WWE Tough Enough TV Report
June 23, 2015
Episode 1 on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Tough Enough returned to the air for a summer TV run with a video package highlighting the 13 competitors who were whittled down from 40 finalists.

From the newly-created Tough Enough soundstage at Full Sail University, Chris Jericho introduced the show from a platform above the ring. There was a studio audience and Renee Young was also on the platform with Jericho.

Daniel Bryan was introduced as one of the three judges, followed by Paige, then Hulk Hogan. WWE introduced some tape library footage from Hogan's career as "Real American" played.

WWE cut to Jericho standing in the ring with the panel of judges. Bryan said he wants someone to show him heart and passion. Paige said she wants to see people who stand out, like her. Hogan said it's got to be in their blood.

Renee then read off rules for the weekly competition show. Each week, the judges select the Bottom 3. Viewers will vote on which competitor from the Bottom 3 should stay, with judges also having a say in who stays.

Pre-taped video: Earlier in the competition, the coaches of Booker T, Billy Gunn, and Lita brought the 13 finalists to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando for Boot Camp. Jericho showed up on the stadium video screen giving the finalists their challenge for the day. And, a history lesson on the Citrus Bowl hosting WrestleMania 24.

The video continued with Booker leading the contestants in a test of their physical fitness. Notably, they had to black out the Orlando City MLS team logos and graphics in the background of the Citrus Bowl footage.

Tanner dominated the competition for the males, while ZZ struggled to carry his weight. Amanda was the first female to the top of the stadium to meet Gunn. The males brought up the rear while poor Z.Z. finished dead last. Z.Z. said in a talking head that he knows this could get him cut.

The video continued with a look at the contestants arriving at their home. The guys and gals decided to head out looking to party, while Z.Z. and Patrick had to hang back since they're not 21-years-old. Z.Z. said at least he gets to eat all the cookies.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned to the Tough Enough "arena" for some on-camera introductions of the 13 finalists. First was Alex from Dallas, then Amanda, Hank, Daria, Josh, Dianna, Mada, Gabi, Patrick, Giorgia, Tanner, Sara Lee, and finally Z.Z. Jericho and Renee fed to another video, this time showing the above-age contestants out on the town in Orlando.

Back at the Tough Enough barracks, Z.Z. and Patrick were hanging out in the jacuzzi. Z.Z. had a little floatie on. Back at the club, Tanner was hanging out with the ladies after winning the stadium cardio test while the other guys, like Mada, were talking trash about him.

The crew eventually headed back to the house, where Z.Z. and Patrick were joined by Daria and Sara. But, Z.Z. scared them off by dropping his trunks.

At 6:00 a.m. the next day, a giant truck pulled up and out came Billy Gunn on a bullhorn waking everyone up. Gunn led the crew in some push-ups. Dianna said she hurt her groin last night and it was hurting the next morning. Next, the contestants ran down the street. It was the same as the stadium where Tanner out-ran everyone, while Z.Z. brought up the rear. Back at the house, Tanner got into it with the other guys.

Off to the Performance Center for some in-ring drills. Booker said it's all about running the ropes. Dianna spoke up that she's hurt, so she probably will not win the drill. When asked how many times they can do the drill, Tanner confidently said he can do twice as much anyone else. The other guys spoke up, then Patrick got hot at Tanner trying to use pro wrestling for his "MMA crap."

The drill started with the ladies doing some drop-downs after running the ropes. Dianna ended up doing 17 reps, topping the ladies. The highlights slowed down for a look at Tanner looking to top the men's average of eight. Tanner went on to drop 16 reps. Booker told the males that Tanner is kicking everyone's ass right now. And the males were ready to rough him up, since the smallest male in the group was putting them to shame. Booker said one of them is going home.

[Commercial Break]

Back on Tough Enough, Renee introduced the next video feature. They showed Dianna greeting her fiance in the parking lot. She said she wanted to go home. They showed the women talking amongst themselves about Dianna. Yeah, she can do 17 reps in the cardio drill, but if she doesn't want to be here, then she should go home.

