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Tag: Tough Enough

  • Maryland Championship Wrestling Promotes WWE Tough Enough Finalist Patrick Clark

    Local independent wrestling promotion Maryland Championship Wrestling issued a press release today to hype up WWE Tough Enough finalist Patrick Clark, who is a MCW trainee.

    Below is the release with all of the details.

    Maryland Championship Wrestling Trainee Patrick Clark is Tough Enough.

    Baltimore, MD June 13, 2015- Over 11,000 video submissions were sent in to the WWE with the hopes of being chosen as a finalist for the upcoming season of the WWE Television Show. Only 40 people were chosen as finalists to come to the WWE Performance Center. Among those 40 chosen was Patrick Clark, a 19 year old trainee at the Maryland Championship Wrestling Trainee Center and current member of the MCW Roster.

    “I could tell the first time I saw him he’d one day be in the WWE. He’s that one in a million special athlete that any coach from any sport would be thrilled to have a chance to mentor” says Patrick Brink a trainer at the MCW Training Center who himself spent several years under a WWE Developmental contract under the ring name Calvin Raines.

    After 3 grueling days at the WWE Performance Center the 40 hopefuls were narrowed down to the 13 finalists. The announcement was made this past Friday on the official WWE Tough Enough Facebook Page. Patrick Clark was chosen as one of the finalists and will now advance to the show to compete for a WWE Contract. Tough Enough debuts on the USA Network on Tuesday June 23rd.

    Patrick Clark began his journey into Professional Wrestling only 1 year ago in June 2014 when he signed up to a beginner’s class at the MCW Training Center. “He is a naturally gifted athlete; he has the heart of a champion. He does not know the meaning of the word quit and I believe in my heart without any doubt that he has a real chance to win the whole thing” Says RJ Meyer who wrestles as The Bruiser and is the current MCW Heavyweight Champion.

    After four short months of training Patrick made his Professional Wrestling debut for MCW in Waldorf, MD on October 3, 2015. Shortly after that he formed a tag team with his best friend LI Green known as “Sudden Impact”. The entire MCW locker room as well our Fan base will be cheering Patrick On during his journey towards a lifelong dream.

    The next MCW Training Center beginner’s class will start on the same exact day as the debut of Tough Enough on Tuesday June 23, 2015. If you would like more information you can visit our official website www.MarylandWrestling.com Also make sure to stay up to follow MCW on all of our social platforms. On Facebook search Maryland Championship Wrestling, follow us on Twitter @MCWWrestling and also follow on Instagram @MarylandWrestling

  • Video: Triple H Gives Tour Of The WWE Tough Enough Home

    Triple H recently recorded a tour of the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough Barracks, which is where the 13 finalists will be staying while the show is being filmed. He noted that the cast will be there for the next ten to 12 weeks.

    “We could put you in a nice mansion, make it luxurious and all that but it’s supposed to be about being Tough Enough so we don’t want to pamper people too much,” said HHH. “So what we’ve come up with is the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough barracks.”

    Triple H continued, “This is about kind of making due and I think that in some way through a contest like Tough Enough they’re bypassing the kind of paying your dues and to me this is kind of fast-tracking that a little bit. Sleeping in a not so comfortable place, not so comfortable surroundings, seeing if you’re Tough Enough and if you really want to do this.”

    Check out Triple H’s video tour above.

  • WWE Announces Final Cast For New Season Of Tough Enough

    On Friday evening, WWE released the final cast for the new season of Tough Enough.

    WWE released the following information and photos on the new cast.

    WWE Tough Enough’s 13 finalists revealed

    Meet the finalists who will compete on the new season of WWE Tough Enough.

    After a grueling, three-day tryout, 13 competitors will now advance to the new season of WWE Tough Enough. These seven men and six women will fight to live out their dream and become the next WWE Superstar or Diva, starting with the show’s premiere on Tuesday, June 23, on USA Network:

    Alexander Frekey, Dallas, Texas

    He once caused an earthquake in a “Planet Fitness” commercial, but does Alexander Frekey have what it takes to be Tough Enough? His day-job title of Regional Sales Director doesn’t exactly inspire fear in the masses, but the towering Frekey isn’t just an unusually big office drone. Having played college basketball before appearing in “John Wick” and NBC’s “The Blacklist,” the tough-guy bonafides of this 6-foot-5 Russian are enviable. Now, in the toughest athletic environment there is, he faces a test that will truly shake him to the core.

