WWE's Tough Enough revival. Is it simply tough enough to stand the test of time?

WWE's Tough Enough revival

Is it simply tough enough to

stand the test of time?

WWE have re-launched it's much needed Tough Enough series to find the contrast of reality stars with new age wrestling personality. It is the perfect way to gauge personality while adding a level of realism to the star and its character definitions. However, with its additional make-up splashed all over, and the corporate gloss of WWE product, can it really stand as a long and new series of thrill? Or will it simply be something that could have been, marred by WWE's presentation of self?

Tough Enough has been off screens for a very long time and in the early 2000's was one of WWE's great, new ways of producing new talent and delve into their real personality among the persona's on television. At this point it found a strong and connective balance that made fans truly engaged in the developments and barely missed an episode. It had likeable and skilled people. 

Fast forward to the most recent era with the 2010's onward and WWE's old hat presentation was a new, cool product with a few extras added in. This soon became its downfall and the wannabee divas from a modelling agency and wrestling stars who had no charisma long term were awash with awkwardness.

He's a tad taller than you.

Matt Cross was the best option, hard working, skilled and decent mic skilled star among its batch. He made the finals with that Andy guy, the blonde, long-haired redneckish other. The judge was none other than the washed up, ignorant wife beater Stone Cold Steve Austin. WWE made the immortal mistake of giving Austin the choice to pick the winner. Oh dear. Austin, Naturally chose the redneck wannabe Andy, based on biased option of background than overall package WWE wanted, represented at that time in finalist Cross. Cross also, was quite small in size for WWE's standards and was a major concern. Yet he had all the transitional skills elsewhere. WWE snubbed all those for a cheap choice and hoped that Stone Cold's selection could manipulate the audience into favouring the hopeful named winner.

So what did Andy actually win? Well, he got called up to a promo spot on Raw, with none other than the almighty Vince McMahon and ignorant baldie Stone Cold. In this exchange, McMahon received a stunner in a heated exchange from the Tough Enough winner. The interaction was so poor and nondescript that McMahon was said to be livid after the skit. He ordered Andy get more training, which he did, in WWE's then developmental system away from main national television.

Andy was soon released within the year by WWE and did not appear for WWE on a regular basis. 

This year, in 2015, WWE have tried a different approach. After the ignorant baldie Stone Cold annoyed McMahon with his idiotic podcast questions (Yeah, Stone Cold is 'having a go' at all that Podcasting lark, 'cos everyone else is doing it to seem relevant) McMahon had him replaced rightly so.

Only McMahon's replacement call led WWE's idiotic booking committee to select a cluster of ignorance to the show. Ignorance in the stains of new host and any job for the money Chris Jericho took the lead. Ignorant, wasteful diva Paige also took up a main position. WWE decided to have numerous acts headline the programme. Ignorance now also includes the fall from grace and injured Daniel Bryan, as he has nothing to do now. Also joining the show is WWE legend Hulk Hogan. 

Lovely Legend Lita returns for judgement on WWE hopefuls.

Extraordinary, respected Women's wrestler and division definer Lita will also be a part of the judging process as will five time World Champion and everyone's favourite talker Booker T.  

Renee Young and Mr. Ass are also on hand to help out. 

So we know the basic's and the idea around it, but will it be the success WWE hope for. Apart from Lita, Booker and Renee the hosting of the show is as ignorant as it comes and adds no value to the style or stardom anyone can hope to have in WWE.

The choice to make it happen now, after other companies trying desperately to do some 'reality prize winning' shows looks rather juvenile and copycat. Since when did WWE need to resort to TNA standards? Re-launching is a good idea, but filling it with daft, fame hungry wannabes with no thrill to cast away each week with elimination isn't best applicable. The show, while could be used to gain some new, unknown talents capable of development, WWE are in danger of turning this good idea into a media farce and complete throwaway show. 

WWE have got nothing to do with lacking loser Ryback and somewhere on the horizon, The Miz. Both of Tough Enough fame, WWE will naturally use them to try and garner some interest in the show. Good luck with that. Both are fighting the Big Show at the next upcoming Pay Per View, Battleground for the cursed Intercontinental Championship. Ryback is currently the champion, only to plug the new Tough Enough series to try and get over. 

