Every WWE Tough Enough winner: Where are they now?

For many wrestlers in WWE today, they will have started their journey to the top on the independent scene, slowly working your way from place to place until you got a shot at the big time.

And before the likes of NXT and it's predecessor OVW, this was, almost, the only way to get into the company.

For some lucky few though, there was Tough Enough, a reality show pitting men and women against each other, with the ultimate prize, a cash reward, and a contract with WWE.

In the show's six iterations, ten people have been able to call themselves Tough Enough, with some going on to big things, and others, not so much.

Here is every WWE Tough Enough winner, how they did in the McMahon-led company, and what they are doing today.

Season 1: Maven & Nidia (2001)

Maven held the Hardcore title in WWE after being the men's winner of the very first Tough Enough.

The very first season of Tough Enough saw two very popular contestants win.

After a long journey, Maven and Nidia were crowned champions, both earning a contract with WWE.

After making a name for himself by eliminating The Undertaker in the 2002 Royal Rumble, Maven left the company in 2005, and according to the former Hardcore Champion's Twitter, now works in Dental Sales.

Working as a bouncer in 2013, it seems Maven has left wrestling behind him, though he did return for a one-off appearance tagging with Curt Hawkins in 2013.

As for Nidia, her career is best remembered as the long-suffering girlfriend of Jamie Noble, before her release in 2004.

In 2010, Nidia began her career in culinary arts and has made quite a name for herself as the head of her own culinary business.

Season 2: Linda and Jackie (2002)

Gayda with husband Charlie Haas (left) and tag team partner Rico.

Season 2 of Tough Enough didn't really make any new stars, but Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda can boast the accolade of winners.

After further training, Linda was brought up to the main roster as Shaniqua, the dominatrix manager of the Bashams, leading the pair to tag team gold before her release in 2004.

After departing the squared circle, Miles became a substitute teacher, and most recently worked as a college Basketball referee.

Jackie's career in WWE, also struggled to impress, as a tag match with Chris Nowinski against Trish Stratus and Bradshaw is seen as one of the worst bouts in RAW history.

If nothing else, her WWE career allowed her to meet husband Charlie Haas, and the pair own their own store named Custom Muscle Nutrition and Smoothie Shop in Texas

Season 3: John Morrison & Matt Capotelli (2003)

Morrison has had a great career in wrestling, unlike most Tough Enough winners.

So seasons 1 and 2 may have been duds, but Season 3 delivered a bonafide star.

John Morrison would be one of the winners, and after some training, made a name for himself in WWE.

Appearing in WWE from 2004-2011, Morrison would have great success, capturing the Intercontinental, Tag Team and ECW World titles, and has recently done huge things in Impact Wrestling.

A former Impact World Champion, Morrison seems to be in a great place in life, with his recent World title reign being the longest in seven years.

Unfortunately, Matt Capotelli's career would never really take off after his big win, as he suffered from Brain cancer in 2007, and was released in 2009.

In 2017, Cappitelli revealed he was battling grade IV glioblastoma multiforme and after ceasing treatment, died on June 28, 2018, aged 38.

Season 4: Daniel Puder (2004)

Puder won the contest but did very little before leaving the WWE in September 2005.

When legit fighter Daniel Puder defeated fellow finalist Mike 'The Miz' Mizannin in a Boxing match at Armageddon 2004, his victory in Tough Enough was practically assured.

Winning a fan vote, Puder not only earned himself a $1,000,000 contract, but also a spot in the 2005 Royal Rumble.

Entering the match was a big mistake, as the young rookie went up against Hardcore Holly, a man known for punishing younger talent.

Nearly breaking Kurt Angle's arm on SmackDown months prior certainly didn't help Puder, who after being chopped viciously by Holly, Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle, was tossed out of the Rumble, and WWE.

Released in September 2005, Puder would have stints in both Ring of Honor and New Japan and can be today found as an MMA trainer for CoachUp.

Season 5: Andy Leavine (2011)

Leavine (right) won the tournament but accomplished little in WWE.

It was seven years between Tough Enough four and five and a lot had changed.

WWE had become a much bigger company and had shifted its focus, bringing in more and more 'indie darlings' such as CM Punk and Daniel Bryan.

Regardless, Andy Leavine won the 2011 series, but perhaps the Big Man would've been better never winning at all.

On the June 6, 2011, edition of RAW, Andy was announced the winner, and instantly had his big moment spoiled, with a swift slap from Vince McMahon.

One 'Stone Cold' Stunner later, and the so-called winner was already seen as a joke, returning to RAW for just one week before his release the next year.

Since WWE, Leavine has continued in wrestling, joining Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council, where he is a former WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion.

Season 6: Josh Bredl and Sara Lee (2015)

Bredl and Sara Lee did very little after winning the latest Tough Enough.

It's been nearly four years since the last Tough Enough season ended, and the fate of the 2015 winners may explain why.

Like the first year, the series had two winners, Josh Bredl for the men, and Sara Lee for the women.

Almost instantly, bad news came out about Bredl, who received universal scorn for mocking the Social Outcasts, a bad call for the rookie.

Losing all matches, Bredl would be released in 2017, and he's been off the grid ever since.

Sara Lee didn't fare much better, having just a few matches before her release in September 2016, shortly after she announced her pregnancy.

Giving birth to daughter Piper in May 2017, Lee would marry NXT's Wesley Blake that December and recently gave birth to their son Brady in February 2019.