WWE's Tough Enough ran for six seasons, launching major Superstars in the process. But more times than not, the contestants of the show never make it to WWE's main roster, and this includes some Tough Enough winners. In late November 2021, WWE reportedly filed a new trademark for the phrase "Tough Enough," which has caused speculation that the wrestling-based reality show might be making a comeback. However, no plans for a series revival have been confirmed.
When it comes to the biggest stars to come out of Tough Enough, it's usually not the winner of their respective season. Certain stars from the series have gone on to become big stars in WWE, and some wrestlers appeared to have promising careers but never made it to Raw or SmackDown!
10 WWE Star: The Miz
Out of everyone who has participated in Tough Enough, The Hollywood A-Lister has attained the most prominent spot in WWE. The Miz is a two-time WWE Champion, a two-time Grand Slam Champion, an eight-time IC Champ, and the achievements just go on and on. While he's mostly been a mid-card act throughout his career, The Miz is still one of the best talkers in professional wrestling. And not many people can say that they own a victory over John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania.
The Miz was the runner-up during the Million Dollar Tough Enough in 2004. His wrestling career was much more significant than that season's winner, Daniel Puder. Outside the ring, Mike Mizanin and his wife Maryse have their own USA reality show, Miz & Mrs. He's also starred in numerous movies produced by WWE Films, such as Santa's Little Helper and four films in The Marine franchise.
9 Didn't Make It To WWE's Main Roster: Brian Danovich
Brian Danovich's Tough Enough story is often overlooked, but it's an incredible one. During tryouts for the $1,000,000 Tough Enough, Danovich was injured while bench-pressing, reportedly tearing his bicep and pectoral muscle. But that didn't stop Brian. He was back the very next day to complete the obstacle course, not letting that unfortunate occurrence get in the way of a childhood dream. Although he was cut from the competition due to injury, Danovich was offered a developmental deal by John Laurinaitis. However, he'd be released from his contract in September 2005.
Brian Danovich passed away in August 2018 at the age of 38. During an October 2004 episode of SmackDown, Taz said that Danovich "totally exemplified desire and passion." At Venice Beach, Brian proved he had the heart of a champion.
(Editor's Note): I met Brian Danovich several years before his death, and we had quite a few conversations about professional wrestling. Rest in peace to The Spartan Swinger.
8 WWE Star: John Morrison
John Hennigan didn't make the cut for the second season of Tough Enough, but he was able to win the third season. The future John Morrison (among other names) won Tough Enough 3 alongside Matt Cappotelli who only briefly appeared on the main roster, with both participating in the APA's Bar Room Brawl match at the 2003 Vengeance pay-per-view.
On WWE's main roster, Morrison would become a multi-time champion. As a singles competitor, John became a three-time Intercontinental Champion and held one reign with the ECW World Championship. He'd have two runs with the company and form two iconic groups, a faction known as MNM (with Melina and Joey Mercury) and his partnership with The Miz. Johnny Drip Drip would also be dripping with tag team gold, achieving six tag title reigns with WWE, seven if you count his OVW run. Outside WWE, Morrison has also achieved championship success, winning world titles in AAA, Impact Wrestling, and Lucha Underground.
(Editor's Note): Rest in peace to Matt Cappotelli, who also passed away in 2018.
7 Didn't Make It To WWE's Main Roster: Kenny King
Kenny King made it far in the second season of Tough Enough, becoming one of the four finalists in the competition. He wasn't declared the winner, but Kenny did defeat Chavo Guerrero in a match on the last episode of the season. Tough Enough 2 was won by Linda Miles (also known as Shaniqua) and Jackie Gayda, but neither was able to win a championship belt during their careers. King, on the other hand, would win multiple titles in Impact Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
Kenny would never find a career in WWE, but he became a star elsewhere. King's a two-time X-Division Champion, a two-time ROH World Television Champion, and he has held three reigns with the ROH tag titles. In 2019, King would win the Honor Rumble at G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden.
6 WWE Star: Mandy Rose
Mandy Rose is currently the centerpiece of NXT 2.0's women's division. But in 2015, Rose was the runner-up of the sixth and (so far) final season of Tough Enough. However, unlike Kenny King who was also the runner-up of a Tough Enough season, Rose would find a place in WWE, including a role on the main roster. Despite losing the competition, Rose found herself with a five-year WWE contract. She was initially assigned to NXT but made her way up to the main roster in 2017.