    Amanda Saccomanno, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

    When you’re 5-foot-4 and can lift 225 pounds, you’re bound to turn some heads. Now it’s time to see if this fitness entrepreneur from Yorktown Heights can thrive on WWE’s bright stage. An athletic powerhouse who stays in shape with dance, yoga, Pilates and CrossFit, Saccomanno’s physical prowess could make her a welcome addition to the Divas division. Ironically enough, her childhood nickname was “Hamburgers,” but even that fact may turn out to be appropriate: Underestimate her and she’ll eat you for lunch.

    Daria Berenato, Los Angeles

    Ever hear of The Jersey Devil? Well that’s Daria Berenato, a 5-foot-7 mixed martial arts fighter nicknamed after the famed beast and looking to make her mark in WWE. Currently a co-host of the YouTube show “UFC AfterBuzz,” Berenato has been training in one form of fighting or another since age 16. Rest assured, if she fights her way to a WWE contract, everyone from the Pine Barrens to Full Sail University will be put on notice.

    Dianna Dahlgren, Spokane, Wash.

    If you’ve seen the cover of “Oxygen,” “Muscular Development” or “Muscle & Fitness,” at some point you’ve probably seen Dianna Dahlgren. A Monster Energy spokesperson and model, Dahlgren boasts a “shredded” physique that can give most potential Divas a run for their money, not to mention a social media following (290,000-plus followers on Facebook and Instagram) that would make most Superstars jealous. Her love of the extreme led her to WWE. Will we see her on Monday Night Raw next?

    Gabi Castrovinci, Southington, Conn.

    What’s there to know about Gabi Castrovinci? Born in Brazil, she grew up practicing Jiu-Jitsu and is a professional athlete for World Beauty Fitness & Fashion. An avid surfer and snowboarder, Castrovinci is a self-employed entrepreneur who sells Brazilian leggings online. If she wins Tough Enough, she’ll be trading in Brazilian leggings for Indian Deathlocks in no time.

    Giorgia Piscina, Brisbane, Australia

    The farthest-flung of WWE Tough Enough’s contestants, Giorgia Piscina comes to the Performance Center on a wing and a dream. An eight-year gymnastics veteran and Bikini Dive competitor for the WBFF, Piscina’s “toughest” moment came when she crossed the finish line on a 400-meter race with a broken ankle. Now facing down her biggest opportunity yet, she’s got plenty to carry her over the finish line, but can she capitalize on the opportunity?

    Hank Avery Jr., Macon, Ga.

    Looking for a new “Face of WWE”? Well, Hank Avery Jr. was literally a poster boy for Mercer University football from 2012 to 2013. Standing at 6-foot-4 and topping 270 pounds, with a lingering fear of frogs, this gridiron veteran, husband and father makes his living as a pool maintenance manager. But it’s only a matter of time before he’s making a splash on a far bigger stage. Just no frogs, please.

    Joshua Bredl, Thornton, Colo.

    What do Thor and the Yeti have in common? They’re both nicknames of Josh Bredl, a physical specimen and NFL free agent most recently signed by the Green Bay Packers. One of the top 15 Colorado high school prospects upon his graduation, Bredl recorded 34 tackles and six sacks as a defensive lineman at Colorado State University – Pueblo. Having rampaged his way down to the Performance Center, he now looks to make the big jump into WWE and show the Cheeseheads what they’re missing.

    Mada Abdel Hamid, Los Angeles

    Ever wonder how Khal Drogo from “Game of Thrones” got so big? That’s because Mada Abdel Hamid trained him. A personal trainer for actor Jason Momoa, Abdel Hamid’s story is almost as fantastical as “Thrones” is: Born in Egypt and fluent in Arabic, he played professional basketball until he fled the country in the midst of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. WWE Tough Enough is merely the latest chapter in a life well lived. If he makes it through, does a chapter at WrestleMania await?

    Patrick Clark, Jr., Washington, D.C.

    To some, WWE is more than a dream, it is an escape. That’s what it was for Patrick Clark, a 19-year-old wrestling coach from Washington, D.C., who found refuge in sports-entertainment after the death of his father. Clark’s drive led him from 10 years of JROTC to the mats of amateur competition, where he wrestled for Forestville Military Academy from 2011 to 2013. He’s currently a competitor in the Mid Atlantic Wrestling Association, and a coach. Does a jump from the mat to the ring await?

