WWE Tough Enough TV Report
July 7, 2015
Week 3 on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This week's Tough Enough episode started with a look inside the Tough Enough studio from Full Sail University. Chris Jericho and Renee Young introduced the show and hyped another elimination tonight.

Off to the judges for a look at Daniel Bryan, Hulk Hogan, and Paige. Jericho asked Hogan how things have been going thus far. Hogan said they've been chopping people down week by week, but Daniel Bryan said Sara Lee made a great plea last week to stay on the show.

Jericho sent the show to what happened last week after Alex was eliminated. Patrick said America made the right decision by eliminating Alex. Sara Lee was shown talking about not standing out, then the show shifted back to Dianna ripping everyone. So, she called her fiancee wanting to go home. And, she packed up and waited for a pick-up at 2:00 a.m. And she took off.

The next morning, Billy Gunn walked into the barracks waking everyone up with an air horn. They went outside for a brief run showing Tanner leading the pack again. Gunn asked Sara about not fading into the background this week. Sara then looked around to find only one blonde, Amanda. Gunn said one of the contestants went home. And everyone realized Dianna took off. The other contestants said it did not surprise them that Dianna quit and did not say good-bye. Amanda said she's the last blonde standing.

To a challenge. At a random costume shop. Booker T, Gunn, and Lita were standing by to talk about shining to the audience. And in came WWE World Hvt. champion Seth Rollins to help pick out props. Yes, this is actually happening. Rollins said he's here to talk about character. He said the contest has been about the physical side of wrestling, but you have to be able to connect with the audience. So, you have to find a character. Booker said the personality has shine through. Gunn pulled out two hats with cards inside labeling a character.

Lita told the contestants they have an hour to find a character. Basically, it's a glorified wedding photo booth props game. "Character Challenge" showed the contestants going through props to try to match up their card. Rollins walked up to various contestants to ask them about their costume picks. Seth took off. Tanner said he looks a lot like Rollins.

Back to the studio, where Jericho noted Dianna has left the competition. The judges talked about Dianna leaving, with Hogan saying they did not get the pleasure of voting her off. Renee completely changed the tone of Dianna's departure to say there's a story on the Tough Enough website explaining why Dianna had to leave the show. Apparently there's another part of the story that did not fit the narrative? And that made the judges look like jerks for their comments? This is the strangest show ever.

[Commercial Break]

Back on Tough Enough, Renee sent the show back to footage of the contestants dressing up as their character. Booker wanted to see showmanship, style, and charisma. Lita wanted to see Sara Lee go first. Sara was "Jayde," Queen of Mean. Total heel for a babyface character. The judges talked about not feeling the character. Giorgia said Sara looked lost.

Next out was Josh as Bronson, the British Brawler. Daria came out as a sweet Fallen Angel and fell down in the ring to reveal a more devilish character. Booker said he didn't know where she was going with that. Next out was Tanner as a stud muffin. Gunn asked Patrick for his evaluation. Patrick broke down Tanner's strange selection, saying he lost him.

Next out was Gabi as a farmer's daughter doing a strut to the ring. Amanda said she figured Gabi would do a "hooker version of the farmer's daughter." Gunn said it was a bit much. Patrick was out next as Rick Powers, an evil genius. Patrick brought Lita's dog with him. Gunn liked the entrance, but did not hear anything verbal. Amanda was out next as a barbie doll. Patrick was salivating. And ZZ noted she was flaunting too much.

Next out was Mada as a pharaoh for King of the Ring. Mada brought the intensity, drawing props from Booker and Lita. Patrick said Mada shocked them by doing way better. Giorgia was out next as an evil boss. Gunn gave her strong props. Out last was Z.Z. as M'erica Zane playing to the crowd and trying Rick Rude in the ring. It was good for a laugh. But, Gunn said it was good for a laugh because it was ridiculous. Gunn said it was almost insulting to their intelligence. They continued to focus on Z.Z. in this segment, with Gunn saying he did not compare at all to a WWE star.

Overall, Lita told the contestants that some of them delivered, and others did not. Patrick won for the guys (Mada was a close second). Giorgia won for the females. Gunn noted that even though Dianna left the show, one of them will also be eliminated this week.

