Has John Hennigan shaken the Tough Enough stigma? (A bit of a Vengeance spoiiler)

[Anybody Thrilla]

Back when the first season of Tough Enough debuted on MTV, my initial thoughts were that no matter who won, people would always think of them as the person that won Tough Enough. It's hard to take an accolade like that too seriously when you see them train and pretty much suck in the beginning. Maven, Nidia, Linda Miles, Jackie Gayda...I couldn't look at any of them without thinking about Tough Enough.

But John Hennigan seems to have broken that mold. Especially with his Intercontinental title win last night. He's developed into a stellar in-ring performer, and he's actually got a character that seems to be working quite well. When I see him, I still think "Tough Enough", but I can still get excited to see him work.

What do you guys think?

[McLegend]

Yeah I love Nitro I think he's a really good young talent, and is a lot of fun to watch.

I'm glad Nitro won his match last night.

[Corndad]

Dang I actually forgot he was on Tough Enough, so I guess that anwsers your question right there. It's crazy what can happen to a wrestler when they are actually given a gimmick.

Most of those Tough Enough people never really got too much of a gimmick, aside from the Trailer Park gimmick Nidia had, but was kinda too late to change peoples minds. How are they gonna believe shes from the Trailer Park when she was just on Tough Enough?

But to anwser your question, Yes I do believe he has broken away now.

[Rob]

Nobody remembers he was on Tough Enough. Infact, the only people they do remember is Maven (ok probably Chris Nowinski too).

[Innovator]

They haven't mentioned Tough Enough with Nitro since he came back as part of MNM.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Nobody remembers he was on Tough Enough. Infact, the only people they do remember is Maven (ok probably Chris Nowinski too).

Unfortunately for Maven, his whole gimmick was based on Tough Enough. He was doomed from the start.

I think Chris Nowinski could have shaken the stigma if he would have never been injured, though. He was fairly entertaining.

[Skippord]

Nitro is the man

[James Steele]

Nowiniski could have gone far if he wouldn't have had his bad luck with injuries that ended his career.

[jindrak]

Not as many people watched TE3, so it was easier for him to break that mold.

[Corkscrewed]

Put me among the list of people who forgot he was a TE guy.

[TerranRich]

Same here. When I rattled off the list of Tough Enough winners to my g/f the other day, I completely forgot Nitro's name. Like half an hour later, I was like "OH! And Nitro! He was on there, too."

[Fox]

Whoa... Nowinski is done with wrestling? wtf?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Yeah, so is Koko B. Ware.

Nah, j/k, I dunno exactly what the injury was either. I just know it was a while ago. I also remember seeing him on Raw like a month ago talking to Vince McMahon for like 4 seconds, so I don't think he's totally unaffiliated with the WWE.

[Xero]

Put me among the list of people who forgot he was a TE guy.
Same here.

As for Nowinski, he has concussion syndrome or something to that effect. Sort of like Bret Hart, only without the stroke and all his other problems.

[St. Jimmy]

I seriously didn't think of Nitro winning the belt last night til' it happened. I think it's a great move. It freshens up the IC title scene. If they can keep the momentum, they can build up a hell of a mid-card.

[parkmania]

Speaking of TE3 folks, anyone hear anything recently about Matt Capotelli's health?

[James Steele]

Nowinski does a lot of personal appearances and speeches for WWE's public service programs.

[Rammsteinmad]

I remembered he was on Tough Enough, but didn't look at him as someone from Tough Enough.

So basically, he's doing good.

[Pinnacle Charisma]

Nowinski could have gone far if he wouldn't have had his bad luck with injuries that ended his career.


Fuck yeah. He had bucket loads of charisma. He kinda reminded me of a young Kurt Angle when he burst onto the scene with "his I went to harvard gimmick" simmilar to Kurts "I won a gold medal with a broken freaking neck".

I remember I laughed so hard when on one Royal Rumble (2002 or 2003 I think) Nowinski knocked two guys over the ropes but they didnt fall off but Chris thought they did and started celebrating like crazy in the ring. Of course the two wrestlers elimanted Chris shortily after that. I have seen stuff like that done tons of times in the wwe before but Chris made it original and funny

[Mister Sinister]

Speaking of TE3 folks, anyone hear anything recently about Matt Capotelli's health?

The last thing I heard about him, was he was battling Brain Cancer...

With makes me say to this day...


DAMN YOU HARDCORE HOLLY, MATT NEVER GRACED MY TV SCREEN AND FOUGHT CHAVO BACK IN 2004, BECAUSE OF YOUR STIFF ROOKING HATING ASS.















