Tough Enough


Tough Enough (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

WWE Tough Enough (previously known as WWF Tough Enough) is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV. A fourth competition was held in 2004, with only a single winner, who was integrated into (at the time) UPN's SmackDown!. In October 2010, it was announced that the USA Network, currently airing WWE Raw, would be reviving Tough Enough. It was aired immediately prior to Raw. The revived series began airing on April 4, 2011, a day after WrestleMania XXVII. The first three seasons were co-produced with MTV, while the revival is a co-production with Shed Media. Repeat broadcasts of the revival series are shown on Universal HD and have also aired recently on Oxygen and G4.

As of 2012 The Miz who was on tough enough is competing on Raw. The most recent was John Hennigan, who wrestled as John Morrison on the Raw brand before his contract expired following his last appearance on November 28, 2011. Hennigan and Tough Enough I winner Maven Huffman are the only two Tough Enough winners to win championships in WWE. Hennigan has won the ECW Championship, WWE Intercontinental Championship, and the WWE Tag Team Championship on multiple occasions. Huffman once held the WWE Hardcore Championship. Christopher Nowinski, who didn't win Tough Enough, also held the WWE Hardcore Championship. Mike Mizanin, who came in second place in the $1,000,000 Tough Enough and is better known as The Miz, who has held both the WWE Championship and Intercontinental Championship once and the United States Championship on two occasions. Together, John Morrison and The Miz also would become WWE Tag Team Champions, World Tag Team Champions, and two-time Slammy Award winners. Josh Lomberger, better known as Josh Mathews, is currently the longest tenured WWE employee from the entire Tough Enough cast, eventually signing with WWE in 2002 and becoming an announcer and interviewer.

Original series

Tough Enough

Maven Huffman and Nidia Guenard won the first season of Tough Enough. Only two contestants were actually cut from the competition; the others eliminated voluntarily exited. Of the final five contestants, four would eventually join the WWE. Nidia was released from WWE on November 3, 2004, while Maven was released on July 5, 2005.

Though they both survived the initial cut from 230 contestants down to 25, eventual season two winner Jackie Gayda and former TNA Women's Knockout Champion ODB (Jessica Kresa) were not selected among the final 13 contestants who appeared in season one. Current WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts sent in an audition tape, which aired in a season one teaser on the January 25, 2001 edition of SmackDown!.

The first season of Tough Enough was released on DVD in 2002, as was the soundtrack.

Trainers

Contestants

  • Bobbie Jo Anderson
  • Chris Nifong
  • Christopher Nowinski (later joined the Raw brand, but retired after suffering a severe concussion)
  • Darryl Cross
  • Greg Whitmoyer (went to join various other promotions)
  • Jason Dayberry
  • Josh Lomberger (aka Josh Mathews later joined the SmackDown! brand as an announcer, currently a commentator on WWE SmackDown)
  • Maven Huffman (winner)
  • Nidia Guenard (winner)
  • Paulina Thomas
  • Shadrick McGee
  • Taylor Matheny
  • Victoria Tabor
Order of Elimination:

  • Episode 1 Tom, after being selected to the final 13, refused to sign the MTV contract and was replaced by Greg.
  • Episode 3 Jason quit because he could not handle the road life.
  • Episode 4 Bobbie Jo and Victoria quit together because they could not handle the physicality.
  • Episode 5 Darryl was cut for poor ability and attitude.
  • Episode 6 Shadrick was cut due to ring struggles.
  • Episode 7 Paulina dropped out due to severe leg and knee injuries sustained in the second episode.
  • Episode 9 Greg was forced to quit due to three herniated discs.
  • Episode 10 Chris Ni. quit after feeling it was not his time.
  • Episode 13 Taylor, Chris No., and Josh were runners up after Nidia and Maven were announced as the winners.

