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The following are excerpts from the September 2003 edition of Raw Magazine. Written by Brian Solomon.
"Don't tell Al Snow that WWE Tough Enough gave its contestants an easy path into the world of sports-entertainment. And most of all, don't tell him that Tough Enough is bad for the business. Unless you want to make him angry."
Over the course of three seasons, Tough Enough has provided an opportunity to those who might not have otherwise gotten a chance. Out of thousands of applicants, 13 were selected to participate each year, and two winners were awarded WWE developmental contracts at the end of each season. Some of the participants who were eliminated during the regular season were so talented that, after continuing to plug away on the independent scene, they were eventually given a contract as well.
The journey from Tough Enough contestant to WWE Superstar has been a rough one for all of the individuals involved. As it turned out, the rigorous training that went on during the course of the show was only a basic introduction to the intensive training required to compete at the major-leave level that WWE demands. Time spending in WWE's developmental program in Louisville, Kentucky has therefore provided something of a post-graduate degree.
Despite all the positives, Tough Enough has been controversial since day one. It's often be criticized for supposedly giving an easy ride to those who haven’t sufficiently paid their dues. WWE's Tough Enough alumni are surprisingly frank on the subject.
"Some of the criticisms hold a lot of truth to them," says Maven, Tough Enough's first breakout Superstar. "It definitely is a quicker way into the world of sports-entertainment. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't. The only thing I can hope is that though hard work and dedication I can, within time, earn these people's respect."
"I think the Tough Enough alumni are the future of the business. To some degree or another, they're all gonna be major stars for the company and stay in the business for years to come," Snow says.
For almost all involved, Tough Enough has been a life changing experience. The impact of being a part of that show cannot be understated, and it continues to have an effect to this day. Quite literally, none of their lives will ever be the same again.
For more on this article, run out to news stands now and pick up the September 2003 Edition of Raw Magazine.
Visit WWE.com - Raw Magazine
for more information.
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