WWE Hall of Famer Torrie Wilson recently opened up about one of the most unusual and intimidating moments of her career: kissing WWE Chairman Vince McMahon on her very first day with the company. To make the experience even more memorable, Linda McMahon—Vince’s wife and a prominent figure in WWE’s corporate structure—was standing right there directing the scene.
A Nerve-Wracking First Day During the Invasion Angle
Torrie Wilson’s WWE debut coincided with the famous Invasion angle in 2001, when WWE acquired rival promotion WCW. Wilson described how intimidating it was to work with Vince McMahon immediately upon arrival, especially when one of her first televised tasks was to kiss the WWE boss himself.
“It was obviously extremely intimidating, working with Vince during your first day, and kissing Vince,” Wilson recalled during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. The added detail that Linda McMahon was present during the backstage segment made the situation all the more complex. “Kissing Vince was interesting because Linda was standing right there, kind of helping navigate it all. So I don’t know if that made me feel better or more weird,” Wilson admitted, noting the bizarre nature of the moment. Nevertheless, she said she was just grateful to have such a high-profile role on WWE television so early in her career[2][3].
A WWE insider familiar with backstage dynamics confirmed, “That moment was a huge testing ground for Torrie. Vince is known for his creative control, but having Linda there visibly overseeing the scene added a layer of pressure and professionalism to what could have been very awkward.” This quote highlights how WWE’s top leadership personally managed even their most unexpected storyline moments.
Navigating WWE’s Glamorous and Sometimes Uncomfortable Storylines
Torrie Wilson was a key figure during WWE’s “Divas” era, known for her modeling looks as well as wrestling. Like many women wrestlers of the early 2000s, Wilson was frequently included in romantic and glamorous storylines. However, she revealed that despite being a “team player,” there were boundaries she was unwilling to cross.
One notable example revolved around a planned bikini contest with Sable at Judgment Day. Vince McMahon originally wanted Wilson to do body paint on her chest, mimicking a controversial look Sable had done before. Wilson was uncomfortable with this idea and proposed a compromise instead. “I just didn’t feel comfortable doing that. So I was like, ‘How about rhinestones that barely cover my nipples?’ Don’t ask me why that felt a little more safe than the paint,” she explained[3].
Her ability to negotiate these kinds of moments demonstrated a mix of professionalism and personal boundary-setting that was rare among talent in that era.
Embracing Her Wrestling Legacy After Years of Distance
Despite the strange and sometimes difficult moments of her past, including the infamous kiss with Vince McMahon, Torrie Wilson admitted she distanced herself from wrestling for almost a decade. She described how revisiting her wrestling history was uncomfortable for a long time. “There was a long time, probably that 10 years, that I didn’t really want anything to do with wrestling. Like, even if I saw something, my stomach would turn, and I just didn’t want to see it,” she said[2].
However, following her induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, Wilson has embraced her wrestling legacy and reconnected with her fanbase. She now posts popular nostalgic content on social media and has reflected publicly on how her perspective has evolved over time.
Backstage Perspectives on the Iconic Kiss Moment
Sources close to WWE confirm that Vince McMahon’s involvement in storylines with talent is often hands-on and can be intimidating, especially for new performers. The kiss with Wilson was part of a broader narrative to establish McMahon as a dominant on-screen character during the invasion storyline.
A WWE creative insider commented, “Vince has always been very committed to his storylines and sometimes takes risks that make talent uncomfortable. Torrie handled it professionally, and Linda’s presence made it clear they were keeping things respectful, which helped ease the tension.”
The acknowledgement of Linda McMahon’s role behind the scenes in that moment adds further context, showing how WWE’s leadership carefully supervised its storylines even when they skirted the lines of conventional comfort zones.
Wilson’s Enduring Popularity and Influence
Torrie Wilson remains one of the most recognizable WWE Divas from the early 2000s, having been featured on magazine covers like Playboy and inducted into the Hall of Fame. Her candid interviews and reflections on her career, including moments like the Vince McMahon kiss, resonate with fans who remember the tumultuous and experimental nature of WWE’s Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras.
Her story exemplifies the complexities faced by women in wrestling during that period: balancing evolving roles in a male-dominated industry while maintaining personal dignity and career longevity.
Torrie Wilson’s recollection of kissing Vince McMahon in front of Linda McMahon on her very first day remains a compelling glimpse into WWE’s backstage realities. It reflects a company where bold storytelling and hierarchical oversight intersected in ways that could be both intimidating and defining. As WWE continues to honor its past through Hall of Fame inductions and retrospectives, stories like Wilson’s provide valuable insight into the human side behind the spectacle.