Episodes

Title Original airdate Episode
"Casting Special" June 21, 2001 1
With more than 4,000 tapes sent into the company, 230 hopefuls came to The World to audition for the show, but only 13 were selected to make the trip to Stamford, Connecticut to find out who is tough enough.
"Welcome to the Jungle" June 28, 2001 2
The group meets Al Snow, Jacqueline, and Tori and begin their training. They also meet Tazz, who comes to their house unannounced one morning and forces them to wrestle in the mud and jog behind him while he rides in a Hummer.
"Jason Crumbles" July 5, 2001 3
Triple H lectures the group about the reality and the integrity of the wrestling business"?a reality that Jason decides he is not willing to be a part of and respects too much to waste.
"If You Can't Stand the Heat" July 12, 2001 4
Bobbie Jo and Victoria decide that they do not belong in the wrestling business. When Maven and Josh kid around the house, a fire breaks out. Stephanie McMahon takes the girls out to lunch. When Al has to wrestle on SmackDown!, the group scores front row tickets to the show.
"Dispatching Darryl" July 19, 2001 5
Darryl can't catch a break when he loses a bet in a game of darts to "Big", Josh, Greg, and Maven, and aggravates Chris Nowinski when he asks him for more money to cook dinner for Pat Patterson. Meanwhile, the trainers are not keen on his performance, either in the ring or out of it.
"Tears Idle Tears" July 26, 2001 6
After a hard day in the ring, the group realizes that either Shadrick or Chris Ni. are going to be cut. Meanwhile, the kids visit a restaurant staffed entirely by transvestites, who quickly bring Maven, Greg, and Chris Nowinski on-stage.
"A No-Win-Ski Situation" August 2, 2001 7
After Kurt Angle visits the group and tells of how he broke into the wrestling business, the kids take a trip to the Bahamas where Chris Nowinski begins to annoy Josh, and Paulina suffers a knee injury which forces her to make a tough decision.
"Dropping Like Flies" August 9, 2001 8
The Hardy Boyz and Lita visit the group. Meanwhile, Nidia and Josh injure themselves in the ring, while Greg aggravates an old back injury that puts his future in the competition in jeopardy.
"The Vicious Circle" August 16, 2001 9
With the troupe feeling bruised and banged up, Al takes their mind off it by introducing them to "the circle game" and bets Chris Nowinski that he can beat him three times with it. After he loses, he must go to Yale University proclaiming that "Harvard Sucks." Meanwhile, Greg's doctor advises him that continuing to wrestle may be detrimental to his health.
"Timing is Everything" August 23, 2001 10
When Maven learns that his mother's cancer has gotten worse, he leaves the house for a few days to care for her in the hospital. With Maven away, Josh begins to get lonely and contemplates leaving the competition. Meanwhile, Chris Ni, having earned the nickname "Career Killer", decides that it might not be his time to be a professional wrestler after Mick Foley talks to the group.
"The Rules of the Road" August 30, 2001 11
Al takes the kids on a three day trip to Backlash, Raw is War, and SmackDown! in order for them to experience what life as a WWF superstar on the road is like where they get a crash course in cutting promos from The Brooklyn Brawler.
"No Hill Too Tall, Nor Water Too Deep" September 20, 2001 12
As the competition nears its end, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Debra visit the kids at home, "Big" holds one more physical challenge for the group at a rock quarry, and Josh must overcome his self-doubt in order to successfully execute a moonsault.
"That's Not the Story" September 27, 2001 13
The kids wrestle against each other as Vince McMahon watches from ringside. The chairman has more in store for the troupe as they are called into his office at WWF headquarters.
"The Beginning" September 27, 2001 14
After nine weeks together, through thick and thin, the kids have one final match against their trainers before returning to WWF New York to find out who has earned a WWF contract.

Tough Enough 2

The second season winners were Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda. The announcement of the winners offended members of the male finalists, who claimed that this was not what was promised when they signed forms to compete on Tough Enough, citing that the forms claimed there would be one male winner and one female winner. Eventually, Linda was released on November 12, 2004 and Jackie was released on July 5, 2005. Gayda would later marry wrestler Charlie Haas.

Former WWE wrestler, Shad Gaspard, former member of the tag team Cryme Tyme, was chosen to be one of the final 13 contestants on the show but, according to the show, failed a physical (reportedly, he actually failed a drug test); he was subsequently replaced by Danny. Eventual season 3 winner John Hennigan (who went on to compete for the WWE as John Morrison) auditioned and survived the first cut down to 25 contestants, but, despite displaying well-tuned athletic ability, Hennigan's arrogance irritated the judges. It would be another year before Hennigan would make the show. There were several other well known faces in the crowd who didn't make the cut, but, eventually made a name for themselves in the business, including model and former WWE Diva & TNA Knockout Shelly Martinez (known as Ariel in the WWE & as Salinas in TNA), former TNA Knockout and former WWE Diva Kia Stevens (formerly known as Awesome Kong; now known as Kharma), former fitness model and WWE & TNA valet/wrestler Kim Neilson (who was known by her real name in WWE & as Desire in TNA, and who competed on season 13 of the hit NBC show The Biggest Loser) and current TNA superstar Gunner.