    Sara Lee, Hope, Mich.

    A pure athlete looking to take her skills to the ring, Sara Lee boasts one of the most unique backgrounds of WWE Tough Enough’s hopefuls. While studying to become an ultrasound technician, Lee is also a power lift competitor who trains six times a week and can squat 230 pounds and bench press 140 pounds. Introduced to WWE by her older brother, she is “in love” with The Bella Twins. Should she prove tough enough, Nikki and Brie might have themselves a new ally … or enemy.

    Tanner Saraceno, Boiling Springs, S.C.

    Looking for a fighter? Look no further than Tanner Saraceno, a tattooed mixed-martial arts fighter with the beard of a wildman and a resume that would make most opponents shrivel in fear. An 11-year wrestler with high school and college experience, Saraceno was named the team captain and MVP of his college team after walking on as a freshman. His hobbies are oddly tame — cooking and brushing his hair — as is his profession: tree trimmer. Rest assured, however, in WWE Tough Enough, he has one goal with relation to his fellow contestants: chop them down and take the contract for himself.

    Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe, Bayou Bluff, La.

    Zamariah Loupe wrestles alligators. He’s even got one for a pet, “Mr. Gator,” who he calls his blood brother despite the fact that big bro once bit through Loupe’s hand. The youngest of WWE Tough Enough’s contestants at age 18, Loupe currently plays linebacker for Nicholls University when he’s not wrestling alligators. Loupe’s as charitable as he is unique, passing out Beanie Babies to the children and the elderly in his town while dressed as Santa Claus. WWE Tough Enough would seem like a big step for such a young man, but, again: He wrestles alligators. His fellow humans have their work cut out for them.

  • WWE Tough Enough Videos: Triple H Walks In On Competitor Puking, More

    WWE has uploaded several videos from Wednesday and Thursday’s WWE Tough Enough mini-camp at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

    Check out the videos below.

    WWE Tough Enough finalists perform in-ring drills – WWE #ToughEnough

    “ZZ” Loupe describes his eye-opening trip to the tryout – WWE #ToughEnough

    WWE Tough Enough coaches address the final 40 – WWE #ToughEnough

    Competitors are cut from the WWE Tough Enough tryout – WWE #ToughEnough

    Booker T is excited to start coaching the Tough Enough hopefuls – WWE #ToughEnough

    Tough Enough competitors reflect on day two of tryouts – WWE #ToughEnough

    Triple H walks in on a horrible surprise – WWE #ToughEnough

    Chris Jericho addresses the Tough Enough competitors – WWE #ToughEnough

  • Ryback Talks Finally Winning WWE Gold, What His Future Plans Are & More

    WWE Intercontinental Champion Ryback recently spoke with The State-Journal Register to promote this Friday’s WWE live event in Springfield, Illinois. Below are some highlights from the interview.

    On how satisfying it is to finally capture WWE Championship gold: “I came into the WWE through “Tough Enough” (a WWE reality show competition) in 2004. … I learned right away how hard this is. I had trainers tell me that I didn’t belong in WWE, that I should quit. And when I got signed by WWE (in 2005) I was told they expected me to pick it up really quick. … They had very high expectations for me. I wouldn’t say I didn’t live up to those. … I just think sometimes people expected a little too much too soon. I had a couple of major injuries and big setbacks. But throughout all of that, the one thing I never stopped doing was believing in myself. I’ve always been very confident in my abilities in what I can do. Sometimes, that doesn’t always happen on the timescale I even have set for myself. But the main thing is I keep getting back up and I keep moving forward. And (the Intercontinental Championship win) was a culmination of all that hard work and dedication.”

    On the character of Ryback and how its’ changed over the years: “The Ryback you’re seeing on TV right now is an extension of my personality. Obviously when I step inside the ring with the adrenaline going and that energy, I’m very, very intense. It’s the same intensity you saw when I came into the WWE in 2012. I think now, though, I’m much more comfortable not always having to be acting a certain way. I think sometimes people see you and if you have a certain look, they expect to always be angry or always be intense. What I’ve been able to do over the last couple of years is kind of just find my comfort zone in front of the cameras and in front of the WWE fans and communicate with them that I’m a real person and I’m just very, very intense when I’m in that fight mode inside the ring. … I’m very big on motivational-type stuff, the law of attraction and keeping a positive mindset. I say start full and end empty, always waking up each and every day and just being your best and giving it everything you’ve got. … At the end of the night you go to bed, say thank you and you wake up hungry the next day.”

