Ahead of tonight’s Tough Enough premiere, here is an excerpt from our interview with Trish Stratus last week where we talked about Tough Enough in great deal.
In this clip, we ask Trish to individually evaluate each girls, giving us her impression on them. Listen below:
Former WWE Diva, Stacy Keibler mentioned in a red carpet interview a couple of weeks ago that she will be returning to the WWE fold as part of Tough Enough. You can watch the interview below: Thanks to Thannya for the tip.
After nearly a decade, tonight Tough Enough returns with a brand new home, brand new trainers and a brand new set of fresh faces trying to bust through the doors of WWE.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since the first Tough Enough series — boasting the likes of Nidia and Taylor Matheny — hit the airwaves of MTV, peeling back the curtain and showing fans what it takes to become a WWE Superstar.
Three well-remembered former WWE Divas will be hosting a live after show for WWE’s Tough Enough beginning tomorrow night. Candice Michelle, Lilian Garcia and Torrie Wilson will host the Tough Enough After Show for AfterbuzzTV every Monday night. The show will be streamed via Ustream and airs its first episode at midnight tomorrow following the … Read more
Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive clip from the upcoming revival of Tough Enough featuring Miss USA, Rima Fakih, learning to take a bump. Up until now only promos have been released, but this first piece of footage from the show gives viewers an idea of how the show will look and feel. Check out the … Read more
Former WWE Diva and TNA Knockout, Jackie Haas joined us last night on Diva Dirt LIVE to discuss her new role here at Diva Dirt as guest blogger for the revival of Tough Enough. Of course, as a co-champion on the original series, Jackie certainly has some insight and expertise about the show.
We get Jackie’s opinion on the return of Tough Enough, as well as the choice of trainers and what she thinks it takes to win the series. We also discuss her personal highlights from doing the show and what she’s up to at the moment.
It’s been a busy couple of months for the legendary 7-time Women’s Champ, Trish Stratus. She’s back in the WWE fold with the USA Network revival of Tough Enough, she’s going to WrestleMania this Sunday, has a movie premiering in one week and is on the cover of Oxygen magazine! With so much going on in the Stratusphere, we decided to give the Diva Dirt Legacy Award winner a call and discuss!
USA Network is running the following promo for next week’s Tough Enough premiere centered around Miss USA, Rima Fakih: The show premieres on Monday after Raw at 11pm ET.
Nearly 10 years ago she proved that she is indeed Tough Enough and now, in 2011, Jackie Haas is bringing that expertise to Diva Dirt!
We are pleased to announce today that Tough Enough 2 champion, former WWE Diva and former TNA Knockout, Jackie Haas, will join our coverage of the upcoming USA Network revival of WWE Tough Enough.
Miss USA, Rima Fakih, spoke to the New York Post about her experience while filming Tough Enough. Fakih reveals that she was a tomboy growing up and lived in a rough area, which toughened her up. Speaking on the competition, she said: “When I told my parents about doing ‘Tough Enough,’ my mom’s exact comment … Read more
BuzzFocus.com video interviews with Trish Stratus and the Tough Enough contestants about the upcoming series. The interviews were filmed during a media day at the set of the show in Simi Valley, CA. This is the first time that the contestants can be seen discussing the show. The cast members interviewed include Rima Fakih, Christina … Read more
With just over two weeks until its premiere, filming on the revival of ‘Tough Enough’ has wrapped. The show’s host, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, confirmed that filming on the new season has ended via Twitter last night. 7-time WWE Women’s Champion, Trish Stratus will serve as one of the trainers while five female contestants will … Read more
Three new promos for WWE Tough Enough have been released.
The first teaser uses current WWE Superstars (though you can’t see their faces). Judging by the ring gear, it’s Eve and Ted DiBiase:
Two more clips after the jump.
USA Network has unveiled the entire cast of the upcoming season of Tough Enough.
Of the 14 contestants, there are five female contestants, four of whom have previously been revealed either through leaks or press releases.
The female contestants are: Ariane Andrew, Christina Crawford, Michelle Deighton, Rima Fakih and Ivelisse Velez.