Trainers

  • Al Snow
  • Hardcore Holly
  • Chavo Guerrero
  • Ivory

Contestants

  • Aaron
  • Alicia
  • Anni
  • Danny
  • Hawk
  • Jackie (winner; competed as Miss Jackie and was manager/valet for the tag team of Charlie Haas, who is now her husband, and Rico)
  • Jake
  • Jessie
  • Kenny (would later go on to wrestle for TNA and Ring of Honor as Kenny King)
  • Linda (winner; competed as Shaniqua, the dominatrix/valet of Doug & Danny Basham)
  • Matt (would later go on to wrestle for WWE and is currently in TNA)
  • Peter
  • Robert
Order of Elimination:

  • Episode 3: Aaron was cut because he could not physically catch up with the rest of the group's speed. That caused him to pass out on the beach while exercising.
  • Episode 3: Robert was cut because he was struggling with all the physicality in and out of the ring; thus, he tired out more easily than others.
  • Episode 5: Danny was cut because he lacked charisma while trying to perform an interview for the trainers.
  • Episode 6: Matt left because he tore a ligament in his right knee, and his doctor told him it would not be safe to continue wrestling in the ring.
  • Episode 7: Alicia was cut because she had an injury which it hindered her from continuing to wrestle in the ring.
  • Episode 7: Jessie left because she was diagnosed with a heart condition.
  • Episode 11: Hawk left because he became concerned about his performance in the ring.
  • Episode 12: Pete and Anni were cut because they couldn't keep up in the ring as well as the others.
  • Episode 13: Jake and Kenny were joint runners-up after Linda and Jackie were announced the winners of Tough Enough 2.

Tough Enough III

The third season was won by John Hennigan and Matt Cappotelli. Hennigan, who wrestled for two years under the name Johnny Nitro before changing it to John Morrison, is the most successful Tough Enough winner being a former ECW Champion, a three-time Intercontinental Champion, and he has held both the WWE World Tag Team Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship. Cappotelli was developing his talent further in WWE development territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), but was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2005, forcing him to step away from wrestling and relinquish his OVW Championship. The tumor was removed in 2007, although it is unknown whether Cappotelli will return to professional wrestling.

WWE Diva, Melina, tried out for Tough Enough III and made it to the final 25, but was cut from the competition. During the tryouts, however, she met John Hennigan, and they eventually began a romantic relationship. She eventually received a WWE contract and worked for the company but was released on August 5, 2011. She worked as Melina on the Raw brand and became the first Tough Enough contestant to win the WWE Women's Championship, a title she has held three times making her the most successful female Tough Enough contestant to enter WWE. Both Shawn Daivari and Daniel Puder are seen on film during audition episode. Both made it to the final 75, but were cut before they could make it to the training facility. Both men later went on as performers for WWE.

Trainers

  • Al Snow
  • Bill DeMott
  • Ivory

Contestants

  • Eric
  • Jamie
  • Jill
  • John (winner)
  • Jonah
  • Nick
  • Justin
  • Kelly
  • Lisa
  • Matt (winner)
  • Chad
  • Rebekah
  • Scott
Order of Elimination:

