Television Report

THE WORLD

The show began with an awesome video package, proving once again why WCW & ECW folded and WWE is the only national power house still alive and kicking in this business, and Coach greeted us. Coach brought out Jim Ross (Senior Vice President of Talent Relations) and Ross thanked the fans for braving the weather and showing up for the season finale of Tough Enough 3. Ross then brought out Coach and Ivory.

Ivory & Coach brought up the five finalists to the stage and plugged the Tough Enough web page where fans would get to make the final cut on Tough Enough 3. Coach told us after the next break, promptly at 10:15, they would announce the outcome of the fans vote. All of the students looked nervous about this news.


THE CUT

We come back from the first commercial break, which actually lasted an entire 4 minutes and 12 seconds (for those counting at home). And it was time to find out who the fans voted off the show. Al Snow was brought out to make the cut the fans voted on. Snow went to Matt and stopped and started speaking, I must admit when this happened my first reaction was that the fans were complete morons. It appeared to me Al Snow was about to drop the shocking news to Matt and tell him the fans had cut him. But instead, Al said "Please sit down" and I was surprised. Al went to Jonah and told him to please sit down. At this point it was down to John, Eric and Jamie. The fate of the three were in the hands of the fans sitting at home. Al walked slowly to John and told him to sit down. Al then walked between Eric and Jamie slowly and back to Jamie and was about to tell her to sit down, but he told Eric to sit down standing in front of Jamie instead. He then informed Jamie she was cut from the competition. Apparently this may have been payback by the fans for WWE taking two women last year and not select a male, or maybe the fans just decided the four men were much stronger then the remaining female. Either way, I can not argue it was a bad decision by the fans.

We saw a video package from TE3 of all the cuts and talent that quit the show.

Justin was seated in the audience and shown on camera by WWE.


THE LONG WALK

We see "Big" John walking Jamie to the back and her family greeted her. They told her she did her best and they were proud. It was a nice moment to show (I wish there was more of this all around in WWE).

Coach then asked Ivory if she agreed with the decision the fans made and Ivory said the fans proved they were smart and Jamie just was not ready yet to be a WWE Superstar. Ivory seemed to indicate if she worked on it she could one day be back (I would have to agree on this).


HIGHLIGHTS

We see a video package of some highlights on the show. They even showed Bob Holly beating the snot out of Matt during this segment. Josh Matthews interviewed Jamie about the fans decision and she told us she will be back and this was not the last we would see of her. She did not seem to upset about being cut and was fairly excited. Maybe she knows this is not the end of the world and she can get a job working in any state in the country, providing they have an independent wrestling company in the state.


THE PROFILES

Next we see STRONG video packages of the final FOUR. Matt & John stuck out in these packages as the two strongest candidates. Jonah & Eric had strong showings in these video packages as well but just did not seem to have the same presence and strength as John & Matt (in my own personal opinion that is).

We see Kelly from the competition is in the house. Nidia was then brought out to award the first contract. She mumbled & stumbled through her speech and reacted to the fans screaming that she had 'made it'. She then told us that John was the first winner. John was very excited and a little nervous. He managed to talk and not sounds like he was a deer caught in headlights on stage. He was actually good at what he said. He kept it short and sounded well spoken and very intelligent. He promised he would do his best and make it.

Scott was shown in the audience.


HUMOR

We are then granted the chance to see the funny moments from TE3. It was another great video package. Most of these moments had never aired on television before (great idea to do this). They did a "Dude" count where Jonah seemed to use the word more then anyone else on the show. It ended with 29 Dudes. Eric asked him jokingly if he used the word "Dude" and "bro" in reports during high school.

Maven came out next to award the second contract. Maven looked really nice in his dress clothes and as always was very good at talking. He talked about how he wanted to thank all of the trainers and all of the talent that came before him for his opportunities in the business. He then announced the winner as they got close up shots of all three nervous competitors. Matt was announced as the winner.

Matt came up and thanked god for his chance to be in this. He was so excited he let out a yell that he won on stage. He thanked the trainers and past winners and his family and the fans for helping him make it through this competition.