Keith Apicary's funny spoof audition of
backroom memorabilia surroundings.

Tough Enough will survive this new season as okay, to set up the next, but how WWE find some new stars, keep them interested and captivate fans with the prospect of a more current WWE remains to be seen. To them, this may just be another show. If WWE, however thought tougher on the series, it could really be a winner. This season however, with such ignorance, amateurish hopefuls and egotistical product values won't envisage a positive change for future and will become a letdown instead once the purple haze settles from its season's end.

The set looks a bit shabby, but the hype around it and the leading charge from the top down with McMahon adding it is "WWE's new baby" might give it feel and presence, but misses enough to fully commit to the acts on show.

It needs work. Ryback, ignorance or wannabe children won't save the WWE now, then or forever. 

Sadly, it does not look like this guy made it to the call ups. His name is Keith Apicary and his funny audition involves vintage 1990's SEGA arcade machines and cool pre-era Y-Fronts. Sadly it seems teaming up with John Morrison will do that for you. :o

You can check out his funny vid on our YouTube Channel, in Funny Vids section. Link here - Wrestling Wonders on YouTube

You're Welcome. 

© Max Waltham 22nd June 2015

All Rights Reserved

Austin Aries: In the pink to Mr. World

Cocky charismatic charmer 
completes clueless company

From ordinary misused Indy guy to heavyweight champion, minor build Austin Aries took the world by storm to change TNA’s scene and install genuine interest for a new era in 2012. Built only based on his failings for WWE’s Tough Enough castings a year previous and off the back of the Indy risers as WWE gave fruits to CM Punk’s rising labour and Ring of Honor pushing forward on Kevin Steen, TNA felt the need to carbon copy the design for the fill of the moment.

While Indy talent was the 2012 craze in all companies Aries shone with his star qualities while gauging audience and becoming a mock, yet influenced flamboyance on television due to more of TNA’s borrowing. Aries however provided colour to the contrasting debate of dysfunction in the company that it needed to flourish. Aries proved his rise with the X division title acquisition in September 2011 holding it for an incredible 298 days until 05^th July 2012 in what would be an absurd angle for the monumental accomplishments Aries delivered to the title, the company and the fans. TNA’s General Manager Hulk Hogan offered Aries an opportunity to ‘trade a title’ in which Aries would surrender the X division title as vacant in order to secure a Heavyweight championship title shot, without any guarantees of victory. It was simply unbelievable that tempted Aries would not win the gold from then champ Bobby Roode.

Regardless, Aries finally climbed the big one on the tallest step of its ladder in a heart-whelming and appealing outlook for TNA fans. Offering hope of a new product, Aries hopes were soon dashed once TNA got on the handle of booking. As heavyweight stronghold, Aries was bumped off the ladder by directionless booking favourite Jeff Hardy, returning from obscurity to dethrone Aries with ease, making a mockery of the star who changed the perspective of TNA slightly to a potentially better offering than previously provided.  Holding at 98 days the world title became meaningless once again and Aries with it. TNA predictably left Aries in the cold and gave no forward thinking and planned to shift him back to the mid card for the X division title after an epic transition to launching a new talent in the heavyweight picture.

After concern raised TNA halted but chose to ludicrously subject Aries to copying WWE’s dysfunctionate tag team Kane and Daniel Bryan in a partnership on TNA TV with Bobby Roode, the man Aries beat for the very world title on 8^th July 2012. Whilst attempting to retain his charisma with the tepid non entity Roode, Aries is slipping into seldom absolution. Winning the tag titles with Roode and playing a ridiculous and pointless character for a minor chuckle while shelving his grand run as a major champion for another company favourite who showed no signs of difference and new age dominance, Aries is shifting into a troublesome discretion.

One thing Aries can be appreciated for is his ability to remain slightly relevant but is slipping further into catastrophe for the man who was TNA’s greatest chance at reviving the already clueless and stale state of product.

TNA should have had the sense to understand Aries must be shifted back to world title dominance if he is to raise profile once again and encourage TNA fans to be further engrossed than a moment of standing there unfazed and give one clap or side smirk smile of appreciation for the in ring talent squandered. Aries boosted his status coming in at an outstanding #3 in the Wrestling Wonders Pro 50 of 2012. While the year of the Indy’s TNA needed to envisage a brighter outlook than the gloomy one on offer. If it cannot do so, it should consider tweaking pride and backstage politics to gain strengthened beings for produce. TNA is a bubble waiting to burst over and over again.

