The following is from WWE.com:
The toughest man to ever wear a dress became the sexiest man to take off a dress, when Vito recently nod all for Playgirl magazine.
It was the SmackDown Superstarâs first time posing for a magazine other than WWE Magazine, and he admitted that being featured in Playgirl is a secret dream come true. Vito was overjoyed, pumped and ready to take it all off for the April 2007 issue, and WWE.com was with him for his big day.
âItâs very humbling, and itâs a very honorable thing to be asked to do a magazine like Playgirl. Youâve already seen WWE Divas go to Playboy,â Vito told WWE.com.
âItâs just an honor and a privilege to represent WWE and SmackDown. To be able to do a magazine like that ⢠I guess if youâre going to do it, you might as well go all the way,â Vito said.
Well, almost all the way. While Vito took it all off for the cameras, he was strategically placed so Playgirl readers wonât see everything ⢠some will have to be left up to the imagination.
âUnfortunately thereâs no full monty,â said Colleen Kane, senior editor for Playgirl. âThe WWE fans can expect to see as close to the full monty as possible without crossing that line.â
WWE fans will see Vito having fun in his French maidâs dress in the WWE ring; and posing in several sexy, animal print outfits and a Versace shirt. He also looked buff in a jock strap and leopard print robe, wet after stepping out of the locker room shower.
âTheyâre going to see the Vito who goes out there every day and has a lot of fun,â Vito said.
âI did this in a very prestigious, honorable way. I want everybody to enjoy it because you can be who you want to be ⢠you donât have to show off or show anything or be disgusting. Itâs done very tastefully, and Iâm representing myself and the WWE,â Vito recalled.
In a special scene, Vito dons a sexy, white, Marilyn Monroe-style dress and mink stole. He posed with wind effects, reminiscent of Monroeâs famous billowing dress scene from the 1955 film, The Seven Year Itch.
âThat was definitely one of the sexiest things Iâve ever done so far,â Vito smiled.
âFor a woman to be Marilyn Monroe and think that they can be that sexy, and have the dress blowing ⢠thatâs a shot thatâs lasted for like 50 years ⢠and I just got to relive it in the last 10 minutes, so I think it was a great thing. I think everybody should try it just once,â Vito continued.
While Vito said he keeps himself in tiptop shape for wrestling in the SmackDown ring, he went through some extra-special preparations for his Playgirl shoot.
âThe last few weeks Iâve done a lot of heavy, heavy dieting, low carbs, extra cardio, trying to cut up as much as possible. Iâm at the lowest weight Iâve ever been in my pro career ⢠209. But the hard work I put into it was all worth it,â Vito said with pride.
âI also had a full body wash and facial the day before the shoot. I had a manicure and pedicure, and my eyebrows done. Just another week at the spa for Vito,â he revealed.
Greg Weiner, the shootâs photographer, said it was his first time shooting a man in a dress for Playgirl. While it was a unique situation, he said Vitoâs bubbly, outgoing and friendly personality made the shoot easy. Weiner rated Vito a perfect 10 as a Playgirl model.
âI think the readers of Playgirl will be surprised and entertained by it. Heâs not the classic model for Playgirl, so I think theyâll embrace that part of it,â Weiner told WWE.com. âHe has a different personality, and also he was willing to show a little skin. Thatâs the tough thing with celebrities ⢠they donât want to show anything. It was great that he was open and willing to do that for the readers. I think itâll go over pretty big, actually.â
Vito loved the special attention he received throughout the day as a Playgirl model, and he hoped it will help his personality shine through in the pictorial.
âThis is just another day at the office, but I have to tell you, Iâm having one of the greatest times of my life right now,â Vito admitted.
âAfter this is gone, and all you people go home, nobodyâs going to give me a robe and some shorts, or give me any clothes or grab me a water ⢠I have to do it on my own, so I mine as well be pampered for a day. Thatâs why Iâm enjoying it so much,â Vito laughed.
Kane said Playgirl gets many requests from readers hoping to see WWE Superstars in the magazine. Since Vito did such a magnificent job, Kane said she hopes this isnât the last time a WWE Superstar is featured.
âVito did very well. He seems like a natural. Heâs very comfortable in front of the camera, posing. Heâs striking some great poses,â Kane said. âI hope we could see more WWE Superstars in Playgirl. If it were up to us, Iâd think so. Itâs just a matter of what wrestler wants to try it next.â
After the completion of the shoot, a relaxed, content Vito candidly spoke to WWE.com about his overall experience.
âItâs probably the most exciting day Iâve ever had. I never thought I could look anything like the way they made me look. I definitely put a lot of hard work into it, and it just definitely showed today,â Vito recalled.
âI was able to really be myself, and it was just a tremendous feeling. I felt very alive. I felt very appealing. I felt very sexy out there,â he said with a smile.
âIt was definitely a great day for Vito, for WWE, SmackDown, all the WWE fans all around the world. I definitely represented. Iâm proud of myself because I was able to do this with a lot of hard work and dedication. Today was Vitoâs Playgirl day, when all my dreams came true.â