[Commercial Break]

Back on the show, Young went to more footage from during the week. At the Tough Enough house, Z.Z. asked the other guys about their idea of an American hero. Z.Z. said he likes to goof, but he takes his goofs seriously. Z.Z. said he doesn't want to be taken like a goof all the time. Josh was too busy playing with his Roman Reigns hair to care. Patrick said he over-thought it. Z.Z. said they all escaped their reality for ten minutes, and that's the whole point of it. He said no one understands how his mind works. He said his mind is like a 5,000-piece puzzle.

Off to Brazilian Gabi and Sara Lee. Gabi wanted to form an alliance with Sara and push her to stand out more. Gabi also wanted to take out Amanda, calling her fake. Back to the males, where Tanner resumed his battle with Patrick. Patrick got down to it that he wants to fight him right now. And a scrap was on in the middle of the living room. Stand-off, pull-apart, and everyone acted stunned that a fight just broke out.

Back at Full Sail, Jericho said he's ready to fight. How about you Renee? Never mind. Off to the line-up of remaining Tough Enough contestants. Jericho said the judges will pick their Bottom 3 next.

[Commercial Break]

Back to Jericho to ask the judges for questions. Bryan had a bone to pick with Tanner about his fight with Patrick. He then addressed Sara Lee. He said Sara was supposed to be mean, but he didn't feel it. The judges suddenly focused on Z.Z.'s package. The ladies thought there was a water balloon in there. They also focused on whether Amanda has fake body parts. A weird, disjointed conversation.

Bryan's Bottom 3 pick was Daria, saying he did not like her ring entrance. Paige picked Sara Lee again. Hulk Hogan's pick was Z.Z. for not being a leader despite having the personality. Jericho said they will see who gets voted off, plus a second chance at their ring entrance next.

[Commercial Break]

Back at Full Sail, where the contestants were in their ring entrance costumes. Sara put on a scowl and tried to walk tough to the "ring." She played to the studio audience, but not the hard camera, then walked back to her spot. The judges weren't sure what to make of it, but they thought it was better.

Z.Z. did his 'Merica gimmick again. Z.Z. interacted with the crowd and hyped his package. He said he offers laughter to America. The judges were unsure how to evaluate it since it wasn't quite a ring entrance, more like a speech.

And, finally, Daria. She acted nice in her angel costume, then waited for the beat to turn red and black. Daria kind of walked around the judges acting scary. Bryan said he thought it was better.

Jericho then gave the contestants 30 seconds for their final pleas. Daria said she came here with an MMA background and kind of set that aside for this contest. She said when she steps into the ring, believe will believe she can beat her opponent legit. Paige interrupted to question her promo.

Z.Z. spoke next. He told a story about his swamp background, giving people entertainment. Whether you laugh at him or with him, you at least escape your reality. Z.Z. said he thinks he did a good job of giving people a break from their reality.

Finally, Sara Lee. She said she's not going to give up, she will learn how to be a bad guy if she needs to be in that role, and she doesn't care how goofy she looks trying to learn from her coaches.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Jericho asked Amanda who should go home from the Bottom 3. Amanda could not decide. She picked Sara Lee. Mada also said Sara. Tanner picked Daria. Everyone else picked Sara.

Jericho said the only opinion that matters is the fan vote. But, the judges have a chance to use their one save per season. Bryan said no. Paige said she would like to save Z.Z., but she won't use it here. Hogan said no one gets saved.

Jericho said the results are in. Daria is going home with 14 percent. Three straight weeks that Bryan's Bottom 3 pick has gone home. 34 percent of the vote went to Sara and 52 percent went to Z.Z. Daria said she thinks others deserved to go home before her, but that's how the game works. And now Sara has an entire cast of enemies except for Tanner, who picked Daria.

It's the same as the last two weeks - Sara comes across like a likable, real human being and Z.Z. is the lovable goofball who stands out from the crowd when the producers accentuate the contestants's weaknesses trying to stir up drama. Daria just happened to be the odd contestant out this week.

***

Tough Enough contestants

- (eliminated 6/30) (1) Alex Frekey - Dallas
(2) Amanda Saccomanno - Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
- eliminated (7/7) (3) Daria Berenato - Los Angeles
- (self-eliminated 7/7 show) (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) Josh Bredl - Thornton, Colo.
(9) Mada 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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/11 - Week 8: Cena returns to WWE TV, contestants have a match in front of NXT roster, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/4 - Week 7: Latest cut, Prime Time Players guest-star, Amanda Swerve, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 7/28 - Week 6: Latest elimination, Hogan replaced, Miz ruins everything, WWE stars appear, more