WWF Tough Enough: Season 1, Episode 1 – “Casting Special”

WWE Tough Enough – WWF Tough Enough before they “got the F out” – debuted on June 21, 2001 on MTV. Birthed out of WWE’s television contract with MTV, the show put a wrestling spin on something MTV had been doing well – reality shows. As the home of “The Real World” and “Road Rules,” there was always a home for a wrestling reality show.

Before settling into a house however, they had to find the cast. The first episode was an extended episode: the casting special. If you’d like to watch this in 2025, Peacock is your place.

We start with a package of WWF highlights with wrestlers telling us how they became superstars, with Triple H saying this is a hell of an opportunity. Undertaker leads us into the next segment, saying it all started with a three minute video. Did somebody say three minutes?

An ad for toughenough dot com, where applications are available, rolls us to home audition videos. Josh Lomberger and his puka shell necklace ask the camera why he wants to be a WWF wrestler. Random guys make noises and muscles. A woman in a bikini slams another woman in a bikini onto a hotel bed, as one does. “You can’t handle the moose!” A woman crawls to the camera. A bodybuilder dances. A dude does the Hulk ear thing. And so forth.

“Over 4,000 tapes are submitted.” I wonder if they are all still in the WWE library. 6:00 am, Nicholas (20 yrs old, Texas) is the first one in line. 230 are chosen to audition live, we’re told on screen, as we pan the line. 25 will be picked to be semi-finalists as we look into the auditioners signing in at WWE New York. Jamie (22 yrs old, Tennessee) says he is here because God sent him here and he is the wrestling pastor. Others tell us where they’re from but don’t get chyrons. Robert (23 yrs old, Massachusetts) tells us he is out here at 6:45 in the morning to be the next WWF Superstar. Dustin (26 yrs old, Maryland) wants to be a role model for young kids out there. Sorry, that’s Bayley’s spot. Auditioners do push ups, flex their muscles, and drink water as they wait.

We see a WWE ring set up and are introduced to “MTV Judges,” a team of two women and two men who are not special enough to have names at this time. We also meet our WWE judges – Al Snow, Tazz, Jacqueline, WWF Executive Producer Kevin Dunn, and WWF Talent Manager John “Big” Gaburick. Al names charisma, coordination, and dedication as the things he is looking for.

We’re into the competition as Gaburick asks the first entrant to tell us their first name and show us their physique. Then we run through a video of various people saying their names and flexing. Jacqueline, with Johnathan Coachman sitting next to her, asks the most 2001 white man they could find how often he works out. That man, Chris (23 yrs old, North Carolina), tells us he was born a Bible Baptist and it’s hard to go to school nowadays because there are so many temptations. Oh, Chris. Jacqueline asks him to drop his pants and show off his legs. Tazz says the last time he saw legs like that, they were hanging out of a nest. Ken Mok, WWE Tough Enough Executive Producer, talks with the judges as we watch WWE New York patrons eat food and watch this boring process. You could get better entertainment at Applebee’s.

We meet Nidia (21 yrs old, Texas) who says she got in the ring, wanted to spin around and sing “Part of This World” from The Little Mermaid. I get it. Tazz notes she’s out of breath after jumping rope for thirty seconds. Mick Foley is with the judges now, though we have no explanation of why people are randomly appearing and not appearing. Nidia did not bring tennis shoes, and Tazz is mad at her for not being prepared. Jacqueline asks Nidia if she thinks she can hang with her, telling Nidia she has a potbelly. Nidia, of course, did not have a potbelly.

Greg (22 yrs old, Pennsylvania) also has a puka shell necklace. He feels he has always been second best and this is his chance to finally be number one. They run various contestants through an exercise of shuffling sideways from rope to rope, some who do well and one who falls to his face. Tazz asks this man, Robert, what he thinks is the reason he can cut it in WWF. Robert exclaims determination and endurance, and Tazz tells him he is in atrocious condition. Snow notes there are a lot of dreamers who watch it at home. We go through clips of these dreamers standing out badly in auditions, failing to jump rope while goofy music plays.

Paulina (24 yrs old, Colorado) says the WWF needs more women kicking men’s ass. I like her already! She’s 6’3” and says she’s tired of the big girl always having to play basketball.

