10 Times WWE Tried Too Hard To Be REAL

WWE tried to properly promote Tough Enough in 2004 by featuring the potential talent on episodes of its programming. By large, the competitors were put to the test in various challenges. One such challenge came at the hands of Kurt Angle, who perhaps assumed he could get away with a little hazing.

'The Olympic Hero' went out to the squared circle and challenged any of the Tough Enough performers to come out and enter a shoot-style wrestling match. Answering the call was MMA fighter Daniel Puder, who wasn't ready to be publically humiliated.

Whereas Angle was expected to make short work of Puder, he visibly struggled to maintain control. Once the Gold Medalist managed to wrestle the fighter down to the mat, he locked on a legitimate kimura lock that threatened to break Angle's arm.

Officials panicked as they searched for a way to abort. Still locked in the kimura, Angle rolled Puder over into a pin. Even though his shoulders weren't completely down, the referee made the quick three-count and declared the Olympic wrestler victorious.

After the match, Angle chewed Puder, yelling, "Are you f***ing stupid?" at his face. WWE might have frowned upon Angle's idea of challenging Tough Enough stars to shoots, but management didn't proactively stop it. They and the 'Olympic Hero' both risked injury and public embarrassment for the sake of adding a little realism to a sport that had been far from "real" for over 60 years.