Meet the Cast of WWE Tough Enough

Many of you wrestling fans will remember WWE's reality series Tough Enough, which ran on MTV from 2001 – 2003, and how it gave us a behind-the-scenes look at pro-wrestling and the kind of intense training and athleticism that was involved in becoming a WWE Superstar. Each season, two winners claimed the prize of an official WWE contract; Maven Huffman and Nidia Guenard, Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda, John Hennigan (aka John Morrison) and Matt Cappotelli. The show also boasts some famous runner ups as well, mostly notably Matt Morgan, Josh Matthews, Christopher Nowinski, and from the fourth "$1,000,000" single-winner season (which aired on Smackdown), Skip Sheffield and Mike "The Miz" Mizanin!

The all-new WWE Tough Enough will now air on USA network and premieres Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, the day after WrestleMania XXVII and immediately following RAW. In this new incarnation of TE, Shed Media, USA and WWE decided to go out there and find contestants who were physically able to handle the drill. So, in that respect, very few of these guys and gals are coming into this competition cold. Many of them have experience on the indie scene. Also, the producers were looking for people who could handle the rigorous lifestyle. They'll only be one winner this season and they wanted to make damn sure that whoever that future Superstar or Diva is was ready for the task. For example, back in Season 1, there were only, like, three official eliminations. On an elimination reality show! Everyone else dropped out.

So let's meet the new batch! 14 WWE-hopefuls with a burning desire to live the dream. A dream of pain, pride and glory.

The 23-year-old Ariane is the quintessential Valley Girl. What Ariane lacks in wrestling experience she makes up for with bubbly charm. Ariane hopes to become a WWE Diva so she can display her alter-ego, a hard-edged girl that doesn't give a crap.

Trivia: Ariane holds a BA in Business Marketing and a BS in Psychology from California State University, Northridge. She was the MVP of her high school track team and currently works as a Behavior Therapist working with Autistic Children. Matt, 30, is an independent wrestler with nine years of independent circuit experience from Brecksville, Ohio. He has wrestled in sixteen countries and hopes to win "WWE Tough Enough" and a WWE contract so he "can have a fun job." "You can see the world in spandex and smash things," he explains.

Trivia: Capiccioni wrestled under the name M-Dogg 20 for XPW, CZW and ROH, where he worked with the likes of Christopher Daniels, Delirious and Austin Aries. Last year, he appeared on an episode of WWE Superstars, as Matt Cross, in a tag match against The Gate Crashers. Capiccioni was pinned by Vance Archer. Eric, 25, hopes to become a WWE Superstar to fulfill his childhood dream. "WWE needs my afro and my tall, dark and handsome good looks," says the 6'5?? behemoth. Eric hails from Pasadena, California where he spent two years on his High School varsity football team as left tackle, earning All-League Honors. Eric was recruited by colleges for football, but opted not to attend so he could pursue his dream. (note: not to be confused with wrestler Erik Watts, son of WWE Hall of Famer Bill Watts).

Trivia: Those of you out there who watch NWA Hollywood on KDOC in Los Angeles have seen Eric wrestled under the name "Big Nasty" Jason Watts. Watts idolized The Undertaker growing up and his ability to move like a cruiserweight while still being a big man in the sport. An assistant pet groomer in Chicago, Illinois, the 22-year-old has spent the last six years on the independent circuit and is well known in her native Puerto Rico.

Trivia: Ivelisse started wrestling at age fifteen in Puerto Rico and was a featured star, almost immediately, on TV for many years as part of the WWC. She also wrestled for Savio Vega's IWA. She now wrestles on the indie scene in Chicago. She believes in hard-working, strong female wrestlers and not in trying to get a promoter's attention by showing off your boobs. Check out some of her matches online as Juliet the Huntress. This 28-year-old truck driver from Vicksburg, Mississippi is a natural athlete who prides himself on taking on new challenges. He was a US Army Ranger with the 1st Battalion and did a tour in Afghanistan in 2004. He has six years of training as an MMA Fighter with a record of seven wins and five losses, fighting with UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator.