Dianna was shown returning to the house acting sad and then crying. Z.Z. jumped in trying to console the ladies. The other ladies said Dianna should go home if she doesn't want to be here. Gabi told Dianna to go home, prompting Dianna to snap out of her sadness to get into a shouting match with Gabi.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the house. Tanner and Alex were in a shouting match. Other guys stepped in trying to be the voice of reason, then Tanner and Patrick got into it. Eventually, people were separated to try to get everyone ready to see the judges.

[Commercial Break]

Back at Full Sail, Renee broke down the rules again. In the ring, Jericho set up some comments from the judges. Starting with Hogan. He asked for DIanna to step up. He wanted to know if she's the next WWE Diva, or is she a trophy wife that just wants to go home? Dianna said she is the next Diva. She said she knows "this" has depicted her as this "crying girl who wants to go home," but she is ready and she will give it her all. Daniel Bryan spoke up next. Why is her fiance already wearing his wedding ring? Respect for her.

Paige asked Hank to step up. She said Hank stood out to her for all the wrong reasons because he said Z.Z. was in worse shape than everyone, including the women. What was that supposed to mean? Hank explained himself, again calling out the editing making him sound like he was knocking women. Hank said his complete thought was Z.Z. might be physically unimpressive, but he has as much heart as anyone on the show.

Bryan then asked Daria to step up. He asked Daria about not taking any risk on this first episode despite labeling herself a risk-taker. She then explained all of the risk she's taken during her life, like becoming an MMA fighter or stepping into a WWE ring. Jericho cut her off, saying they have to go to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back to Jericho to set up the final voting. Hogan was asked who he thinks should go home tonight. He said Z.Z. has the heart and spark, but this is about physical challenges. Bryan was asked to make his pick. He picked Hank. Paige said she's looking for someone to stand out, and she has not seen anything from Josh, a/k/a the next Roman Reigns. Jericho opened the vote to see who should go home next. Renee read the App vote info, then Jericho plugged Hank, Z.Z., or Josh going home next.

[Commercial Break]

Back to Full Sail, where Jericho gave each of the Bottom 3 a final 30 seconds to make their case to stay on the show. Josh stammered through his sales pitch and said he'll see everyone next week. Z.Z. said he belongs her, he has a flavor to bring to the WWE, and he will bring smiles to people's faces. He said he was born to be here and make an influence on people's lives. There it is. Hank stepped up and said he's the Average Joe who represents the dream that people in the audience have.

Jericho said the final pleas are in and it's time to find out the voting results. But, before the voting is revealed, the judges have a chance to use one save per season. Will they use it now? Bryan said absolutely not. Paige said no. Hogan said no saves.

Jericho said the person with the fewest votes will go home. Jericho ran down Josh for trying to get by on being big, Hank for not showing enough, and Z.Z. needing to get in better shape.

The results were revealed ... 22 percent for Hank, 26 percent for Josh, and 52 percent for Z.Z. Jericho told Hank that he's not tough enough and he's going home. Hank shook hands with Josh and Z.Z., who told Hank that he's always welcome in Louisiana. Jericho signed off with a plug for next week's show.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The overall show felt somewhat disjointed. The videos of what the contestants did during the week didn't seem to mesh with the in-studio elements. It also did not help that two of the contestants called out the show for manufacturing reality to fit the narrative the producers wanted to run with. Overall, everyone seemed a bit nervous in the live setting, especially in such a small soundstage setting when WWE usually runs big arenas for big personalities, so perhaps this show will run a little smoother by the time they get to the end of the season.

***

Tough Enough contestants

(1) Alexander Frekey - Dallas
(2) Amanda Saccomanno - Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
(3) Daria Berenato - Los Angeles
(4) Dianna Dahlgren - Spokane, Wash.
(5) Gabi Castrovinci - Southington, Conn.
(6) Giorgia Piscina - Brisbane, Australia
- (eliminated 6/23) (7) Hank Avery Jr. - Macon, Ga.
(8) Joshua Bredl - Thornton, Colo.
(9) Mada Abdel Hamid - Los Angeles
(10) Patrick Clark, Jr. - Washington, D.C.
(11) Sara Lee - Hope, Mich.
(12) Tanner Saraceno - Boiling Springs, S.C.
(13) Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe - Bayou Bluff, La.

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