    On what’s next for Ryback: “The next step is now having a lengthy WWE Intercontinental Championship title reign and going out there and showing people that I’m worthy of carrying that title that greats like Bret Hart, the British Bulldog, Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels and Triple H have held, living up to that potential and defending that title each and every week.

    Check out the complete interview at SJ-R.com.

  • Update On Eva Marie Training At WWE Performance Center, Tough Enough Finalist Talks Elimination

    – Total Divas star Eva Marie revealed earlier this week on social media that she was training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The Total Divas star will actually be training at the wrestling school for a few weeks.

    – Ava Knight-Salicka, a 26-year-old boxer from Las Vegas, Nevada, was among the 10 Tough Enough finalists eliminated on day one of the competition. Commenting on her elimination on Instagram, she said:

    “Good luck to all the ladies on the show!! I was really impressed with the women and their drive and thought is surpassed the men by far. As a female athlete I love to see the women on top. My experience was great!! But I’m a boxer, a pure athlete. I’m not an actress, I’m not animated. I’m real and cutthroat about what I do and get things done without making a scene. Thanks @WWE and @WWEToughEnough for the experience.”

  • Kevin Owens vs. Samoa Joe Next Week On NXT, Details On Upcoming Stone Cold Podcasts

    – Steve Austin revealed on this week’s Steve Austin Show: Unleashed podcast that he has 11 more Stone Cold Podcasts podcasts scheduled for the WWE Network. While the next show has yet to be announced, we know that The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan and Sting will be future guests.

    – WWEToughEnough.com is posting updates from the ongoing Tough Enough tryout camp at the WWE Performance Center. As of this writing, the group of 40 participants has been reduced to 30.

    – NXT General Manager William Regal announced on Wednesday that next week’s episode of NXT will feature Kevin Owens vs. Samoa Joe in the main event.

  • WWE Tough Enough Training Camp Eliminations Revealed

    WWE’s 3-day Tough Enough tryout camp at the Performance Center continues today, as WWE narrows down the pool of finalists from 40 to 13.

    The camp is being filmed for a WWE Network special that will air this Tuesday night, with Tough Enough premiering on the USA Network Tuesday, June 23rd at 8 PM (EST).

    WWE announced the first round of eliminations:

    • Adam Ohriner, Long Island, N.Y.
    • Ava Knight-Salicka, Las Vegas
    • Carly Marshall, Los Angeles
    • Jason Vasquez, Oak Lawn, Ill.
    • Kevin Penczek, Belle, W.V.
    • Krishany San Jorge, Puerto Rico
    • Lorenzo Davis II, Los Angeles
    • Nicholas Cuffari, Lakewood, Ohio
    • Philip Guilford, Atlantic City, N.J.
    • Vinny Tortorella, Staten Island, N.Y.

    Visit WWEToughEnough.com for more videos from the training camp.

  • Tough Enough Training Camp Begins At The WWE Performance Center

    From more than 11,000 submission videos, WWE has selected 40 finalists to compete in a 3-day mini-camp at the WWE Performance Center.

    The 40 finalists arrived at the WWE Performance Center on Wednesday morning to determine which 13 will earn the right to prove they are Tough Enough.

    The journey of the final 40 will be chronicled on a WWE Network exclusive, WWE Tough Enough Competition Special, which airs Tuesday, June 16, at 8/7 C.

    The new season of Tough Enough premieres on the USA Network on Tuesday, June 23rd. The winner of the show earns a one-year, $250,000 WWE contract.

  • 5 Things John Cena Hasn’t Accomplished Yet, Rusev Continues To Taunt Lana & More

    – WWE.com has published a new feature looking 5 things John Cena has not yet accomplished yet in his career, including an IC Title reign, winning King of the Ring, matching Ric Flair’s 16 World Title reigns and more.

    – After Tuesday night’s SmackDown tapings from Lafayette, Louisiana, Dean Ambrose defeated Bray Wyatt with Dirty Deeds.

    – Rusev continues to taunt Lana on Twitter. She posted an update on her ankle and Rusev replied with the following:

    – Vince McMahon has Tweeted the following to hype Tough Enough:

  • Kazarian Talks About His Problem With Tough Enough, Marriage To Traci Brooks

    Ring Of Honor star Frankie Kazarian recently spoke with Marc Madison of News Hub for an interview. Below are some of the highlights.