  • Episode 2: Jill quit after the very first day of training. The trainers were all annoyed and labeled her as a "quitter" because she never put forth her best effort.
  • Episode 3: Lisa left because she decided wrestling wasn't the right career for her (see below).
  • Episode 4: Chad was cut because of his lack of ability to keep up the pace with the rest of the group.
  • Episode 5: Rebekah left because she had a family emergency back at home and could not continue in the competition.
  • Episode 6: Nick was cut because he had a shoulder injury, and he lacked the ability to perform certain tasks in the ring.
  • Episode 7: Scott was cut because of his lack of ability to keep up with the rest of the group.
  • Episode 8: Kelly was cut because she had a serious back injury, and she was beginning to fall behind everybody else when learning new moves.
  • Episode 11: Justin was cut because he lacked aggression in the ring as well as a competitive spirit.
  • Episode 14: Matt and John are announced the winners of Tough Enough III, with Jamie, Eric and Jonah being the runners up.
In the cover story from the October 5, 2002 issue of the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter, it was revealed that contestant "Lisa" was removed from the show after what was referred to as a "psychotic breakdown." After being left at the house while the other contestants went out to dinner, she began throwing herself against the walls of the house, eventually breaking into the hidden MTV control room and working her way onto the roof. After being talked down by producers, she was committed to a hospital facility to receive psychiatric treatment. Her parents flew in from New Mexico to pick her up, but she physically attacked them, claiming she did not know them. She then escaped custody inside LAX, shutting down a wing of the airport until she was located. Again, she was hospitalized, but she was able to check herself out shortly after. She then contacted Tough Enough producers, claiming she was ready to return to the show. Producers informed her she had been removed from the competition due to her actions. The other contestants (and, subsequently, the audience) were initially told that Lisa simply decided wrestling "wasn't the right career for her." Lisa then reemerged in Louisville, Kentucky at the Ohio Valley Wrestling training center, claiming that trainer Al Snow and producer John "Big" Gaburick had sent her for additional training, both in the ring and to learn further about the structure of the developmental territory system. At a series of shows in California in September 2002, she managed to talk her way backstage and was even allowed to assist with the pyrotechnics for the wrestlers' entrances at a TV taping. One source claimed that she had a face-to-face conversation with Vince McMahon, who was apparently unaware of her status with the Tough Enough program. Soon after, her photograph was circulated to security personnel, and she was barred from any backstage areas.

$1,000,000 Tough Enough (Season 4)

The fourth Tough Enough competition was conducted as part of WWE's SmackDown! brand between October and December 2004 in response to Raw holding the first annual "Raw Diva Search" contest. The prize was a $1,000,000 professional wrestling contract split evenly over four years with only the first year guaranteed. The winner of the fourth series, announced on December 14, 2004, and televised on December 16, 2004, was Daniel Puder, an American professional mixed martial artist. Puder competed in his second WWE pay-per-view event on January 30, 2005 as the third entrant in the 2005 Royal Rumble match. Soon after, he was sent to OVW before eventually being released in September 2005.

On November 4, 2004, episode of SmackDown!, taped in St. Louis, Missouri, during an unscripted segment of Tough Enough, Kurt Angle, a former American amateur wrestler and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, challenged the finalists through a squat thrust competition. Chris Nawrocki won the competition, and the prize Nawrocki won was a match against Angle. Angle quickly took Nawrocki down, breaking his ribs, then made him tap out with a neck crank. After Angle defeated Nawrocki, Angle challenged the other finalists. Puder accepted Angle's challenge. Angle and Puder wrestled for position, with Angle taking Puder down, however, in the process, Puder locked Angle in a kimura lock. With Puder on his back and Angle's arm locked in the kimura, Angle attempted a pin, one of two referees in the ring, Jim Korderas, quickly counted three to end the bout, despite the fact that Puder's shoulders weren't fully down on the mat, bridging up at two. Puder later claimed he would have snapped Angle's arm, thus making Angle tap out on national television, if Korderas had not ended the match. Dave Meltzer and Dave Scherer gave these following comments:

Marty Wright, who lied about his age during the auditions and was disqualified, later signed with WWE and competed as The Boogeyman.

A DVD of this season was released in 2005.

Other finalists were:

  • Nick Mitchell (later joined WWE, most notably as Mitch of the Spirit Squad, was released in May 2007, went into training in MMA)
  • Mike Mizanin (later joined WWE and now wrestles under the Raw brand as "The Miz". He is the second Tough Enough contestant to win a world title in WWE. John Morrison, who was the first, won the ECW Championship)
  • Chris Nawrocki (later signed a developmental contract but was released in 2005)
  • Justice Smith (later a Gladiator on American Gladiators)
  • Ryan Reeves (later joined WWE but was released in January 2007. Signed another contract in Fall 2008. Competes on the Raw brand as Ryback)
  • Daniel Rodimer (aka Dan Rodman later signed to a development contract, but was released in August 2007)

Revival (Season 5)

On October 18, 2010, the television website Deadline.com reported that USA Network was considering expanding into reality programming with a revival of Tough Enough. The website also reported that the show was expected to "run in tandem with USA's WWE Raw series." On January 3, 2011, both The New York Times and WWE further confirmed the revival, revealing that the revived series would begin airing Monday nights beginning on April 4, 2011, following WWE Raw, and a day after WrestleMania XXVII. The following week, Tough Enough aired during its planned time slot before WWE Raw. The revived series is a co-production with Shed Media.

