WWE Tough Enough

The show originated from a deal the then-WWF made with MTV in spring 2000, creating a reality series where contestants would compete for a WWE contract, with one male and one female winner per season for the first three seasons.

Shad Gaspard, later of the tag team Cryme Tyme, was chosen as one of the final 13 contestants for season 2 but reportedly failed a physical and was replaced.

Season 3 winner John Hennigan (later John Morrison) auditioned for season 2 and made it to the final 25, but the judges rejected him due to his perceived arrogance; he returned a year later to win season 3.

Several future wrestling stars who failed to make the cut on various seasons included Shelly Martinez, Kia Stevens (Awesome Kong/Kharma), Kim Nielsen, Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy), Melina Perez, Shawn Daivari, Daniel Puder finalist rival Marty Wright (who lied about his age and was disqualified before later becoming The Boogeyman), and Andrew Hankinson (later Festus/Luke Gallows).

During season 3, Hardcore Holly made a controversial guest appearance and stiffed contestant Matt Cappotelli during a training match, leaving him with a black eye and a fat lip and causing him to cry and ask to leave the program; the incident was later discussed on WWE Confidential.

A contestant known as 'Lisa' on season 3 was secretly removed from the show after a psychotic breakdown that included breaking into the MTV control room, climbing onto the roof, attacking her own parents, and shutting down a wing of LAX airport; producers publicly claimed she simply decided wrestling wasn't for her.

During a November 4, 2004 episode of SmackDown!, an unscripted segment saw Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle challenge Tough Enough finalists, and contestant Daniel Puder caught Angle in a real kimura lock; commentators noted Angle could have suffered a serious injury had the referee not quickly (and controversially) counted a three-count that ended the match early.

The season 5 revival aired on USA Network starting April 4, 2011, the day after WrestleMania XXVII, hosted by 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, with eliminated contestants' fates shown via a Hell's Kitchen-style voiceover as Austin hung their belts on his office wall.