    On his WWE run: “My time in the WWE was less than a year and all that had to do with me. I didn’t mature enough as a wrestler or a man to be there. It was the first time that wrestling became a business and not something I loved because I saw the business side of it. Now I realize that what it is and not then. I was like wow, the WWE is a giant machine that is the biggest company in the world and always will be. I just wasn’t ready to be there on a mental level personally or professionally.”

    On Tough Enough: “Part of it pains me to see guys coming on and cutting their promos and saying I love this business and I would do anything to be in this business – then why haven’t you done that yet? It always kind of bugs me to see that. There are a lot of us that took the road and did the Indies and went to Japan and Mexico and busted our ass just for a chance to get looked at somewhere and all of a sudden a game show comes along where people can submit their tapes. I’m not going to fault anyone for getting a spot the way they get a spot. If you love this business and your willing to work hard then more power to you.”

    On marrying former TNA Knockout Traci Brooks: “It’s great having somebody that has been there and done that. That knows what I’m going through. Being a wrestler’s wife is probably the hardest thing to do on this planet. I can’t imagine regular quote unquote women having to endure and put up with what we put them through but being somebody that did a lot in the business she understands what I go through. So it makes my job a lot easier and she’s very knowledgeable in terms of if I need to talk to somebody about something she’s there it makes my life a lot easier it probably makes her life miserable, so I’m sorry. I don’t she’d entertain the idea of coming back. She probably did more in this business than she ever thought she’d do. She had a very very successful career just being a farm girl from St. Mary’s, Ontario. She achieved a lot and she still has friends in the business. Her days in the ring are probably done but who knows if she might pop up on an appearance here or there. She has no regrets she has her career and she will always love the business but there is a time when you move on. She’s happy with that. She’s just happy to ride off into the sunset.”

    Check out the complete interview at The-NewsHub.com.

  • Update On WWE Tough Enough Filming, Rusev Threatens Lana, RAW Note

    – The final 40 contestants for the new season of WWE Tough Enough are flying to Orlando today to begin filming at the WWE Performance Center. Talents were informed that the cameras will be rolling as soon as they arrive. The filming that is going on today will be included in the WWE Network special that will air on the show next week.

    – WWE is scheduled to return to New Orleans, the site of last night’s edition of RAW, for another RAW show on January 11, 2016. A pre-sale for tickets is going on right now with the password: WWERAW.

    – Following last night’s RAW angle where Rusev caused Lana to suffer an ankle injury, Rusev has taken to social media to taunt and threaten Lana. Check out Rusev’s tweet from Tuesday morning below.

  • WWE Hints At Doing More Seasons Of Tough Enough, Austin/Heyman Podcast

    – The “Stone Cold Podcast” with Steve Austin and Paul Heyman that aired on the WWE Network last Monday night is the latest edition of the regular weekly “Steve Austin Show,” which is available now. You can download the show at PodcastOne.com.

    – Now that WWE has selected the 40 contestants for the new season of Tough Enough, the company has started sending letters from Triple H to applicants who failed to make the cut. In the email, HHH hints at more new seasons of Tough Enough coming in the future. Below is a copy of an email sent to Frederick Casden, who tried out for Tough Enough but didn’t get selected.

    Dear Frederick,

    Thank you for your video submission for WWE Tough Enough. As you can imagine, we received thousands of entries, and the competition was fierce. Unfortunately, you were not selected as one of the finalists, but please consider once again submitting a video for future seasons of WWE Tough Enough.

    We thank you for your passion and wish you much success in the future.

    Sincerely,

    Paul “Triple H” Levesque
    WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative

  • WWE Announces 40 Contestants For Tough Enough, WWE Network Special Announced

    WWE announced the 40 finalists for the new season of WWE Tough Enough. The contestants have been invited to a mini-camp on Wednesday, June 10th at the WWE Performance Center.

    The group of 40 will be narrowed down to 13 finalists who will then compete on the show. The journey of the final 40 will air as a WWE Network special on Tuesday, June 16th at 8pm EST.

    The 40 contestants who qualified for this season of WWE Tough Enough are:

    Adam Ohriner, Long Island, N.Y.

    Alexander Frekey, Dallas

    Alexander Galizia, Springfield, Mass.

    Amanda Saccomanno, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

    Ashley Urbanski, Oakland, Calif.