P.S Get Well Soon Hardcore










P.S.S- I mean that, by becoming an road agent or something.

[Mister Sinister]

Fuck yeah. He had bucket loads of charisma. He kinda reminded me of a young Kurt Angle when he burst onto the scene with "his I went to harvard gimmick" simmilar to Kurts "I won a gold medal with a broken freaking neck".

I remember I laughed so hard when on one Royal Rumble (2002 or 2003 I think) Nowinski knocked two guys over the ropes but they didnt fall off but Chris thought they did and started celebrating like crazy in the ring. Of course the two wrestlers elimanted Chris shortily after that. I have seen stuff like that done tons of times in the wwe before but Chris made it original and funny


Sadly it was that moment that Chris suffered an Injury, because it was Rey and Edge who he almost eliminated, and then they went for a Double missile dropkick, which the timing was off, and Edge jumped too late, and instead of them hitting him at the same time, Rey knocked him down and Edge accidently landed on Chris face, breaking his nose.

[Y2Jeremy]

Nowinski had a shit load of potential, too bad he's gone. Nitro may have potential if they keep him with melina and continue to push him. but i honestly believe that creative and vince will somehow fuck him over by having melina dump him for someone, that guy will squash nitro, and nitro will end up a Heat jobber like Val Venis.

[TerranRich]

Nitro needs to go the route of Shawn Michaels. He broke up with his tag partner, became a heel, used his incredible mic skills to get over, and was pushed to the top. Nitro's mic skills are lacking somewhat, and that needs to be fixed.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Nitro wasn't terrible on the mic, as I remember. How about his stint as Eric Bischoff's assistant? I thought he was pretty good in that role.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Maybe he just needs to learn how to speak as 'movie star' Johnny Nitro as opposed to just 'assistant' Johnny Nitro.

[BigDaddyCool]

Nitro was on Tough Enough, I completely forgot about about that.

[NoJabbaNoBogRoll]

Put me among the list of people who forgot he was a TE guy.
Me too.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I guess the WWE's thinking about the fans and their lack of long term memory is pretty accurate.

[TerranRich]

Maybe he just needs to learn how to speak as 'movie star' Johnny Nitro as opposed to just 'assistant' Johnny Nitro.
Bingo. Cockiness always sells.

[Kane Knight]

Same here.

As for Nowinski, he has concussion syndrome or something to that effect. Sort of like Bret Hart, only without the stroke and all his other problems.

Post Concussion syndrome. If I'm not mixing up my syndromes, they don't entirely know what causes it to happen (Concussion, duh, but why it happens in some instances where others can get beaten with a sledgehammer once a year for life and not get it). He might return, but he might never.

Anyway, I didn't think "Tough Enough" When I saw Maven, I thought "Shitty bland undercarder with no future and limited ring skills."

[Anybody Thrilla]

How could you not think Tough Enough? It was in his fucking Titan Tron.

[Kane Knight]

Because I was too busy thinking "Shitty bland undercarder with no future and limited ring skills." and walking out of the room.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Wouldn't it have been easier to change the channel than to leave the room?

[Kane Knight]

I habitually walk in and out of the room during programming. Plus, I've never been one to change channels. I've always found it stupid to watch 3 minutes of some other show.

[Anybody Thrilla]

You can catch a hilarious commercial every now and again.

[Xero]

I habitually walk in and out of the room during programming. Plus, I've never been one to change channels. I've always found it stupid to watch 3 minutes of some other show.
Doesn't seem stupid if it's a news show or the Weather channel. :shifty:

[UmbrellaCorporation]

Now, your local on the 8's. :shifty:

[The Naitch]

i beleive Melina was also on Tough Enough. Eliminated early

[TerranRich]

Yes she was.

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/m/melinaperez/07.jpg

[Gertner]

wow, not a flattering picture

[Afterlife]

Post Concussion syndrome. If I'm not mixing up my syndromes, they don't entirely know what causes it to happen (Concussion, duh, but why it happens in some instances where others can get beaten with a sledgehammer once a year for life and not get it). He might return, but he might never.

I thot it was Multiple Concussion Syndrome. I recall reports of him having some crazy, overly active somnambulatic episodes. Like, sleepwalking, but literally jumping down stairways and running into walls and shit. Stuff where he was an unconcious danger to himself.

[Savio]

Unfortunately for Maven, his whole gimmick was based on Tough Enough. He was doomed from the start.He had a good hardcore title run.

[NeanderCarl]

Nitro was already trained as a wrestler before he appeared on Tough Enough, and wrestled on the indys too, so he did have a strong background already. Tough Enough was just his entry ticket.