Michael Cole, frosted tips and sunglasses and all, is now seated next to his BFF Tazz. Daniel (25 yrs old, Texas) says that wrestling has evolved and now there are more smaller guys like him. He tells the judges he’s the combination of western strength and eastern philosophy. Tazz tells us he was told he was too small and he’ll be damned if he tells a student they’re too small.

Josh (20 yrs old, Indiana) is next. Rudy, his dad, tells us there is a ring in their backyard while his mom says, “I don’t think he’s going to be a Stone Cold or whatever his name is.” Your key, as a viewer, is to note that we have home interviews with Josh’s parents so this probably won’t be his last episode. Josh is asked about the physical pain he might feel in the ring with Tazz and Josh says no. Tazz asks Josh if he’s saying they can’t hurt him, and Josh says that they are professionals. Josh is very nervous. Tazz tells Josh to watch his “smart ass mouth.” We get backstage footage of Josh saying that his favorite wrestler Tazz laid into him, and it was really cool.

Next up is Victoria (21 yrs old, California). She has done stunt training workshops and tells the judges she kept bottle caps in her swimsuit to “cut the other girls with.” Al tells the other judges she is cutthroat. She seems normal.

Tara (18 yrs old, Pennsylvania) and tells us she felt so inadequate with some of the other girls with their chests out. She tells the judges she has no problem being naughty, nice, and bitchy. “The WWF is missing one thing: a big bitch like me.” Snow says she is physically terrible but has a great personality.

William (23 yrs old, Illinois) has all the muscles. William tells the judges that he had to act as a father figure due to a passing. Mick Foley asks William if he wants to be a role model, and William says he’s doing it for him, his brother and others.

Montage time! It’s the bag test, where you jump over the punching bag in the ring. Naturally, the clips are mostly people falling over the bag. One man loses his pants as he jumps.

Jason (23 yrs old, Maryland) is also full of muscles. Snow mentions to Jason that if he is picked, he’s going to be away from his girlfriend for 13 weeks in the Tough Enough house. “That’s my dream!” We cut to footage of Jason and his girlfriend in a restaurant holding hands, so I’m going to guess we’ll see more of this man and his one minute story of being the one in a relationship. If you’ve watched 1/50th of the reality TV I have, you know they’re setting us up for Jason hooking up.

Shadrick (20 yrs old, Texas) does not have a girlfriend, though there is a girl who thinks she is his girlfriend. Tazz tells her he’ll be living in a house with other girls – “you gonna hook up or what?” Shadrick says he’s got to get his. Tazz: “God bless you.”

Kristy (26 yrs old, North Carolina) reads a promo off her wrist, getting lost. Al Snow tells her to ad lib. Jon (20 yrs old, Pennsylvania) thanks his great fans. Esther (19 yrs old, California) and Yesinia (18 yrs old, California) are sisters and do sexy wrestling. Chad (23 yrs old, Vermont) does a knockoff Undertaker impression. Sean (29 yrs old, Georgia) very intensely rolls his stomach muscles and Tazz mimics shooting himself in the head.

Al Snow reminds us that charisma is very important and not something you can always learn. Maven winks at Jacqueline and says that has been a dream of his for years. We don’t get stats on this Maven kid. Maven says he’s never having this opportunity again.

Stacy (27 yrs old, Australia) flew 22 hours to get here. John Miller, MTV, says “she looks a little long in the tooth.” Lawd. Bobby Jo (23 yrs old, Massachusetts) bounces into the ring to cheers and smirks from the judges. She says anything she wants in her life she gets and that her biggest goal is to do Playboy. “I love tits and ass,” she says.

Darryl (25 yrs old, Michigan) cuts a promo as Norman the Moose, saying nobody can handle him. Tom (21 yrs old, New York) has been a rock star, model, movie star and done it all. He talks about how beautiful he is. Tazz: “I can’t wait to get this guy in the ring and break him.”

Snow tells us he wants these talents to be able to create a character and connect with the audience. Kenneth (28 yrs, Rhode Island) is a custodian. He turns into his character, the Evil Custodian. He cuts a hilariously bad promo about being angry and unappreciated as a janitor.

We’re continuing in-character promos. Maria (28 yrs old, New York) tells the judges they are stupified. Sharbel (20 yrs, Illinois) says he is Vince McMahon’s long-lost son and he’s back to claim his company, Sir, I’m afraid you might want to get another DNA test. Tazz likes to watch the mannerisms of others as a man behind him howls. He wants somebody who has been standing in line since 6 a.m. and isn’t pissed about it.