    Ava Knight-Salicka, Las Vegas

    Carly Marshall, Los Angeles

    Chelsea Green, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

    Danielle Kamela, Scottsdale, Ariz.

    Daria Berenato, Los Angeles

    David Michael Barnes, Mandan, N.J.

    Dianna Dahlgren, Spokane, Wash.

    Don Arner, Pittsburgh

    Gabi Castrovinci, Southington, Conn.

    Giorgia Piscina, Brisbane, Australia

    Hank Avery Jr., Macon, Ga.

    Jason Vazquez, Oak Lawn, Ill.

    Jeremiah Kingdom, Los Angeles

    Joshua Bredl, Thornton, Colo.

    Kahlil Bell, San Jose, Calif.

    Kevin Penczek, Belle, W.V.

    Krishany San Jorge, Puerto Rico

    LaRayia Gaston, Los Angeles

    Lorenzo Davis II, Los Angeles

    Mada Abdel Hamid, Los Angeles

    Michael Mio, Staten Island, N.Y.

    Mike Hayes, Louisville, Ken.

    Nehemiah Kingdom, Los Angeles

    Nicholas Cuffari, Lakewood, Okla.

    Patrick Clark, Washington, D.C.

    Philip Guilford, Atlantic City, N.J.

    Sada Bettencourt, San Jose, Calif.

    Samantha Sage, Los Angeles

    Sara Lee, Hope, Mich.

    Stephen Tezanos-Pinto, Sacramento, Calif.

    Tanner Saraceno, Boiling Springs, S.C.

    Tommaso Giannuzzi, Germany

    Vinny Tortorella, Staten Island, N.Y.

    Zach Boss, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe, Bayou Bluff, La.

  • Last Chance For Fans To Apply To Be Part Of WWE Tough Enough

    WWE issued the following press release today, notifying fans that Friday, June 5th is the last official day for WWE Superstar and Diva “hopefuls” to submit an audition video to try and become a contestant on the new season of WWE Tough Enough.

    LAST DAY FOR TOUGH ENOUGH SUBMISSIONS

    Tomorrow, Friday, June 5 is the official last day for WWE Superstar and Diva hopefuls to submit an audition video at WWEToughEnough.com for the upcoming reality competition series, WWE Tough Enough. The series, hosted by WWE Superstar Chris Jericho®, premieres on Tuesday, June 23 at 8/7c on USA Network.

    This season of WWE Tough Enough will combine the can’t-miss excitement of live television with reality-show drama as hopefuls vie for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a WWE Superstar or Diva. The lightning-fast hour of entertainment and competition will include live results every week, giving fans worldwide the power to decide who stays and who goes the very same night. Each week, one cast member will be eliminated until one man and one woman are considered “Tough Enough,” with each earning a one-year, $250,000 WWE contract.

    The revolutionary WWE Tough Enough App is now available for download. This app will provide an unprecedented fan experience before, during and after the show by enabling fans to vote for who stays and who goes with results calculated in real-time during the final minutes of each episode. The app will be home to WWE’s leading-edge second-screen experience, which will feature live backstage interviews during commercial breaks and social media conversation from the hosts, judges, trainers and contestants. Other features will include contestant bios, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and photos, and full episode results and highlights. The WWE Tough Enough App will also offer sneak peeks of contestant tryouts as well as breaking news about which WWE hopefuls have joined the cast.

  • Special Look At WWE Tough Enough Hopefuls, Steve Austin Podcast, Total Divas

    – Part two of Steve Austin’s interview with SIRIUS-XM host Sam Roberts on his regular weekly podcast, “The Steve Austin Show,” is now available. You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

    – WWE recently released the following “special look” of the WWE Tough Enough “hopefuls” on their official YouTube channel.

    https://youtu.be/wHATeN1zW6M

    – WWE posted the following tweet with a video of the trailer for the new season of WWE Total Divas, which premieres on E! on Tuesday, July 7th.

  • Nikki Bella Hoping For New Competition From NXT Women, Ryback Talks Tough Enough

    – Tonight at Elimination Chamber, Nikki Bella will defend the Divas Championship against Naomi and Paige in a Triple Threat Match. Prior to the event, she posted a message on Instagram saying she hopes to continue her reign as Divas Champion and face some new competition from the women of NXT. Nikki stated:

    “As I say good bye to wine country and hello to Texas I feel revived and refreshed. Today I will prepare and get into my zone as I take on two opponents at the Elimination Chamber tomorrow on the WWE Network. Almost 200 days as your Divas Champion. I hope to continue that reign, continue to make my reign and the Divas Division better. Wish I could put this title on the line every week to a new opponent. I hope to get new competition in our Divas Division soon with NXT Women on the rise,” Bella stated.