Stone Cold Steve Austin served as the show's Season 5 host while Booker T, Trish Stratus and Bill DeMott served as trainers. According to USA Network's episode guide, the 2011 season is referred to as "Season 1", therefore making no reference to its prior runs on other networks. In addition, although the premise of this show is similar to that of WWE NXT, Tough Enough Season 5 ran concurrently with NXT and did not replace it.

Ariane Andrew, now WWE Diva Cameron, was the first person cut from Tough Enough but the only one who made it to the main roster (including winner Andy Leavine) and the only one who is still with the company.

Host

  • Stone Cold Steve Austin

Trainers

Contestants

#ContestantsEpisodes
12345678910
1 Andy Leavine SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFERISKFINAL 2WINNER
2 Luke Robinson HIGHHIGHSAFESAFERISKHIGHSAFESAFEFINAL 2RUNNER UP
3 Jeremiah Riggs SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT
4 Christina Crawford SAFESAFESAFESAFERISKSAFESAFEOUT
5 A.J. Kirsch SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFERISKSAFEOUT
6 Martin Casaus SAFESAFEHIGHHIGHHIGHSAFEINJ
7 Ivelisse Vélez SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEINJ
8 Eric Watts RISKSAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT
9 Ryan Howe SAFERISKRISKSAFEOUT
10 Rima Fakih SAFERISKRISKOUT
11 Mickael Zaki SAFESAFEOUT
12 Michelle Deighton RISKSAFEQUIT
13 Matt Capiccioni SAFEOUT
14 Ariane Andrew OUT
{{colorbox}} The contestant won the Tough Enough competition
{{colorbox}} The contestant performed best in the skills challenge.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was safe from elimination.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was at risk of elimination.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was selected to go into the final 3.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was eliminated.
{{colorbox}} The contestant left the competition.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was forced by injury to withdraw from the competition.
{{colorbox}} The contestant won the skills challenge but was eliminated.
{{colorbox}} The contestant was the runner up.
Episode 1: Ariane was eliminated as Steve Austin and the trainers felt she did not have passion for wrestling.
Episode 2: Matt was eliminated for not breaking free of the pack even though he has 9 years of experience.
Episode 3: Michelle quit so she could be with her daughter. Mickael was eliminated when Ryan performed a better promo.
Episode 4: Rima was eliminated after showing no improvement during the past month.
Episode 5: Ryan was eliminated because of his performance and for being in the bottom 3 three times in a row.
Episode 6: Ivelisse was eliminated due to an injury. Eric was eliminated for not improving.
Episode 7: Martin was forced out as he fractured his ankle and was not allowed to continue.
Episode 8: A.J. was eliminated because of his performance prior to charisma week, even after winning the skills challenge. Christina was eliminated for not showing any charisma.
Episode 9: Jeremiah was eliminated when his inexperience caught up to him.
Episode 10: Andy was chosen as the winner of Tough Enough with Luke being the runner-up.