Perhaps of note, three of the five contestants have prior experience in wrestling.
Cast bios for all of the contestants can be found here.
More info on each of the ladies after the jump!
Former America’s Next Top Model contestant, Michelle Deighton, will be part of the upcoming cast of Tough Enough, reports ProWrestling.net.
If that name sounds familiar it is because she has appeared on WWE television before. Back in 2005, UPN (then home of SmackDown and ‘Top Model’) had a crossover between the two shows with Deighton appearing on SmackDown and being berated by Melina.
Deighton is a trained wrestler. She began training before she appeared on the fourth season of ‘Top Model’. According to a past interview, she was recruited by ANTM producers after they saw pictures of her on the web.
Michelle is also the wife of former Survivor contestant Jonny Fairplay, who himself has appeared in TNA and ROH.
Deighton will join a cast also including independent wrestler Juliet the Huntress, Christina Crawford (formerly FCW’s Caylee Turner and sister of Alicia Fox) and Miss USA, Rima Fakih.
Spoiler for Tough Enough:
USA Network issued a press release on the appointment of Trish Stratus as a trainer on the upcoming season of Tough Enough.
The show kicks off on April 4th at 11pm.
Read below:
WWE® TOUGH ENOUGH® GETS SOME “STRATUS-FACTION”
Trish Stratus & Bill Demott Named TrainersFormer WWE® Women’s Champion Trish Stratus joins USA Network’s upcoming, non-scripted series WWE TOUGH ENOUGH® as a trainer. Stratus and Tough Enough veteran trainer Bill Demott join WWE Legend Booker T. as the training team for the show. WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will serve as the host.
The series will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, the day after WrestleMania® and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW®, and move to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.
More:
Legendary former WWE Diva and first ever Diva Dirt Legacy Award recipient, Trish Stratus made a surprise return to WWE tonight at Elimination Chamber. Trish was announced as a trainer on the upcoming season of Tough Enough along with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Booker T. The show is currently being filmed and will air … Read more
(Well this is awkward… After a four month absence, I am back with just my second blog post. David puts me to shame, don’t he?)
The news earlier this week that reigning Miss USA, Rima Fakih, will be a contestant on the impending revival of WWE Tough Enough lit a fire under my pen. And it seems it also lit a fire under a lot of you too. The recurring theme seems to be: “Great, another model in WWE.” Other criticisms that have popped up include: “It’s a slap in the face to the masses of independent wrestlers that auditioned,” and “Why doesn’t she just do the Diva Search?”
The outpouring of criticism from fans and purists to Fakih’s appointment, in my perhaps unpopular opinion, is shortsighted and once again exemplifies the hasty nature of the Internet. (Shocking, right?)
As soon as a story is out there, there’s a knee-jerk reaction it seems. Look no further than Henry Cavill being cast as Superman. That news a few weeks ago spurred outcries that too many iconic superhero roles were going to British actors and not American ones. Sure, Superman may represent Americana but first of all, it’s fiction! Secondly, the character is not going to be British, so what difference does it make? Before a single frame of footage had been shot, poor (gorgeous) Henry Cavill had a target on his back.
Sound familiar?
According to PWInsider, WSU World Champion Mercedes Martinez and WSU Spirit Champion Brittney Savage were both in contention for the final crop of Tough Enough contestants, but ultimately did not make the cut. Last month, we revealed that Savage had two callbacks for the show and was said to be in ‘deeper talks than most’ … Read more
Rima Fakih, the current reigning Miss USA and former Raw Guest Host, has been announced as a contestant on the upcoming season of WWE Tough Enough by USA Network.
In a press release sent out today, the cable network announced:
IS MISS USA™ “TOUGH ENOUGH®?”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – February 17, 2010 USA Network and WWE® announced today that Miss USA™, Rima Fakih will be one of the aspiring contestants on USA Network’s upcoming non-scripted series WWE TOUGH ENOUGH®. Fakih will be squaring off against a tough group of challengers vying for an once-in-a-lifetime shot to become a WWE Superstar or Diva. The series will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, the day after WrestleMania® XXVII and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW®. It moves to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to battle for a title in an entirely different competition,” said Fakih. “Miss USA is an incredible honor that’s provided invaluable experience which will undoubtedly help me as I push my performance and athletic skills to the limit. I look forward to learning if I have the mettle to make it in WWE.”