    “The future looks promising. Looks competitive. Looks tough. So happy to be apart of it. So happy for the challenges. 9 years in July I have been wrestling. There’s nothing like being passionate about your craft. 9 years into it I am still trying to be better and better. Never settle. Always strive to be the best you… Even when you feel like you are there… Keep striving… There’s always something you can work on. Stay Fearless. Love!”

    – Ryback, who competed on the fourth season of Tough Enough in 2004, recalled his experience competing on the show in this interview published on WWEToughEnough.com.

    “Tough Enough was my introduction into the world of WWE. Looking back, I was 22 years old, just a guy who played baseball and football my entire life, and was a fan of WWE from the age of 5 years old. Going into Tough Enough and into a WWE ring, I thought I was prepared, and I found out I had no clue, essentially,” Ryback said.

    Ryback offers the following advice to the contestants who join this season’s cast.

    “I’ve seen guys who spent their entire lives in the military, who are considered “tough guys,” quit after two days. I’ve seen guys come from a mixed martial arts background quit after just a few days. It takes a special mindset, and you have to have a love and a passion for WWE. As long as you respect it when you step in the ring, you’ll be all right. It’s the guys who don’t who fall off,” said Ryback.

  • Uhaa Nation Makes NXT Debut, Tough Enough News, Machine Gun Kelly/RAW

    – The official WWE Tough Enough website has a new video interview up with Billy Gunn. Gunn, who will be serving s one of the trainers on the new season of the show informs the contestants what they can expect. You can check out the video at WWEToughEnough.com.

    – Although he confirmed the news himself via social media earlier today, WWE is now officially advertising rapper Machine Gun Kelly as a guest star for the June 15th edition of WWE RAW in Cleveland, Ohio. WWE.com wrote the following about his scheduled appearance:

    “Machine Gun Kelly is returning to the WWE Universe.

    The hip-hop star who played John Cena to the ring at WrestleMania XXVIII and provided an official theme song of WrestleMania 29 will reunite with the Superstars and Divas of WWE when he appears as the Guest Star of the June 15 edition of Raw in advance of the release of his second album, due later this summer. Is a reunion with Cena in the cards for MGK, who will be guest-starring in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio? A musical performance of his new single, “A Little More?” Tune in to Raw June 15 at 8/7 C live on USA Network to find out!”

    – NXT Diva Lina Ranene announced that she and Uhaa Nation will be making their NXT debut at the live event tonight in Venice, Florida. Ranene tweeted the following:

  • Elimination Chamber Booking News, Plans For First Tough Enough Episode

    – With the Elimination Chamber taking place just a few weeks after WWE’s most recent PPV offering, the creative team is said to be enjoying the short turnaround time.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the creative team likes that they have only a few of weeks to set up angles and blow them off. The feeling is that spending four weeks of television to set up and pay off a story gives too much time for the matches – which have been very repetitive in recent months and lead to overexposure.

    – There is talk of having the very first episode of the new season of WWE Tough Enough to be built around 30 contestants battling to make it into the house. If this does happen, the eliminations and the picks of those who qualify will be shot at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Lita Talks About Being A Trainer On The New Season Of WWE Tough Enough

    WWE Hall Of Famer Amy “Lita” Dumas recently appeared as a guest on Busted Open Radio to talk about her upcoming role as trainer on the new season of WWE Tough Enough.

    Below are some highlights from the interview.

    On the WWE Divas Championship: “Can it be called the Divas Championship, but not have a pink butterfly on the belt?”

    On using the term Superstar instead of wrestler: “I would settle for Superstar over Diva, but just plain old wrestler is OK with me.”

    On being a trainer for the new season of WWE Tough Enough: “I don’t want to just hand you a script and say put your left leg up… yeah I could train a robot to do that but that’s not who is going to be the next superstar. You need to be able to process this information and make it your own, digest it-go to sleep-wake up and use it. So I love that challenge of how am I going to get through to you to make you the next superstar.”

    Check out the complete interview at BustedOpenNation.com.

  • New Details On The Format & Plans For The New WWE Tough Enough

    The format of the returning WWE Tough Enough reality show is going to be completely revamped compared to past seasons.

