Daniel Puder beats Mike Mizanin to win Tough Enough. In addition to this, Puder is the number one entrant into the Royal Rumble.
While I like what I've seen of Puder, I was pulling for the Miz. I've enjoyed him since the Real World a few years ago, and I think he has a real passion for the business. And I think he shocked the hell out of a lot of people by doing as well as he did in the boxing match on Sunday.
Still, good for Puder, and the Rumble thing is a nice touch.
{ EDIT: Hey how about a spoiler tag, all right - CRZ }
(edited by CRZ on 14.12.04 2214) I never, to the best of my knowledge, cut my toenails.
I'm glad for who won, but no one should be too worried about it. They've yet to not give the closest runner-ups in Tough Enough a developmental deal (well, with the exception of the Gayda/Miles season . . . man, those guys must have really, really been bad to not even get past the try-outs at OVW).
I'm sure we'll see the second-place person (and a couple of the others) show up in OVW at least and probably on to WWE eventually.
I'm more curious about the progress of the guy from the initial beach sesion who tore his bicep, ran the course, was cut and given an OVW deal. For someone who proclaimed so much enthusiasm for the sport, I want him to show me shomething really good. And I dread he'll be forced to wrestle as a a gay car-wash attendant who covets Eddy's lowriders.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
"How is a gay car wash attendant who covets Eddy's lowriders any different from Luther Reigns?"
....
We are watching the same Luther Reigns, right?
Once upon a time in China, some believe, around the year one double-ought three, head priest of the White Lotus Clan, Pai Mei was walking down the road, contemplating whatever it is that a man of Pai Mei's infinite power contemplates - which is another way of saying "who knows" - when a Shaolin monk appeared, traveling in the opposite direction. As the monk and the priest crossed paths, Pai Mei, in a practically unfathomable display of generosity, gave the monk the slightest of nods. The nod was not returned. Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei or did he just fail to see the generous social gesture? The motives of the monk remain unknown. What is known, are the consequences. The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple and demanded of the Temple's head abbot that he offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult. The Abbot at first tried to console Pai Mei, only to find Pai Mei was inconsolable. So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all 60 of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five point palm exploding heart technique.
And the winner is Daniel Puder... no big secret anymore.
What I wonder is how many of the other eight will reappear at some point in the future. Those who are still interested in wrestling as a career will no doubt keep knocking on Vince's door for a job. How many Chris Nowinskis and Josh Matthews are in the crowd?
I wouldn't be surprised to see Mizanin around at some point in the future. He seems to have a genuine desire to be in the business, and if it is genuine, he'll keep trying.
Also, and maybe I'm the only one, but I kinda liked the vanilla gorilla Ryan "Silverback" Reeves. He could be the next...uh... Dino Bravo. Well, maybe he could be the next Don Muraco, if he tried hard enough.
The Goal: SLACK The Method: The Casting Out of False Prophets The Weapon: Time Control The Motto: "Fuck Them All of they Can't Take a Joke"
Everyone besides Chris Nawrocki and John (the one who quit before the first SD! appearance) have been offered developmental deals. They won't start training for OVW for at least another month, because they're training the various new Divas right now.
I'd guess Miz has the best shot of showing up first, because they can do the "I should've won" bit rather quick.
I wasn't able to see SmackDown! yesterday, but after reading the results, I have to say the best man won. Puder has it all: a great look, awesome wrestling skills... I just wish Tough Enough had more physical challenges like "Capture the Flag", and gotten rid of all the garbage contests like "Torrie Wilson's Sex Test" and "Seduce Bob Holly".
Honorable mentions go to Ryan Reeves, who after the first few weeks was one of the least liked TE competitors, managed to get the crowd behind him after a great showing against the Bashams, as well as Brian Danovich, who, even after tearing his arm muscle, showed incredible heart by continuing to run the obstacle course. When Al Snow promised Brian an OVW deal, I swear I almost cried.
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