My way of saying “Thank You”.
“It’s not even a job, you don’t get paid for it.” Without a doubt, that was the criticism I heard the most over my past three years with Diva-Dirt.com. The funny thing? The people that told me that were right, it wasn’t a job. It was so much more than that- it was my passion . Growing up, the one thing I always loved was wrestling. I was never into things like cars or sports like typical boys. It was always one thing. Wrestling. One of my fondest memories is jumping on top of my couch at six years old when my Dad let me stay up to watch Lita win the Women’s Championship from Stephanie McMahon in the main event of Raw in 2000. Even then, I knew how big of a deal it was. It would set the course for the next 16 years. Even growing up with a rare kidney disorder, wrestling was the one thing that always kept me going growing up, the one thing I could tune into and escape all my troubles.
When I started getting older I started podcasts and editing music videos, all revolving around wrestling. This all hit it’s peak when I was able to join Diva Dirt in 2013. In the past three years, I’ve had the most incredible experiences of my life, launching the Diva Dirt Hype music video series, producing monthly video packages for the matches involving women’s wrestlers that normally didn’t get the same treatment as far as production ( and many other things) went. I was so honored to have my work recognized by so many incredible women over the years.
We also launched Diva Dirt Weekly, one of the funniest experiences I’ve ever been apart of. When I started as Diva Dirt I barely knew Jake and Erin, but over the years they’ve become legitimately two of my closest friends whom I don’t go a single day without speaking to. What started as a regular, rather tame podcast turned into a weekly show where we would mix whatever was going on in women’s wrestling with these ridiculous skits and impersonations. It was insanity on a weekly basis but I loved every second of it.
If it was music videos, podcasts, live tweeting some of the biggest events ever with live play-by-play, or breaking some of the biggest news stories; I have gotten to do so many incredible things and I am absolutely so grateful and want to thank a few people.
Erin: Thank you for allowing me to live this dream out. I have so much respect for you not only as an editor but as a person. You made me want to be a better, smarter person each and every day. The legacy that you are leaving behind is not forgotten. Thank you to Melanie and Jason Deadrich for allowing me to join the site as well.
Jake: When I joined the site I had never interacted with you and quite frankly you intimidated the hell out of me. Now, you are truly one of my best friends. Thank you for being the best Diva tag partner and half of “The Agenda” I could ever ask for. You are an incredible human being and I wouldn’t have made it through the last three years without you. You mean the world to me.
Cryssi, Katelyn, Steven, Shanti, and Eric: Thank you all for being such incredible friends over the years. I love you all dearly and all five of you are such incredible people. I am so glad I’ve gotten to know you all during the years. You all have helped me through so much and I adore all of you.
Jack, Eleri, Adrian, Josue, and Kyle: Thank you all for being such amazing friends and team members on the site. Jack, Josue, and Kyle I hope the three of you continue on the legacy that this website has created.
To the wrestlers- whether past like Trish Stratus, Lita, Victoria, Brooke, Kaitlyn, and Terri or current like the Bellas, Natalya, Becky, Charlotte, Summer, and Jade. or rising stars like Tessa Blanchard, Chasity Taylor, Amanda Rodriguez and Daysia Day. Thank you ALL for the amazing experiences in and out of the ring. I’ve been honored to meet and interact with so many incredible people whether it was in interviews, on social media, or in person.
To the incredible friends I’ve made on social media — Jose, Bre, magicimpact, Bass Mode, Ryan, Derrick, Casey, Lorraine(#GiveDivasAChance forever!), Shirleigh, Tyler, Jordan, Josh, Monica, Victor, Ramon, Jenn, and so many others that I know I’m forgetting to mention- thank you for supporting me through whatever project I working on, and I’m so sorry if I’ve left a name out.
To the incredible friends I’ve made in person- Bob, Lora, Josey, David, and Amber Gertner- Thank you for always supporting me and having my back no matter what.
To the family and friends that have put up with my “Diva” habit for three years- thanks for putting up with the frustration, the obsession, and all the good times that went along with it.
To editors like Chris B, Jordan, Ali, Megan, David, Nate, Branden, and others- I am so glad we got to feature your work on Diva Dirt Hype and I hope you guys continue to kick tail.
To Chaz & Joe- Thank you so much for being there whenever I needed anything over the years. Your support means the world to me.
To all the fans that watched, listened, or read anything that I posted- thank you so much, it meant the world to me.
And last but certainly not least, to Tom- Thank you for continuing to fight the good fight every day. You are our wrangler and an inspiration to me and many others. Thank you for everything you do.
If I have forgotten you, I am so sorry. I am so grateful to everyone.
So yes, it wasn’t “ a job” it was a passion. It was my life for three years. And it was amazing. As I finish typing this I just watched three women steal the show at the biggest WrestleMania ever. When I started with DD, the only match any women were involved in got cut from the show. It has been an incredible ride and I wouldn’t trade a second of it.
But the story of me and wrestling hopefully isn’t anywhere close to over. Who knows, I hear Connecticut is an interesting state to live. ;)
Thank you Diva Dirt.
Chris Riddle