Al interviewed Jonah about losing. Jonah showed great spirits by saying he was happy for both John & Matt for winning the contracts and this would not be the last we see of him. He promised we would see him in the ring soon. He also said this was the best six months of his entire life.

Josh Matthews had the luck of interviewing GRINCH ERIC. Eric said that he was "pissed" about being cut, but he would continue to pursue this as a career. He begrudgingly congratulated John & Matt. In my own opinion this is the type of reaction that doesn't get Eric any points on Friday morning when WWE is sitting around thinking about signing these guys to developmental shots in OVW. Because a team player and someone with a head on their shoulders would understand they were handed an incredibly GIFT by WWE. Jamie & Jonah both seemed to "get it" and Eric didn't. I was shocked Jonah was not the one that ended up doing something incredibly STUPID after he didn't win. Because he had showed a lack of respect the entire competition. In the end, to me, it seemed as if Jonah finally understood it. And Eric forgot it. Because by acting that way, even if he was just "pissed" a little, it proved to me that he was out for himself. Sure it is called a "competition", but lets be frank about this. WWE wants these kids to form a relationship like a family and want to see the others make it, even if it means they fail. That is what the business is all about. And to me, Eric seemed to indicate that he would have been happier if he had won and the others had failed. It is not the type of attitude you want on a team. THERE IS NO "I" in team. In short, I think Eric made a mistake (I call it the JACOB) and should have understood what WWE gave him was a huge gift. He has the ability to get work in this business any place he wants. He could call TNA tomorrow and probably get a look. He could work in any independent company in the country if he wanted too. So he has not LOST anything by not gaining the contract. As Nowinski, who was profiled on the show, proved you do not need to WIN the contract to get to WWE. Josh Matthews proved this as well. It is a lesson some of the competitors do not get, and some of them do get. Those that do not get it and act dissatisfied, like WWE OWED them the contract, never make it. Those that are satisfied and realize this isn't the END, make it.


THE END

Everyone was on the stage to end the show. And that was it for the TOUGH ENOUGH 3 competition. This is an article I wrote before the actual show. Luckily for me, I was right and did not have to re write the column.


MY THOUGHTS: TOUGH ENOUGH 3 WINNERS

Well when it was all said and done both Matt & John walked off with the contracts and become the newest talent WWE has on its roster. It is not known when the two will wrestle on TV or be sent down to Ohio Valley Wrestling for additional training.

I also would not be surprised to hear WWE offers the other three some type of developmental contract to train at Ohio Valley Wrestling. All three have potential to make it one day. Jonah, Eric and Jamie all could have won the competition easily but John & Matt were just a bit ahead of them. I think what won the competition for John was his in ring ability, passion for the business, attitude, dedication and the standing shooting star press. Matt won the competition because of his toughness, dedication and ability inside the ring. I really think this was the best Tough Enough out of all of them and that they picked the right finalists in the end to get the contracts. I think both will be on the main roster faster then any other TE students.


THE CAST

The Guys

Chad   - 24 - Wausau, WI          -- Cut  / Episode 3 / 11.07
Eric   - 23 - Northampton, PA     -- Not slected as a winner
John   - 23 - Davis, CA           -- Selected as 1st winner
Jonah  - 23 - Natick, MA          -- Not slected as a winner
Justin - 24 - Tampa, FL           -- Cut  / Episode 9 / 01.02
Matt   - 23 - Kalamazoo, MI       -- Selected as 2nd winner
Nick   - 20 - Peabody, MA         -- Cut  / Episode 5 / 11.21
Scott  - 21 - Harrisonburg, VA    -- Cut  / Episode 6 / 11.28


The Girls

Jamie   - 21 - Beaverton, OR      -- Cut by Internet Fan Vote
Jill    - 20 - Stoneham, MA       -- Quit / Episode 1  / 10.24
Kelly   - 22 - Lynchburg, VA      -- Cut  / Episode 7  / 12.05
Lisa    - 25 - Livermore, CA      -- Quit / Episode 2  / 10.31
Rebekah - 23 - Lynchburg, VA      -- Quit / Episode 4  / 11.14