Sonya Deville offers a Total Divas preview.
Tuesday, Oct. 1 marks the premiere of the ninth season of Total Divas on E! Network. Joining the main cast this season will be Sonya Deville, whose success as the first gay female WWE superstar will play out on-screen. Along with seeing Deville in the ring, fans will get to meet her girlfriend Arianna Johnson, who wasn't keen on the idea of their relationship being showcased to the world.
“She did not want to do it at all. You’ll see it play out on the show. And that’s real life,” Deville told TV Insider. “She met me before I started doing Total Divas. She had no interest in me because of my job or what I do. She wasn’t about sharing our private moments on TV. We went through some conversations about that. Then she agreed to do it because I wanted her to do it. I wanted to share her with the world. I didn’t want to have to fake something on TV. I didn’t want to leave her out, so I’m glad she did it with me.”
Deville also stated, “I know when people watch Total Divas there is going be a lot to relate to when it comes to my relationship to my girlfriend and being part of the LGBTQ community. Letting a whole new demographic able tune in and say, ‘Wow, I’m gay. She is gay.’ I want to make them feel comfortable and know they have a voice from the WWE now.”
Deville is one of two new main cast members this season with the other being former WWE Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey. Other cast members include Carmella, returning as a main member after being a guest on season eight, and Natalya, a main cast member since the premiere episode in 2013.
“Carmella and I were always close, so it gave us more time together,” Deville. “Nattie I never got to know that well before Divas because we’ve been on different brands. I really got to bond with her. Ronda, it was cool to bond with her. You’ll see during the season that her and I were not always on the same page, but it was good getting to know her. We’re friendly now.”
Deville recently revealed that she pitched an idea to work with Rousey, but it was shot down.
Total Divas season nine premieres tonight, Oct. 1, at 10 p.m. ET on E!