©  Max Waltham 13th May 2013

Ryback's rampage of surplus stock

Crushing consignment continues 

to quell freelance workers

With the recent suspension of Randy Orton turning WWE on its head, Vince McMahon has given the green light for Smackdown’s production team to shove an extensive power vacuum behind Ryback.

Well look who it is! Wrestling Wonders Rookie of the year for 2011, Ace Hawkins.
He also won PWI's Rookie also, though WW got him on TV... :)

See here on Hawkins - Wrestling Wonders' awards 2011

Hawkins was one of two to fall to Ryback at the (click here) - Extreme Rules 2012  pay per view, alongside Heath Hatton. Hawkins was repackaged as Aaron Relic, as was Hatton, who became Jay Hatton. WWE already had an Ace and a Hawkins...

McMahon himself believes Ryback can be WWE’s version of Goldberg. As of late, Ryback has appeared on television in jobber/squash job matches and not been able to establish himself to the audience, despite WWE’s heightened interest in the star.

The Ryback character, at this rate, cannot feasibly succeed unless WWE choose to create real opponents for him. There are none available, and with WWE’s consent, would crush all those aiming to stand up to support with Ryback as new stars in the company.

The Ryback armband still exists

Unlucky guy, nice thighs...

Local James Lerman was next to fall

Planning to cause the likeness to Goldberg seemingly intentionally by them, WWE don’t realise that building your stars on other platforms that already existed are what cause the audience to become disinterested. Have they not seen it all before? Was it THAT interesting the first time round? Will it have the same level of magnitude as it was, whether positive or negative? Goldberg defeated one hundred and seventy-three wrestlers in a row, if your planning on keeping score. Can Ryback, which McMahon believes can, achieve this? It sure will live out its usefullness, that's for sure. In the last week, Tyson Kidd was the latest rising star to be squashed.

Here's Ryback, with some mean chest hair :o

The character, while respected for being pushed fully as certain new stars must be to establish worth, Ryback’s beginning has been cemented and cannot progress because he has already been tarnished with likeness and job squad, pithy match outings that create no buzz. Simply put, no one cares.

There's only room for one entertaining Goldberg after Bill 

Already a fledging prospect, Vince McMahon, whom pushed forward with the John Cena character out of egotism rather than rationality and having the crucial evidence from audience that they were not pleased with the character progressing, Vin chose to continue forward out of stubborn attitude, and masks this with the notion that the audience do not know what is good for them, and that the marks would soon cave in to the product related character as an act on WWE programming. McMahon continued with this, as he would never be told by anyone that his concept or indeed his inactive attitude to listen to fans who pay the money to line his pockets was wrong in any way shape or form, and that he could press forward with this idea, because, simply put, he could, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop him.

Not even resident in-house jobber Dolph Ziggler could be spared

Double jobber backbreaker! Them poor guys...

Though Cena makes merchandise from the young, the response to the belligerency was told. ‘Fans’ stopped coming, became exposed to the industry behaviour, and, overall boycotted WWE in certain areas. While it still kept sales and merch up, the audience were disgusted, appalled and upset. The ratings for WWE Raw has been cataclysmically low throughout various stages of the last year or so, which has the WWE worrying.

The fall away slam resurfaces in 2012

Sexy Pins wont save you, but make these awful matches bearable

It needs to produce stars. Fans do not wish to see Mark Henry, Big Show, Kelly Kelly, Cena (in part), and Ryback to name a few. The most interesting 'thing' to notice in all of this transition, is that the skinny, little jobber of all those that Ryback faces are the most charismatic, sexy and interesting focal points to watch, instead of the main focus being Ryback. The smaller guy has more talent, and shouldn't be stopped just because it was mentioned. They have to make a living, though, perhaps WWE should use them for its cruiserweight show planned for the WWE Network.

Where it all began for Sheffield

Where it all began for Ryan Reeves

WWE need to produce what they have, and pronto if it is to handle ratings and figureheads successfully. Eventually WWE’s elite superstars will not be around forever.

© Max Waltham 17th June 2012