9 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2004

9. Leaving This To Chance Was Idiotic

WWE producers: 'OK, so we're gonna train hard all day then run up and down the arena steps to gas you guys out before this segment with Kurt Angle'. Daniel Puder: 'Hahahahahahaha no'. Seriously, the logic behind a Tough Enough segment on the 4 November 2004 episode of SmackDown wasn't just flawed, it was also crazy.

Angle was scripted to challenge some of the rookies to get inside the ring and take him down. In theory, nobody was going to manage it. They'd be shattered after being put through their paces all day, and this was Kurt f'n Angle - he was an Olympic champion and one of the most notoriously well conditioned workers on the entire roster.

Stepping up, Puder took Angle down and stuck him in a Kimura Lock which nearly broke the gold medal winner's arm. Humbled, Kurt had to wait for referees to awkwardly pretend that Dan's shoulders were down so they could 3 count him and end the chaos. Then, he got right in Puder's face and called the rook "stupid" for going into business for himself.

Nah, the only thing stupid here was the fact that WWE left things to chance. Daniel might've been bold, but he was only following instructions on his end and trying to make a name for himself. If officials wanted to make the Tough Enough crew look out of their depth, then they should've worked the entire thing.

It would’ve been disastrous for everyone had Angle ended up hurt. He'd have been humiliated for a start, and SmackDown would also be down one of its top stars for the final few months of the year.