on so many levels. I always say, “Get your endorphins going and you’re sure to feel good.” And as soon as you’re active and your body starts responding, you feel great because you look great.

Why is yoga a good choice?

Because it’s so versatile. It’s very safe and you can tailor your practice to suit your needs, so if you’ve been in hibernation for a while, you can get back in with the beginner class, then move up to the advanced class or a different type of yoga.

Got any other tips for folks looking to get fit?

Listen to your body. It’ll tell you if you’re pushing too hard. And if you listen close enough, it’ll tell you to get off your butt and get your workout in — it’s a quiet voice but it’ll tell you. And give it time. So many people start for a week, then think it’s not working and get unmotivated.

I’ve been physically active for pretty much my whole career, but when I did a show called Armed and Famous for CBS, I was a cop and I was working the late shift and didn’t work out for six weeks, and ate a lot of donuts —?I know that’s a cliché, but I did.

When I started to work out again, I got really frustrated and for the first time, I understood. But it was just a matter of time. You put on the pounds and you have to take the time to lose the pounds.

How much time do you need to give a new routine before you feel the impact?

Give yourself a 30-day challenge and of course you’re going to see results. By keeping with it for at least four weeks, you’re going to see not only the physical results but mental results and the way your head’s clearer and you’re more stress-free.

trish stratus: flex appeal

Flex Appeal

Their bodies are sculpted. They strut six-pack abs, strong forearms, seriously defined biceps and carry themselves with the kind of bursting pride you can't help but notice.

This well-cared for crop is none other than pro athletes, a select group adored by many, worshipped by some, and idolized by most because they've managed to land some of the coolest jobs around.

Yes, these larger-than-life heros simply can make us go ga-ga. And who can blame us? Seriously, what oozes sex appeal more than success, confidence and a buffed body to boot?

From our love affair with tennis stars Maria Sharapova and hunky Spaniard Rafael Nadal to our obsession with all-American boy footballer Tom Brady, sports stars boast a certain marketability that captures our attention.

Soon, it's going to get even bigger and more captivating when sporting fans from across the globe tune in to watch the best of the best vying for gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, starting tomorrow.

But being great is only part of the allure of the athletic bunch.

Fact is, whether you're an Average Joe or a sports superstar like upcoming Olympian softball pitcher Jenny Finch, reaching one's personal physical best is irresistible in part because of the beaming confidence it can produce.

This is something Jacque Walters understands well.
About four years ago, the vice-president of Group Fitness for Extreme Fitness took up boxing, kicked beer and processed foods to the curb, and dropped 12 pounds in the process. Now the 47-year-old is in the best shape of her life and is competing against 20-somethings.

"Somebody who's fit, in addition to the aesthetics of their body, there's also the side that shows someone who's in control of their body," says Walters.

"(Physical fitness) reflects how you see yourself and how others see you. I am not talking about Hollywood -- big boobs, fake smiles and booty -- this is a different kind of sexy."

According to the Association for Canadian Studies, a whopping 48% of Canadian adults are overweight and almost 15% are obese, but while our waistlines may be expanding, it's never too late to make a change, Walters stresses.

"Just because you're 20, 30, 40 ... the game's not over," she says.
"Our bodies are incredible machines but we tend to take better care of our cars -- we take them in to the shop to get serviced, yet we don't eat and fuel our bodies right. Athletes service their bodies and that takes a lot of work. Our society is all about the quick and easy fix from fast food to botox but there is no quick and easy way to get in shape. Wouldn't we all be walking around with perfect bodies if that were true?"

Retired Canadian WWE superstar Trish Stratus has long been celebrated for her both her athleticism and sex appeal, something she believes goes hand in hand.
"I think when you look at someone who's fit and strong, they're also perceived as mentally strong," Stratus explains.

"It takes a lot of work to have that kind of body, and if a person doesn't have it, they want it."
Stratus, who has shifted her workout focus to yoga and recently opened A Toronto-area studio called Stratusphere, says finding a workout you love is the key to sticking with it, getting off the couch, and staying in shape.

"The neat thing about fitness and wellness is that it's the one thing you can watch on TV and say, 'Oh, I can do that too,' and it's true -- this is one thing you can actually achieve," says the buffed beauty, who also stars in the sport and adventure-based TV show, also called Stratusphere, premiering on the Travel & Escape network in September.

"You just have to start with a tiny goal," she advises. "One week say, 'I am going to go without Coke,' and soon you realize that a) it is achievable and b) it's not as hard as we think. It's a matter of taking charge of your life."

While it's true we can't all be Olympic hopefuls in the making, we can get inspiration from watching those who are.

Whether it's getting dirty playing beach volleyball, sweaty over tennis, or mastering the perfect pitch, getting in the game will have us feeling and looking better and holding our proud heads a little higher too. And really, what could be sexier than that?

trish stratus: spartan woman

Spartan Woman

The dislocated shoulder. The herniated disc in her back. The broken and missing knuckle. The torn ligament in her thumb. The thrice-fractured nose. The bone chip in her ankle. These are the things you don’t see when you look at Trish Stratus, and it’s your loss. Because if you only see the blonde bombshell, you’ll miss the most intriguing part of the story – a tale of relentless, almost militaristic will and determination masked by a pin-up girl facade.

