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WWE Tough Enough Contestants Arrive

By Callum Wiggins

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After months of video auditions from WWE fans wanting a chance to become a WWE superstar or diva, the initial 40 Tough Enough competitors have made their way to the Performance Center.

WWE Tough Enough returns to the USA Network on June 23rd, and following months of auditions being sent in from men and women from all backgrounds, looks and experience, the group has been whittled down to an initial 40. The reality television show will be taking place for its sixth season, the first since 2011, which was a damp squib that only produced Cameron as a member of the roster. WWE will be hoping this is more successful, with Chris Jericho hosting, Hulk Hogan, Daniel Bryan and Paige as judges, and Billy Gunn, Booker T and Lita as trainers.

Most of these 40 participants have now arrived at the WWE Performance Center, with one man and one woman looking for the prize of a £250,000 contract on the roster. Out of the thousands of applications and videos that have been sent in, these lucky individuals will be desperate to make an impression in this initial training camp. Of them, only thirteen will make it onto the actual broadcasts, and the opportunity for their skills to be assessed by the legendary team of judges and trainers.

Details regarding some of the successful applicants has come to light. One of these is a familiar face to fans of Zack Ryder’s “Z True Long Island Stories”, in the form of “Big O” Adam Ohriner. He was previously offered a tryout for the WWE in 2013 after he gained a fan following on Ryder’s YouTube show, and has since been wrestling regularly on the independent circuit, mainly on the Pro Wrestling Syndicate. Ohriner also had an unsuccessful attempt at the TNA Gutcheck challenge in 2013.

Another participant is known for his time in Ohio Valley Wrestling, the former WWE and TNA developmental territory, Michael Hayes. Not to be confused with the WWE lead producer and former member of the Fabulous Freebirds, Hayes is a former OVW Television Champion, and an Iraqi war veteran, losing a leg whilst on service when his Humvee was caught in an IED blast.

Other competitors with independent experience include Patrick Clark, Kevin Penczek, Chelsea Green and Don Arner. Although it is not only current competitors on the wrestling circuit being considered. Khalil Bell only recently moved into wrestling after a spell in the NFL as a running back, with stints at the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Tanner Saraceno and Daria Berenato meanwhile have amateur MMA experience.

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