Episodes

Title Original airdate Episode
"Get Your Teeth Out of My Ring" April 4, 2011 1
WWE legend "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has selected 14 men and women to compete to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. Steve welcomes them at the WWE SmackDown arena, but the only part they will play in tonight's show is doing clean up duty backstage. Steve puts all the contestants through "Three Minutes of Hell" by running the ropes. Jeremiah runs so hard he blows his false teeth out. Rima is caught cheating when Steve and the trainers notice she has padded her posterior for the challenge. After deliberating on the best and worst, Steve announces the Worst Three: Ariane, Eric and Michelle. Eric finally shows some fire when he talks about his personal motivation for winnict. Steve questions Michelle's ability to live on the road with a baby daughter at home, but it's Ariane's lack of experience that proves to be her downfall. Steve asks for her belt and eliminates her from the competition. Prior to being eliminated, Ariane infamously claimed that her favorite WWE match of all time was Melina vs Alicia Fox causing Steve Austin to reply "who?" in utter shock.
"Five for Flinching" April 11, 2011 2
The next day at the training center, Steve Austin introduces courage as the theme for this week's challenges. Trish Stratus puts Matt, a ten-year pro, through a personality drill. Impressed, she sends him to the ring for an exhibition match with Luke. However, Matt fades into the background as Luke takes control of the match. The next day, Steve Austin puts the courage of the contestants to the test when he brings them outside to try to outrun police attack dogs. Rima is 20 minutes late to the skills challenge. In the skills challenge, the contestants are squashed in the corner and then body slammed five times by Bill DeMott. After deliberating on the best and worst, Steve announces the Bottom Three: Ryan, Rima, and Matt. In the ring, Steve Austin scolds Rima for her tardiness but praises her mental toughness. While Steve believes that Ryan may be "too nice" for the business, it is Matt who is eliminated due to his hesitance in demonstrating his skills. John Cena guest stars.
"Bad Day. Real Bad Day" April 18, 2011 3
Bill sends the contestants on a grueling run. Luke comes in first, and Rima beats all of the women and some of the men. Eric's poor physical condition puts him in last place. The contestants are then sent to the gym for a training session. Mickael shows poor technique and is relegated to working with the beginners. On day two, as Steve enters to announce the life lesson Michelle interrupts him to announce her decision to quit. Her daughter is more important to her than the competition " a decision Steve respects. Out on the field, the rest of the contestants take on their new Life Lesson " to learn a cheerleading drill and perform it at Universal City Walk. On day three Steve begins the next Skills Challenge: Chain of Command. Martin is declared the winner after Eric tires out. Steve and the trainers announce the bottom three " Ryan, Rima and Mickael. At the elimination ceremony, Steve is impressed that Rima asked for one-on-one help and sends her back to the house. Steve pits rivals Ryan and Mickael against each other in a promo duel. Ryan impresses Steve with his passion, and Steve decides to send Mickael home. Big Show and Stacy Keibler guest star.
"110 Pound Elephant in the Room" April 25, 2011 4
Rima receives a one-on-one midnight training session with Bill. Bill puts her through a grueling workout. The next day, Steve introduces the theme of agility. The test for the day is a series of leaps over the top rope of the ring. Luke and Jeremiah both excel. The next day, the contestants are sent to Friscoe's, a 1950s style diner, and are told that they will be working as waiters and waitresses " on roller-skates. At the Skills Challenge the following day, the cast is given a sequence of moves to perform to test their agility. The challenge comes down to Andy, Martin and Luke. Martin wins the challenge. Steve Austin returns to announce the bottom three. He calls Rima's name then tells her he's not going to call anyone else and eliminates her on the spot. Rima heads back to the house to pack up her bags. She brings Steve Austin her Tough Enough belt. Despite her drawbacks in the ring, Austin tells her that there are other ways to break into the business, and she may still have a future in it. Bret Hart guest stars.
"Don't Mistake My Kindness for Weakness" May 2, 2011 5
The theme this week is teamwork. The contestants play basketball against a professional team of dwarf players, who win handily with superior shooting and passing skills. The contestants also undergo a grueling outdoor obstacle course, which shows the lack of endurance some have. The bottom three are Ryan, Luke and Christina; Steve Austin tells Luke he is annoyed at his appearance and apparent attitude, but Ryan is sent home because it is his "third strike." Rey Mysterio and John Salley guest star.
"It's Getting Down To Nut Cuttin Time" May 9, 2011 6
The theme of the week is focus. The contestants are taken through a rope course that involves climbing, balance and focus during which Ivelisse falls off a rope she was expected to repel across when her injured leg gives out. She returns to the course, however, and finishes. Eric, however, does not. After collapsing mid-course due to lack of conditioning, Stone Cold has to send help up to lower Eric down in what Eric calls "probably the most embarrassing, crushing moment of my life." In the skills challenge, the contestants do squats on the top rope, then hold the squat position until only 4 are left. The remaining four (Ivelisse, Christina, Luke and Jeremiah) hold the squat position on the top rope while Eric and Andy run the ropes to try and shake them. The two girls fell, sending Luke and Jeremiah into the final part of the competition"?a series of moves involving body slams and top rope elbow drops. Jeremiah got sloppy and Luke was declared the winner. A.J., Ivelisse and Eric are sent to the bottom 3. A.J. is warned that he was "boring as watching grass grow" and told to pick it up. Ivelisse is cut, despite Stone Cold telling her he was sure she belonged in the ring, because her injury was keeping her from performing up to standards. Eric was also cut, having made no improvement in his conditioning. John Morrison guest stars.
"Running with Wolves" May 16, 2011 7
The theme for the week is creativity. The contestants are instructedto put a personal touch to their moves. Steve takes the contestants to the THQ Headquarters to try out WWE All Stars. Contestants create their own characters to show their creativity. That same night, contestants are put through a two hour training session. Martin fractures his foot during the session and ends up going to an emergency room, where he's told he cannot continue in the competition. Martin is forced to quit, and Stone Cold allows him to hang up his own belt since he is "tough enough". In the skills challenge, in a two minute time limit, the contestants are told to perform the moves they know including a move off the top rope. Christina performs a move off the ropes which injures her ankle while working a match with A.J. She is taken to the emergency room while Steve tells everyone else they are dismissed and there will be no elimination. The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, and Eve Torres guest star.
"I've Been Bamboozled and Flabbergasted" May 23, 2011 8
The theme of the week was charisma. The trainers take the contestants to Hollywood to meet Psych's star, James Roday. Bill DeMott says Jeremiah "gots the charisma". The contestants go back to the house where they go off and do training with The Rock. The Rock says he "will stay for a little bit" to see what will happen. The skills challenge winner is A.J., yet the bottom three are Christina, Andy, and A.J. Andy gets pissed off at Stone Cold and tells him that he's got the wrong people in the bottom three. Stone Cold announced that there will be a double elimination. Andy is saved, but Christina and A.J. are cut. The Rock and James Roday guest star.
"Now We Face the Rattlesnake" May 30, 2011 9
The theme of the week is "putting it all together". The trainers throw everything the contestants have learned over the course of the competition to see who can be a WWE Superstar. After training, Stone Cold and the trainers take the contestants to a photo shoot with The Miz to give them a taste of what it is like to fulfill obligations outside the ring such as media appearances. Back at the gym, the trainers put the contestants through more tests to determine what they have learned. Later, Stone Cold takes the final three to Chase Child Life Program at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to visit with the children and show that the WWE always likes to give back to the fans. The skills challenge consists of putting a series of moves together and executing them. The final three face Stone Cold at the final elimination. Although it's very close, Jeremiah's lack of experience costs him, and he is sent home. The Miz guest stars.
"May The Best Man Win" June 6, 2011 10
The final two, Andy and Luke, head to Florida Championship Wrestling in Tampa, Florida, the official development center of the WWE, for their final challenge: an eight minute exhibition match with Bill DeMott in front of a live audience and WWE executives. The contestant with the best performance will win a WWE contract and the title of Tough Enough. Austin declares Andy the winner. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat guest stars and Vince McMahon makes a cameo.

