While NXT continues to provide the best proving ground for WWE wrestlers, with a conveyer belt of Superstars graduating to main shows and pay-per-views, the company are not quite done there.
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It was announced in January that a new series of WWE Tough Enough would air over the summer as 13 contestants vie for a future in the WWE.
Returning after a five-year absence, the male and female competitors will be trained under the guidance of Booker T, Billy Gunn and Lita with Chris Jericho taking up hosting duties.
@WWEToughEnough it all goes down tonight ,I can’t wait to look into their eyes and see who really has it in their blood brother. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) June 23, 2015
In its sixth edition, a decade on from the first show, Tough Enough is an incredible opportunity for wrestlers hoping to forge a career with the biggest boys in sports entertainment but it does seem rather unnecessary.
Given the success of NXT in creating some of today’s biggest in-ring names, the popularity of its current Divas reality show and the longevity of RAW, Smackdown and its PPVs, the WWE risks overloading the Universe with content that takes away from the product. It can prove annoying, much like a friend on Facebook that overshares in hourly posts as a reminder that they are still there.
The WWE doesn’t need to cry for attention.
It already has a captive audience, buoyed by a first six months of the year that has developed some incredible storylines and delivered even better matches.
While not writing the project off entirely, that would be unfair, it is hard to see a place for it in the WWE’s schedule.
Saying that, creative obviously see the benefits of breathing new life into a show that looked expired.
Bar The Miz and MNM, contestants have struggled to make their mark in the WWE over the years, something that NXT has had remarkable success in delivering.
That aside, there is no doubting the incredible investment and faith entrusted in the reincarnation.
A panel of judges for the show will include Hulk Hogan, Daniel Bryan and Paige and the winning male and female will each secure a $250,000 (Dhs918,000) one-year contract.
Catch @ToughZZ & the rest of the @WWEToughEnough competitors NOW on @WWENetwork! http://t.co/XcKNGmPMvz #ToughEnough pic.twitter.com/CiQqqztbD0
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) June 23, 2015
Where it will truly shine is in that digital world which the WWE dominates.
Fans will decide who gets given the boot each week and will be able to follow the action through a dedicated app and the WWE Network.
Not only that, Periscope has been brought on board to bring live behind-the-scenes access to fans.
It will be a tough nut to crack, especially with so many fans more concerned by the action elsewhere but if anyone’s Tough Enough to break the nut’s shell, it’s the WWE.
Fans in the UAE can watch WWE Tough Enough on OSN Sports 2 HD LIVE every Wednesday, premiering June 24 from 4:00 a.m. GST, with repeats at 4pm and 9pm.