Brian (23 yrs, Pennsylvania) takes thirty seconds to thank the judges for the opportunity and for being stuck in a room for six hours. Various contestants look bored as Tazz walks into the contestants room pissed off, telling them to shut up. He tells them they’re lucky to be here, and if you’re going to bitch, get out. He’s supporting the NY/NJ Hitmen with his t-shirt.

Taylor (21 yrs old, Washington) is here despite her parents not wanting her to be there. Chris (22 yrs old, Massachusetts) says to ignore his Harvard degree. Tazz notes that his profile says he trained with Kowalski and asks if he would have problems being “deprogrammed” if needed.

Random clips of people not worth the show. If you’ve seen the American Idol audition episodes, you’ve seen this part. Al Snow says the day was sheer orgasmic joy before passing out.

We move to the next day, as the on-screen graphic tells us that “230 becomes 25.” The masses wait outside again to get into historic WWF New York.

In the judges room, we have a bulletin board with index cards and photos pinned to it, narrowing down the final 25. They debate Darryl not being on the board, adding him in as the 25th. The 25 semi-finalists are posted on the door, the 25 going in excitedly. Others cry and complain about not making it. The one from Australia cries to a producer.

The 25 hang out backstage, shaking hands with John. John tells them they should be proud to be this far, but it doesn’t end here as the auditions continue. First there will be an extensive physical, followed by interviews with MTV staff. He tells them to be themselves.

We cut to footage of the talents doing their physicals. William tells us he had bad news about his little brother being in trouble at home, questioning if he is being selfish by being here or if he should bolt. Jessica (23 yrs old, Minnesota) tells the judges she is working on a six-pack. Jessica wouldn’t make it further, so this is where I tell you she would become ODB and have quite the career despite not being “Tough Enough.” Nidia talks about starting private dancing. One went to clown school. One is a tax consultant. I need names on the screen. “I pierced my nipples.” Maven says he is a player. Josh doesn’t know how often he masturbates. Thanks.

The judges are together. They like Chris. Maven reminds them of Kurt Angle. Paulina has a great face and a great story. Kevin Dunn thinks William is a determined son of a bitch. Daniel and Josh are the antithesis of each other. Big doesn’t think the 5’9” guys on the board are special. Sharbel is loved by Kevin Dunn of course.

“This morning, the 13 finalists will be announced.” The various talents tell us this is an experience in itself as we head back to WWF New York. Maven thinks he’ll make it. Nidia knows the biggest thing in her life is going to happen or not happen right now. Darryl wants a home run. Daniel doesn’t want to be average.

With Big on the WWF New York stage, he introduces WWF Superstar Stephanie McMahon Helmsley. Big Steph tells the finalists they have no idea how far they’re going to be pushed in the next few weeks. And now, the lucky 13: Josh, Jason, Victoria, Maven, Taylor, Chris, Shadwick, Bobby Jo, Chris #2, Paulina, Nidia, Darryl, and Tom. Stephanie wishes them good luck.

Greg is disappointed, Tara volunteers to take the spot of anyone else, and Williams feels like he can go home knowing it is possible. Stephanie tells the winners how cool it is to walk into an arena of people and wishes them all good luck.

One week later. Maven is washing clothes as we cut through the talents getting ready, hugging family and arriving in Stamford. We meet “The House” as they all pull up. A note tells them to wait until all thirteen snow up. Tom hasn’t arrived as Big pulls up in a Hummer. Big tells them that Tom dropped out, so Greg is here as the thirteenth member of the house.

Big goes over the history of the house, having been used by the Underground Railroad and deserving respect. He goes over the schedule, saying that tomorrow they will be going to “WWF Tracks” to work out. The contest lasts nine weeks and one man and one woman will win. There will be 24 hour notice on each cut. They grab their bags and find their room assignments. They have an incredible house, a hot tub, and cars and John tells us “they have no idea how tough this is going to be.”

And that’s where we end the first episode. I enjoyed it, though it was certainly a product of its time in some areas. Join me again next time as we settle into the proper show (half hour episodes) and begin the process of finding our future WWF Superstars.