    There will be training and in-house footage shot during the week, which will air on the Tuesday show. So when you watch an episode, the training and drama in the house we see will be from the previous week, very similar to The Ultimate Fighter season that they tried to do semi-live, as well as the UFC Primetime and “Embedded” specials which they try to keep up-to-date.

    The television show will air each Tuesday, with footage shot during the week as well as a live show in front of a studio audience.

    While Chris Jericho is scheduled to be the host of the show, it’s said that he will have somewhat of a “Ryan Seacrest role,” and won’t be hosting the show in the style that WWE had “Stone Cold” Steve Austin do several years ago.

    As far as the rest of the cast, Hulk Hogan, Paige and Daniel Bryan will serve as panelists, mentors and judges, while Booker T, Billy Gunn and Lita will serve as the actual trainers for the contestants. Each week on the show there will be a judges vote and an audience vote to decide who goes home.

    WWE has reportedly gone out of their way to recruit certain people to be cast members on the show, including Tessa Blanchard, daughter of WWE Hall Of Famer Tully Blanchard. It’s also said that they badly wanted Moose on the show.

    Apparently WWE is telling people that they are recruiting to be on the program that they will be guaranteed a spot on the show, however the actual winner of the season will not be pre-determined and will be completely legitimate based on the fan voting.

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Finn Balor’s Entrance Messed Up At NXT Albany Show (Video), Balor Comments, More

    – Finn Balor’s ring entrance was screwed up during the NXT live event in Albany, New York on Saturday night. NXT had a few issues with the sound system throughout the show, but the most glaring issue came during Balor’s entrance for the main event. Tyler Breeze came out first to his usual ring music and had to stall in the ring for several minutes while the NXT production crew was presumably working on fixing whatever the issue was. Unfortunately, they didn’t fix it fast enough, so Balor ended up coming out to no music. By the time he hit the ring and was posing in the corners, his music finally played. Kevin Owens would follow as the third competitor in the triple-threat main event, and by that point, the audio issues had been cleared up.

    Balor tweeted the following about his entrance mix-up on Saturday, and re-tweeted the following video of the entrance itself.

    https://twitter.com/mrskimboto/status/599787866055663617

    – NXT Diva Bayley’s boyfriend Aaron Solow posted the following audition video for the new season of WWE Tough Enough. In the video, Solow addresses the fact that he’s dating Bayley in real life.

  • WWE Stars Appearing At NBC Universal Upfronts this Week

    Several WWE personalities will be attending NBC Universal’s “upfront” presentation this week from the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. The event is an opportunity for the media company to preview their upcoming shows and pitch advertisers.

    Roman Reigns and Titus O’Neil will be representing RAW and promoting SmackDown’s move to the USA Network next January.

    Chris Jericho and Hulk Hogan will be representing Tough Enough, which premieres on the USA Network on June 23rd.

    The Bella Twins and Natalya will be representing Total Divas on E!

    The event is not open to the public.

  • Renee Young Co-Hosting Tough Enough, Judges & Trainers Hype The Show

    Renee Young revealed on Twitter that she will be Chris Jericho’s co-host when WWE Tough Enough returns on Tuesday, June 23rd on the USA Network. Thursday’s press release from WWE announcing details for the show did not mention Young co-hosting. 

    https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/596399101769428992

    Daniel Bryan, Hulk Hogan and Paige will serve as judges, while Billy Gunn, Lita and Booker T will be training the contestants. Here are some more reactions from the cast members:

    https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/596397674535882752

    https://twitter.com/AmyDumas/status/596407655905628160

  • WWE Tough Enough Host, Judges & Trainers Revealed

    Chris Jericho announced on Thursday that he will be hosting the new season of WWE Tough Enough, which premieres on the USA Network on Tuesday, June 23rd.

    WWE also issued a press release giving tons more information about the new season, including details on judges, trainers and more.

    – Hulk Hogan, Daniel Bryan and Paige will be judges on the series.

    – Booker T, Lita and Billy Gunn will be the trainers.

    – Tough Enough will be filmed out of the WWE Performance Center and Full Sail University, home of NXT.

    – The official Tough Enough app will be launching on May 25th.

    – There will be a lot of fan interaction, including the ability to vote via the Tough Enough app and texting to interact with various live elements

    – Contestants in the series will “come face to face” with Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and John Cena over the course of the series.