It's been a long week guys and it's nowhere near over for me. No matter how busy I get, I never forget about the site and my fans, so I'm here now to recap everything from the week, even if it might be old news by now. We'll start with a Tough Enough recap and I'll follow it up with the Raw piece.
Tough Enough
Well, Erik is finally gone. To be honest, I felt he should have been gone weeks ago as his lack of conditioning was painful to watch at times. I know he's a big guy and has "potential" because you can't teach size, but take 6 months, get into shape, find an independent promotion, work your ass off, and then try and get a WWE contract. Tough Enough si a great opportunity, but you can't skip literally every other step.
Also gone is Ivelisse. I actually felt she was the best female competitor, but her injury wouldn't allow her to finish out the competition. Can't compete, can't win. Don't be surprised to see her get offered a developmental deal though. She definitely has something there to work with and, in my opinion, has a pretty good upside as a competitor.
So who's left? Let me get you up to speed on the remaining competitors:
Martin - Probably the favorite at this point, Martin has really established himself in the wrestling competitions. It used to be Luke that shined in this regard, but Martin has caught him and lacks the attitude that might hinder Luke. He's a good kid and a hard worker, but I question if he has any marketability as a future superstar. He might be able to go, but so can every single person currently on the WWE roster. You need something more to be successful in the business and I'm not sure he has it.
Andy - At this point, I get the feeling that this guy might win the competition. Never the standout that Martin and Luke have been, Andy has at the very least been respectable in everything he does. He's never really had a bad week or done anything to get noticed in a negative way, and his size and look are more marketable than most of the remaining competitors. If he continues to work hard, he could have a real chance at winning this thing.
Luke - For the first few weeks, this guy looked like the clear-cut favorite. However, attitude problems have been holding him back lately, even if he is arguably the most skilled competitor on the show. I actually think that attitude can be molded into a positive thing as a character, but he needs to check it at the door when he trains. Save the attitude for later on and this guy becomes a heavy favorite again. If I was looking him in the eyes, I'd say "check the ego at the door. Bear down, win the competition, THEN take that attitude and use it to create a heel character. Remember though, you can't have a character without a job, so shelve the attitude for now."
Christina - The only female left in the competition, but is she good? Certainly she has athletic ability and a track record given that her sister currently performs as Alicia Fox. I'm not sure she has a chance at winning though, as her skill level just doesn't wow you. She's also not all that engaging a personality, so it's hard for her to stand out in any way. Expect to see her in FCW though, as she came from there anyway and I'm sure they'd take her back to continue training her in hopes of a sister reunion on the main roster someday. I can see it now "making their way to the ring with a combined weight of 244 pounds, Alicia and Selena Fox....HIPS DON'T LIE!!"
Jeremiah - This guy is a shining example of hard work and manners. The man from the south is the least experienced of everyone there, but here he is in the final 6 because he's working his butt off. It's noticeable too, as the trainers have noted the progress he's making. Still, he's far behind the top guys and I'm not sure he can overcome that. He could have a future in wrestling, though I think we'd sooner see him as Gunner's tag team partner in TNA than WWE. I just get the vibe that he won't make the WWE. I hope I'm wrong as I like the guy, but he's certainly a few years away from making any sort of impact on the business anyway.
A.J. - He's decent, but I honestly can't give you ONE memorable A.J. moment on the show. He's very bland and unexciting and that hurts him. He does everything fine, but unless he can start shining, he could be the next one gone. Even Stone Cold said that he's as exciting as watching grass grow, so he needs to wow people moving forward. He was in the bottom 3 this past week, and I can see that continuing unless some of the better competitors slip up.
If you asked me right now, I think it's a three horse race for the crown. Luke is the most talented, Martin is the most consistent and probably most well liked, and Andy does everything well and has size to back it up. At this point, it's hard to gage but I think Luke is still the favorite due to his talent. That said, I think it's going to be Andy that ultimately wins the competition. I just think he has something there that can't be taught. I like Luke a lot too, but his attitude may get him a premature boot despite clearly being able to hang between the ropes.
There's apparently a tie-in with the June 13 Raw and Tough Enough. I will be at that show so as soon as we get more details, I will relay them to you. This may be a live finale as Stone Cold is scheduled to appear on Raw that night, but stay tuned! Until then, continue to watch the show and let me know if you agree or disagree with my talent assessment.
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