MUMBAI: The American fans of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have spoken. Daniel Puder has been named the winner of the $1,000,000 Tough Enough competition
In India the WWE airs on Ten Sports.
In the emotional culmination of the intense competition Puder, a former mixed martial arts and cage fighter, has been awarded a WWE contract worth a million dollars. In the final round of voting by the fans Puder defeated Mike The Miz Mizanin, a former star of MTVs Real World: Return to New York.
The eight-week competition by the WWE to find a new wrestling talent began in October. Eight finalists were selected from the thousands of hopefuls that applied hoping they were Tough Enough. Each week on Smackdown!, Tough Enough Trainer Al Snow led the Tough Enough competitors through a ritual of training and challenges.
The competitors were assigned various tasks including a WWE style Capture the Flag competition, a paddle match on pedestals, an arm wrestling match, and a sex test. As part of the competition, the contestants interacted in the ring with WWE superstars that included Kurt Angle, The Basham Brothers, Torrie Wilson and Big Show.
Fans voted each week, exclusively on WWE.com, for their favourite contestant, until the field was narrowed down to only Mizanin and Puder. Their final task was a special Dixie Dog Fight at the Armageddon pay-per-view, where Puder beat Mizanin in a close and competitive match.
Putting the icing on the cake, Puder was informed that he will be competing in the Royal Rumble Match at the Royal Rumble in California. The winner of the match is awarded a championship shot at WrestleMania - a prize most wrestlers can only dream of.