Trivia: Jeremiah got his initial wrestling training from Dutch Mantel. He's also no stranger to reality television, having been a cast member of VH1's 2009 Daisy of Love, the reality television dating show starring Daisy de la Hoya, the runner-up of the VH1 reality dating show Rock of Love 2. This 6'5?giant hails from Brooksville, Florida where he had four years of high school varsity wrestling experience with a record of over 90 wins. The 23-year-old former football player has a mere six months of independent wrestling experience. Starting over 40 games as an offensive lineman for Florida International University, Andy holds the school's power clean record of 365 lbs. After FIU, he was a priority free agent with the Miami Dolphins and attended mini-camps, before hanging up his cleats to pursue his dream to entertain in the ring.

Trivia: Andy's cousin is wrestling legend "Dangerous" Danny Spivey, one half of the WCW Skyscrapers, with Sid Vicious and "Mean" Mark Callous (The Undertaker). Andy looked up to him as a kid and aspired to follow in his footsteps. This 25-year-old day care teacher from Terre Haute, Indiana, hopes to become a WWE Diva to fulfill a dream she has had since the age of 14. She loves the road lifestyle, living out of a suitcase and traveling. She has trained on and off in independent wrestling over the past 11 years.

Trivia: Michelle was a contestant on America's Next Top Model (Cycle 4) and is not married to the infamous Johnny Fairplay. Together they have a daughter. In fact: search "Fairplay Michelle Helms" on YouTube and you can watch a video of Michelle giving Fairplay and Shane Helms knife-edge chops in a kitchen. A.J., 27, has been wrestling on the independent circuit for five years. Among his achievements is a one and a half year undefeated All Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship in addition to a tag team victory over the infamous New Age Outlaws.

Trivia: A.J., who's wrestled all up and down the West Coast on the indie scene, fell in love with wrestling at age 12 when he watched Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII. Rima is Miss USA 2010. The 25-year-old hails from Dearborn, Michigan where she received a BA in Economics and BA in Business Management from University of Michigan. Rima hopes to win "WWE Tough Enough" to prove that it is possible to be both beautiful and tough.

Trivia: Rima would rather be bodyslammed every day by trainer Bill DeMott than go back to a life of pageant clothes and waving. Luke, 26, is a Personal Trainer from Auburn, Maine with five years of independent circuit experience. For him, WWE combines all his passions rolled into one: performing, marketing, athleticism and traveling. Luke proved his athleticism as captain of his high school's varsity soccer, hockey and baseball teams, competing all four years, before moving on to getting his BA in Business Administration from University of Southern Maine

Trivia: Luke used to hate wrestling until he was fifteen. He was the one who used to make fun of other kids for liking it. But he fell in love with it when he saw the Rock vs. Mankind storyline. Luke, growing up on a farm, related to being an outcast. Mickael, 26, is an unemployed WWE hopeful hailing from Jersey City, NJ. He has lived the 9 to 5 lifestyle and hated every second of it. For him, being a WWE Superstar would allow him to escape this fate.

Trivia: Mickael, who wrestled in high school, is also a Tae Kwon Do first degree black belt. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice and currently resides in Tampa, Florida with his wife of five years, Jamie. Christina, 22, is a senior at the University of Central Florida studying Interpersonal Communications. She is a member of her college dance team.

Trivia: Christina's sister is WWE Diva, and former Diva Champ, Alicia Fox. When she first started training she felt a ton of pressure because she wanted to be at Alicia's level. But now, as much as she loves her sister, she doesn't think about her when she's in the ring. Martin, 26, is a stockbroker and independent wrestler hailing from West Jordan, Utah. He gained his experience wresting for six and a half years on the independent circuit. He is also co-owner of Ultra Championship Wrestling Zero, a promotion and wrestling school.

Trivia: Martin has wrestled all over the U.S. for such promotions as Asylum, Ultra Championship Wrestling, Dungeon Championship Wrestling, Adrenaline Unleashed and NWA. This 23-year-old aspiring musician and independent wrestler hails from Hebron, Indiana. He has two years of wrestling experience and hopes to win "WWE Tough Enough" and a WWE contract to make everyone who ever believed in him proud, especially his family, his trainer, Tracy Smothers (WCW, ECW), and his girlfriend, Tiffany.

Trivia: Ryan Howe is known as The Rockin' Rebel Diamond Steel and in Kentucky's UWA and loves all things "outdoors."

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WWE Tough Enough will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, the day after WrestleMania XXVII and immediately following RAW. It moves to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.

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