WWE Tough Enough TV Report
August 11, 2015
Week 8 on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This week's Tough Enough opened with a look-back to Raw two weeks ago when John Cena got his nose busted by Seth Rollins. Tonight, Cena returns to WWE TV guest-starring on Tough Enough.

Live from Full Sail University, Chris Jericho and Renee Young introduced the show. They were joined by the six remaining contestants and the three judges - Daniel Bryan, Paige, and The Miz. Miz acted nice toward Bryan after their run-in last night on Raw during Miz TV.

Renee then went to footage from last week recorded after Chelsea was eliminated.

At the Tough Enough house, Chris Jericho was shown waiting for them at the kitchen. Jericho had pizza and drinks to celebrate the final six. Giorgia said she's concerned that she feels like she's improving, but it's not getting through to the audience (based on her having the fewest amount of votes in last week's Bottom Three, and being saved from elimination).

Amanda then did her usual routine picking on everyone else by saying she thinks Sara and Z.Z. aren't trying hard because they'll be saved by their fans. Sara said she's full of crap. Giorgia then said this isn't a competition about being relatable. (This isn't really a competition about anything, but that's another topic.) In any event, Z.Z. took exception, squeeing into the conversation to note that it is about being relatable. He said you have to make the people either love you or hate you, not be in-between.

Jericho interjected that people like Sara and Z.Z. because they have that "it factor" that makes them stand out and connect with the crowd. Jericho noted that he won the World Title six times, but none of them were as a babyface, so you have to find your niche.

Jericho then asked the contestants what their favorite match is. Giorgia picked Trish Stratus vs. Lita from Raw a decade ago when Lita nearly broke her neck on a suicide dive to the outside. She said she was inspired by Lita getting back in the ring to keep fighting.

Z.Z. picked Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar from their steel cage match at Extreme Rules 2013. Sara picked Brock beating The Undertaker at WrestleMania, acknowledging it's kind of sad, but she didn't see it coming at all. Jericho said they're talking about great storytellers in the ring. He said the number one thing to make it in wrestling is ring psychology, storytelling. Tanner said he hopes to incorporate that into his athleticism.

Jericho then brought out booze, challenging the contestants to out-drink him.

The next day, the contestants made it to breakfast. Except for Tanner, who lost the drinking contest to Jericho. Or, won, but paid the price for it. Sara said she could smell booze coming out of Tanner's room. Tanner was in pretty rough shape. He couldn't even speak. "Jealous?" he finally managed. Jericho helped them wake up, then sent the crew off to this week's challenge.

At the Performance Center, Booker T, Lita, Billy Gunn, and Jericho talked to the contestants about building to the important elements of what you're doing in the ring. Booker said it's about building the story as you go. Gunn demonstrated what they're doing as Tanner tried to wake up from a night of drinking.

Jericho hopped into the ring to take bumps, surprising the contestants. Gunn then gave the contestants an hour to put together a story in the ring. The trainers worked with the contestants before Gunn surprised the contestants by bringing out the NXT Developmental wrestlers as a live audience for their matches. About 50 of them sat down in chairs to observe. How will they fare? It's on the other side of the break.

[Commercial Break]

Back on Tough Enough, Renee broke down the rules for the show before going back to pre-taped footage from the contestants's "first match" last week

At the Performance Center, Jericho welcomed out the first pairing of Josh and Z.Z. Jericho did formal ring introductions as the NXT crew played along with Josh as the heel and Z.Z. as the underdog babyface. Josh went over with a combination bodyslam. Booker and Lita liked their work.

Next were Sara and Amanda, playing the arrogant heel. Amanda said the crowd booing her was amazing. Sara kept smiling, irritating the judges. Amanda worked the heel routine, talking trash to set up Sara's comeback. Sara went over with a bodyslam. And a smile. She said she felt so great and couldn't stop smiling. Gunn said Amanda was great as a heel, Lita liked their work, and Sara has to work on her face. Booker was just beside himself selling annoyance. He said he can't be more serious about it that Sara smiling pisses him off. He said it's not a game. Booker told Sara to get rid of the smile and take this seriously. "Other than that, okay," he closed. In a talking head, Sara said she's frustrated because she feels like she can't do anything right for the trainers.

Next up was Giorgia vs. Tanner. Tanner was the heel taking liberties with Giorgia, who fought back. She was a little cocky during her face comeback, making Tanner a bit sympathetic. They did a finish where Tanner sucked in the ref, then schoolboyed Giorgia for the win. Lita noted things were a bit confusing with Giorgia acting bossy and Tanner not doing anything really heelish with his body or facials. Booker said he thought it was pretty good, but Tanner needs to work on his facials.

Jericho closed the bit by shouting out to the NXT wrestlers, then Lita said she feels like this was a milestone moment for them going from watching wrestling to putting together moves and a match story. Gunn said Josh won the challenge, saying there is something about him. Booker picked Sara for the worst because of her smile. He told her to find a way to practice on her facials in the ring. Gunn sent them back to the house.

At the Tough Enough studio, Jericho and Renee talked about what they saw from the challenge video. Paige spoke up that everyone showed up well in the ring. Miz said he liked Z.Z. doing the in-between things and not just doing moves. Bryan was asked about Sara. He said smiling is okay, but it's knowing when to smile. Paige told her to figure out who she is in the ring because she's not Sara Lee anymore.

Jericho said John Cena is next on the show.