More:
WWE has issued a press release for the return of Tough Enough, which will air Mondays at 8pm from April 4th.
The press release gives us more details about the new season. The show will premiere on Monday, April 4th after Raw at 11pm ET before moving to the 8pm ET slot the following week (April 4th). Tough Enough will run for 10 episodes.
Read the press release below:
LOS ANGELES, CA –January 3, 2011 – USA Network has given a ten episode order to “WWE TOUGH ENOUGH,” a non-scripted series in collaboration with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and Shed Media US. “WWE TOUGH ENOUGH,” slated to debut April 4, 2011, will feature a group of twelve individuals looking for an once-in-a-lifetime shot to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. The grand prize winner will be awarded a contract with WWE, joining its roster of talent.
“WWE TOUGH ENOUGH” will premiere at 11/10c the day after WrestleMania® XXVII and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut “WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW®.” It will then move to its regularly scheduled slot, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11th.
“We’re thrilled to tag team with the WWE in bringing TOUGH ENOUGH back to television,” said Chris McCumber, evp marketing, digital and brand strategy, USA Network and Jeff Wachtel, president original programming USA Network & co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions. “By focusing on both the physical and the performance challenges of becoming a Superstar, the show will shine a new light on what it takes to truly make your mark in the WWE universe.”
More:
The revivial of WWE Tough Enough will launch on USA Network on April 4th, it has been announced. The New York Times has the scoop, revealing that the show will premiere the night after WrestleMania at 8pm ET right before Monday Night Raw. That means viewers will now have a three-hour block of viewing every … Read more
Diva Dirt has obtained the casting breakdown that was sent out today for the revival of WWE Tough Enough which will air on USA Network next year. The series will be produced by Shed Productions which also produces Supernanny for ABC as well as other shows. Full casting details below: Are you *TOUGH ENOUGH* to … Read more
Lee Burton returns with the second part of his look at the women of Tough Enough, this time focusing on the best of the rest. Click here to read part one.
In the original part of this look back of The Women of Tough Enough, we checked out the three winners – Nidia Guenard, Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda Haas. In this concluding part, we should take a peek at some of the other contestants who ended up in the biz, as well as the applicants who didn’t make it into the house but still forged a career in wrestling anyway.
So let’s go through it season by season…
Tough Enough 1
As mentioned in the previous article, Nidia won the original season after being picked over her only other real competition, Taylor Matheny (now 30). At the finale, Taylor promised that she wouldn’t quit her dream of making it as a wrestler, and stuck to her promise… at first.
Taylor was a salty character on Tough Enough. Participating in the show at the disapproval of her parents and being very focused on the prize at the end, she pushed herself in the ring and was dedicated to learning the craft. However, things went south when the remaining contestants went on the road with Al Snow, as she got utterly hammered in a bar and was very delicate the next day. If anything, this might have been an indicator to the WWF that she had pangs of irresponsibility and had some growing up to do. If anything, Taylor wanted it TOO much.
Nobody could doubt her desire though – as evidenced on the final live episode where she looked utterly crushed when Nidia was announced as the victor.
After TE1 ended, Matheny wrestled dates in the US, Canada and Japan (most notably with the celebrated ARSION promotion), defeating the likes of Cheerleader Melissa along the way, and tangling with the likes of SHIMMER co-founder Allison Danger, earning her a 3rd runner-up spot in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year rankings. The problem was that by the time she had earned that honour, Taylor was starting to wind down as a wrestler.
In 2004, Matheny quit wrestling to take up a course studying Hollywood make-up, though she did appear in the Florida promotion Full Impact Pro in a special guest appearance with her then-boyfriend, now-husband. His name: Brian Kendrick.
Yes, THE Brian Kendrick – the one who held the WWE Tag Team Championship for a year and currently plies his craft in TNA. Even after removing herself from wrestling, Taylor’s still associated with it, thanks to her marijuana-loving beau.