Post Show

  • Andy Leavine - Returned to Florida Championship Wrestling as Kevin Hackman. Was released from his contract in April 2012.
  • Luke Robinson - Working in his fitness club in Maine and wrestling on the independent circuit.
  • Jeremiah Riggs - Earned a WWE tryout for FCW; was not signed. Returned to mixed martial arts in a Bellator fight.
  • A.J. Kirsch - Appeared on the August 11, 2011 edition of WWE Superstars. Wrestles in All Pro Wrestling.
  • Martin Casaus - Wrestled local shows.
  • Ivelisse Vélez - Signed with WWE, but released in August 2012. She worked in FCW and on NXT as Sofia Cortez.
  • Eric Watts - Now has become a major star in NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood.
  • Christina Crawford - Resigned with WWE and returned to FCW under the name Caylee Turner. She was later released in August 2012
  • Ariane Andrew - Signed with WWE, now a dancer for Brodus Clay's entrance on the Raw brand and competed on house shows as Cameron.
  • Ryan Howe - Wrestling in Ohio Valley Wrestling.
  • Rima Fakih - Resumed Miss USA endeavors.
  • Matt Capiccioni - Still wrestling on the independent circuit.

See also

  • TNA Gut Check
  • WWE Diva Search
  • History of WWE NXT


This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.It uses material from the Wikipedia article "WWE Tough Enough". Reality TV World is not responsible for any errors or omissions this article may contain.































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