[Commercial Break]

Back on Tough Enough, they went to some footage at the Tough Enough house from during the week. Tanner and Josh were shown hanging out at the pool table talking about their wrestling challenge. Josh revisited Tanner getting completely wasted, noting he still lacks personality even when belligerent.

Meanwhile, Giorgia and Amanda were hanging out in their room reading mean tweets. Amanda took it as flattery. She got a lot of "fake girl" insults. Giorgia acted somewhat shaken up by the mean tweets. No sign of Sara or Z.Z. in the footage.

Back at the studio, Jericho welcomed out John Cena in his new Miami Hurricanes color scheme. Cena, sporting a messed-up nose, embraced Jericho and talked about being on the show. He sounded nasaly recovering from his broken nose. Cena did a big speech about Tough Enough reflecting a story they don't always tell on Raw or Smackdown - a journey from nothing to something to get to WWE. Cena endorsed all of the contestants being brave enough to fall down and fail on national TV, not in the privacy of an NXT practice facility.

Jericho then brought up Summerslam. He said that according to Triple H last night on Raw, Cena is 50/50 for competing against Seth Rollins for the WWE World Title at Summerslam. Cena said he doesn't think Hunter has much of a career as an oddsmaker. He then put it to the judges to vote. Will he make it to Summerslam, sir Daniel Bryan? Perhaps you could answer with one word and a hand gesture. "Yes!" Bryan led the audience, drawing laughs from Cena. Cena thanked everyone for letting him be on the show, then Jericho sent the show to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back at the studio, Jericho thanked Cena for visiting the show. Now for the judges to ask the contestants questions. Miz asked Tanner about being a robot. Tanner spoke back that he thought he finished well, and is coachable. Paige then brought up Amanda saying she thinks Sara and Z.Z. aren't working as hard since they have fan support. Sara said that's not the case at all, as being in the Bottom 3 lights a fire under her to improve. Z.Z. said is makes his heart hurt being in the Bottom 3.

Bryan then credited Z.Z. for his facial expressions during his match. He said it's important to be relatable. He used that to point out that Giorgia wasn't acting like a babyface during her match, and Jericho even had to tell the crowd to cheer her. Giorgia tried to defend herself.

Jericho said everyone has had their say and now the judges will decide the Bottom 3. Next.

[Commercial Break]

Back to Jericho, who asked for the Bottom 3. First, Miz endorsed everyone for their good work this week. But, he has to pick someone, and he is picking Tanner. Next was Paige, who picked Sara Lee. She called Sara a C-Plus Player. Bryan said Sara did know how to get cheered, she got cheered, and one person who did not know how to get cheered was Giorgia, so she's in the Bottom 3.

Tanner, Sara, and Giorgia stood together for the Bottom 3 vote. Bryan is the only judge with a save left, and he picked Giorgia for the Bottom 3, so she can't be saved this week. But, will Tanner lose the vote? Jericho asked all three to give their final speech to try to save their spot.

Giorgia offered almost a farewell speech, saying she has given everything to this competition. She said she cannot be stopped and this is all she knows now. Tanner said he thinks he has personality to go with his athleticism, then sounded defensive answering Miz's criticism. Finally, Sara Lee. Sara looked into the camera and said she keeps being put in the Bottom 3 and she keeps improving, just as she's been asked. She said she has a special connection with her fans that cannot be taught and she will keep practicing her facial expressions. Sara has definitely gotten a lot of practice on promos, thanks to Paige, and Jericho thanked everyone for their final pleas.

Jericho said the vote is now open.

[Commercial Break]

Back on Tough Enough, Giorgia, Tanner, and Sara were standing by to learn their fate. First, Jericho asked the other three contestants who should go home. Z.Z. said Tanner because he has no charisma. Josh picked Tanner because he needs to eliminate the competition. Amanda ran down Sara Lee, who will be her final female competition if Giorgia gets eliminated.

Jericho said the voting is over, then he asked D-Bryan if he wants to use a save this week. Bryan looked them over, then said no. So, one of them is going home.

The final tally revealed ... Giorgia going home with 22 percent. Tanner surprisingly had 35 percent of the vote and Sara had 43 percent for her usual top finish.

Giorgia hung her head, then tried to smile through the tears. Giorgia brushed off Renee, saying she doesn't think she can think right now. Giorgia said she doesn't know why the fans don't like her, but they will learn to like her because this isn't the end. She said she got a taste for WWE and she wants more.

Jericho wrapped up the show by noting the final two females are Sara Lee and Amanda competing for a $250,000 WWE contract. Jericho said they still have three more guys to sort through, and it continues next week.

Tough Enough contestants

Males
- Josh Bredl - Thornton, Colo.
- Tanner Saraceno - Boiling Springs, S.C.
- Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe - Bayou Bluff, La.

Females
- Amanda Saccomanno - Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
- Sara Lee - Hope, Mich.

***
- (eliminated 6/23) Hank Avery Jr. - Macon, Ga.
- (eliminated 6/30): Alex Frekey - Dallas
- (self-eliminated 7/7 show) Dianna Dahlgren - Spokane, Wash.
- (eliminated (7/7) Daria Berenato - Los Angeles/New Jersey
- eliminated (7/14) Gabi Castrovinci - Southington, Conn. (by way of Brazil)
- eliminated (7/21) Patrick Clark, Jr. - Washington, D.C.
- eliminated (7/28) Mada Hamid - Los Angeles
- eliminated (8/4) Chelsea Green - Victoria, B.C., Canada
- eliminated (8/11) Giorgia Piscina - Brisbane, Australia

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