While on the main roster, she teamed and later feuded with Sonya Deville. As friends, they were known as Fire and Desire. As enemies, they battled at the 2020 SummerSlam PPV where Rose vanquished Deville in a Loser Leaves WWE match. Rose is also noted to have been involved in an on-screen love triangle with Otis and Dolph Ziggler. However, her career would truly take off when she returned to NXT to form Toxic Attraction. The seductive trio is draped in gold, with each member of the group holding titles simultaneously.
Amanda Saccomanno has come a long way since Tough Enough.
5 Didn't Make It To WWE's Main Roster: Sara Lee
Unlike Mandy Rose, Sara Lee won the sixth season of Tough Enough. However, Lee's wrestling career can't compare to the current NXT Women's Champion. She only wrestled nine matches with the company, eight on NXT live events, and one during the season finale of USA's Tough Enough where she lost to Alicia Fox.
Lee was released by WWE on September 30, 2016. Shortly after the release, she and Wesley Blake took to social media to announce her pregnancy. They later married on December 30, 2017.
4 WWE Star: Sonya Deville
Daria Berenato didn't make it far during the sixth season of Tough Enough. The former MMA fighter was eliminated from the competition during the third episode of the season. Despite not coming close to winning the competition, the future Sonya Deville was signed to a WWE developmental contract in October 2015.
Deville has yet to win any belts in her wrestling career. However, she's currently experiencing the push of her career as an authority figure on Raw and SmackDown! Since losing to Mandy Rose in 2020, Sonya has mostly appeared in a non-wrestling role. Sonya's currently engaged in a feud with Naomi, who has pulled Berenato back into the ring.
3 Didn't Make It To WWE's Main Roster: Josh Bredl
Much like Sara Lee, Josh Bredl was the co-winner of Tough Enough's sixth season. And also like Lee, Bredl's wrestling career was very short. He wrestled a handful of NXT live events while using the ring name, Bronson Mathews. He never won one match in WWE, with his first loss coming at the hands of Cesaro in the season finale of Tough Enough. During that match, Josh was known as The Yeti.
It wouldn't be long until Josh got backstage heat in WWE. In early 2016, Josh mocked the ill-fated faction The Social Outcasts on Twitter, calling them "Social Jobbers." This tweet reportedly led to him being temporarily banned from the NXT locker room, and it also led to Josh being taken to Wrestler's Court. Josh was later released by WWE in November 2017.
Being 6'7" didn't help out this Yeti in WWE.
2 WWE Star: Ryback
Ryback has gotten plenty of detractors, but there's no denying he was one of the most over WWE Superstars during the fourth quarter of 2012. Ryback roared into Hell in a Cell as a ferocious beast looking to take the title off CM Punk. Shenanigans involving referee Brad Maddox prevented Da Big Guy from grabbing that brass ring. Ryback went on a 38-match winning streak, culminating in a low blow and fast count from a crooked referee. Ryback would be a fixture in the main event scene for the rest of 2012 and for part of 2013.
But before Da Big Guy broke through to the main event, "Silverback" Ryan Reeves had to spend years honing his craft in developmental. His WWE career all started during the fourth season of Tough Enough, appearing on UPN's SmackDown! Reeves was eliminated from the competition in December 2004, but WWE would be quick to bring him on board with a developmental deal. He'd appear in DSW, OVW, FCW, and NXT before making his way onto the main roster with The Nexus.
An ankle injury got in the way of Skip Sheffield's push on Raw. When he became Ryback, Da Big Guy had brushes with greatness, but he was never able to win the WWE Title. However, Ryback did win the Intercontinental Championship inside the Elimination Chamber in 2015.
1 Didn't Make It To WWE's Main Roster: Ivelisse Velez
In May 2011, a leg injury would result in Ivelisse's elimination from the fifth season of Tough Enough. Despite being unable to win the competition, WWE still signed Velez to a developmental contract. She wrestled in NXT and FCW before being released by WWE in August 2012.
Velez never made it to WWE's main roster, but she still became a star in pro wrestling. She's the four-time and current Shine Champion. Ivelisse also found success in Lucha Underground and AEW, becoming a two-time Lucha Underground Trios Champion, and winning the 2020 AEW Women's Tag Team Cup. She was also an honorary member of Aces & 8s for a night in TNA.