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Eve Torres' eyes were opened a year ago when she was part of WWE's Tribute to the Troops. A visit to a hospital, with plenty of injured soldiers, was "very emotional."
But when the WWE superstars once again headed to Iraq for the seventh annual Tribute to the Troops, she was thrilled to be involved again. Tribute to the Troops will air on NBC Saturday night, at 9 p.m. ET.
"Man, it was an incredible experience," says Torres, the winner of the 2007 Diva Search. "Last year, I was so overwhelmed. This time, I was able to enjoy it for what it was, getting a lot of 1-on-1 time with the soldiers."
With all there is to worry about in the battle zone, Torres says the soldiers go out of their way to gush appreciation on the wrestlers.
"There's incredible apprehension, almost too much (waiting for WWE's appearance," says Torres. "We just go over to say hello, to say thanks and to put on some entertainment. We're there to show our support for them. They've given up the everyday freedoms we take for granted. They're doing what their country asked them to do."
Torres is not just a pretty face for WWE.
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Along with being off the charts in hotness, this is a girl with brains and athleticism.
In appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, the USC grad with a degree in industrial and systems engineering solved a Rubik's Cube in less than five minutes. She's also been involved in gymnastics, dancing and jiu-jitsu.
"Wrestling requires a lot of athleticism," she says. "You have to learn things very fast. And you have to do things with your body that are not natural."
Torres says while there are sometimes disagreements with other Divas, she's enjoyed the environment.
"There is an underlying respect," she says. "We're risking our safety and health so we have to look out for each other. There's a side to the Divas that no one gets to see on TV. There is a kind and fun side to the Divas, too."
Each day is a learning experience for her. And while she's learning, she's improving, becoming more entwined in the wrestling world.
"They just throw you out there to perform and you have to get better," she says. "Everything is live. You don't have scripts to review days or hours ahead. Sometimes, you're given the words minutes before you go out there.
"You learn 10 new things about the business every day. I feel very blessed, very fortunate, to be here."
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Tim Baines is the Sports Editor for the Ottawa Sun and can be emailed at Tim.baines@sunmedia.ca.