It’s incorrect to think famous people are lucky; more often, it’s pure cause and effect. For instance, see how these dominoes fall: pre-med student becomes fitness model, becomes superstar WWE champion, becomes successful entertainer, entrepreneur and TV producer. A mantra of “preparedness meets opportunity” fuels the transformations, along with an unceasing drive to challenge herself. The injuries arrive like hidden blessings.

The bone chip in her ankle led to her first championship. While sidelined with the thumb injury, she found time to perform with Second City ; the bad shoulder allowed her to host Canada ’s Walk of Fame. And when physiotherapy didn’t help the chronic shoulder problems late in her WWE career, yoga did.

Characteristically, “Stratusphere Yoga” emerged, a 5,200-square foot yoga studio. Stratus was hands-on with every aspect of construction and design, her vision emerging directly from her experience as a practitioner. Essentially, she produced the studio.

She’s also co-producer and host of a new travel show, “Stratusphere.” Not surprisingly, the show arose out of an injury. From her initial involvement with Second City and traveling with the producer of “ Second City ’s Next Comedy Legend”, the idea for the program took shape.

As noted earlier, Stratus possesses an uncanny ability to turn ideas, and contusions, into reality. The concept was written up, the show pitched and sold by Suddenly SeeMore...Productions. In it, Stratus globe-trots in search of challenges that highlight local cultures – like paragliding in the Himalayas or sword fighting in southern India.

A dream job, really – and, as is typical, all emanating from a torn ligament in her thumb.
Once, during a WWE Hardcore match, someone hit her in the face with a trash can lid. And what resulted – a new series or business; a multi-million dollar contract or lawsuit?

No, Stratus says. Just a missing tooth.
Trish Stratus recently visited the TORO studio for an exclusive photo shoot with Franco Deleo and answered this Q&A.

Q: What is the quality you like most in a man?

A: Sense of humour.

Q:The quality you like most in a woman?

A: Sense of humour.

Q: What is your present state of mind?

A: Content.

Q: What is your greatest extravagance?

A: Food. I love food. And between my husband and I, when we go places the question is always, “What’s the food there?” And when we got married it was like, “What food would we want to eat here?” And it’s probably from all that dieting that I had to do. But as soon as I’m free to step away into the world of food, mmm, I love it!

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

A: My family.

Q: Who is the living person you most admire?

A: My mom - my mom is my soldier. I call her my soldier after the fight that she went through (with cancer). She made me into who I am today.

Q: On what occasion do you lie?

A: I never lie. Oops – I just did.

Q: What talent do you most wish you could have?

A: I wish that I could sing. I’ll never forget this one time – it was years ago, and unfortunately at a funeral – but a friend of my cousin sang, and it was amazing what I felt when she did. And I thought, “Wow – to be able to stir such emotion just by doing that is quite a gift.

Q: Other than your present occupation, what other occupation would you most like to try?

A: Probably a professional MMA fighter. Ever since I went to Thailand and took Muay Thai boxing I’ve been thinking, “Hmm. Wouldn’t I be good at this.”

Q: Do you watch the UFC?

A: Yes, I think it’s an awesome sport. And I think they are taking a few tips from the WWE to make it more entertaining as well, and that’s definitely the way they should go. And I’m enjoying it. And it’s the people who don’t actually watch it who say, “Oh, it’s so violent – why would you want to do that?” And people asked me the same thing recently after I got into Muay Thai boxing – they’d say, “But wouldn’t you be afraid of messing up your face?” And I reply, “Well, I’d be winning. So why would I mess up my face.”

Q: In what country other than this would you like to live?

A: Probably, Greece .

Q: My wife is Greek. She’s from Sparta .

A: So am I.

Q: You know – it makes sense that your family is Spartan.

A: I know. I’m a fighter! [laughs]

Q: Greatest fear?

A: I’m fearless, I have to say. I was bungee jumping in Bali and I had a motorbike and I was about to go off an edge, and my brain said, “What are you doing? There’s no road there and you’re revving a motorcycle.” And I thought, “Oh. Right.” But I look at it like, “If I’m supposed to go right now, then I’ll go.” And that’s it.

Q: That’s very Spartan too. Did you see the film 300?

A: Oh, I loved it.

Q: What trait do you deplore most in other people?

A: People who are just not genuine.

Q: What do you deplore most about yourself?

A: Well, I need closure around me. I need to make sure that everything is done before I focus on

the next thing. Which is a good thing because it means you focus 100 per cent on something. But sometimes it means but the time I close up everything and get to the thing that finally needs to be looked at, it’s late. And I find myself at the very last moment possible.

Q: Who do you admire most – as far as people in similar careers to yourself.

A: Well, the woman would be Madonna – especially considering the age she’s at, and what she’s done with her career, and how she’s always kept them guessing, which is awesome.

Q: What would be your ideal media platform?

A: I think what I’m going to end up being is a producer in some capacity. I like behind-the-scenes. I like the steps that are involved. I’m very thorough in everything I do. I’m one of the producers on this show. WWE used to do “home videos” for their superstars every once in a while – and the home video for me was the very first time I ever produced. I wasn’t supposed to be producing, but I ended up being so hands-on that I wrote the outline and just everything. So I ended up getting a producing credit on that and it’s just how I do things...Ultimately, what I like doing is being in touch with people and connecting with people and helping them make lifestyle choices – whether it’s through the fitness or whether it’s through travel, anything really. I love to just translate things to people to help enhance their life. Because, you know, you’ve got one life – and all these teeny little tweaks along the way can really enhance your life.

Q: What is your motto?

A: Preparedness meets opportunity.