4/18 Shore's WWE Tough Enough Live Coverage: Big Show and Stacey Keibler guest star. Will Rima shed her "beauty queen" image? What will Mickael do when he sees Ryan?

By Chris Shore

Tough Enough on USA Network
Taped in Simi Valley, Cali.

[Q1] A video ran down last week's show and Matt Cross's elimination…Rima and Ryan came back to the house. Mickael was shocked and said he had no idea what Austin was looking for…The opening video aired…

Bill DeMott ran into the rooms and screamed for everyone to get up as a graphic told us it was 6:08 am. DeMott said they were going on a run to find out who wasn't in shape like they should have been. Luke said he was the favorite because he was in the best physical and mental shape.

Austin chased after Rima in a golf cart type vehicle and asked her if she wanted to quit. Michelle was struggling and Austin checked on her. Luke finished first at 19:06. Eric was walking as Austin said he wasn't impressed. Rima was the first woman across at 28:02. She even managed to beat a couple of guys. Eric was the last at 42:00. Austin told them to meet him and DeMott in the ring…[C]

Shore's Slant: Luke and Rima looked very good, as did Jeremiah. Eric is in serious trouble, as is Michelle. You gotta have better cardio that that. I mean, there was 23 minutes between first and last, that's too much.

The contestants were shown getting ready for the day when Austin came in and ran the ropes. He took a bump and said he wanted to talk to them about technique. Everyone paired off and Michelle was doing terrible. She couldn't reverse a hammer lock and couldn't take a suplex. Trish talked to her and tried to lift her up.

Mickael took a suplex and DeMott sent him to the ring to work with Booker because he took it wrong and DeMott said he didn't think Mickael realized it.

Big Show came into the room and was introduced. Austin put him over as having impeccable technique. Big Show watched Eric take a bump and called him aside to talk to him about his cardio. Austin worked Luke over and said Luke was the top of the class right now. Show wished them the best and said not to make friends because only one could win. He wished them good luck and left…

[Q2] In the house, Michelle called home and talked to husband Johnny Fairplay. She asked about their daughter, but she was at her grandmother's. They talked for a moment and Michelle had a small meltdown about not seeing her daughter…[C]

Shore's Slant: Boy these guest stars blow in and out fast. Luke is definitely the standout at this point, but that guy often gets cut for a stupid reason so he shouldn't get lazy. Austin is going to dig into Michelle, I just have a feeling.

Back in the training room, Rima and Michelle were talking about Michelle's mental state. Michelle admitted that she was being held back by it. Austin got in the ring and asked how everyone was. Michelle walked up and said she couldn't focus because she missed her daughter so much. She said she wanted her daughter more than a WWE contract. She brought him her belt.

Austin told them all to go outside and work with Trish, but he wanted Michelle to stay behind and make sure that she wanted to quit. They sat on the apron and talked about it. Austin said after 15 years on the road, he was just now getting to know his two daughters. He said he respected her decision and gave her a rare hug. Michelle she was taking control of her life and this was exactly what she wanted and left…

Everyone else was outside for their Life Lesson on Technique. Trish introduced a cheerleading squad and said they were the trainers for the day. She said they were going to perform on a busy LA intersection today. Jeremiah wasn't happy but did his best. Mickael looked pissed and said he was worried about going back to Jersey.

Stacy Keibler walked up with Trish and said she was there to help. The contestants were in groups and Rima was being tossed. She was scared and Stacey called her over and showed her how to do it right. They basically got it by the end of training.

They cut to the performance and the contestants came out in cheerleading outfits and did their routine. Jeremiah even did a back flip. But Rima fell right at the end. She recovered well and none of the judges said anything…[C]

Shore's Slant: I have a step sister who used to do competitive cheerleading and that stuff is no joke. Still, all Rima really had to do was basic balance and falling like that doesn't bode well for her.

[Q3] The contestants were all in the gym and Mickael told DeMott he was embarrassed to be seen in that outfit. DeMott said he didn't even see him there. Rima asked him for more training afterward and DeMott agreed. Austin had DeMott and Booker run a series and told the contestants they would have to do it there would be cuts based on who screwed up until a top dog was determined.

Mickael and Rima were cut first. They added some more moves and started the second round. Luke got cut for coasting. Christina was cut for forgetting the moves. Ryan basically acted like Ric Flair and he and Andy were cut. AJ, Jeremiah and Ivalisse were cut next.

That left Eric and Martin. They were told to do the same series until they were told to stop. Eric got blowed up and got cut so Martin won, and they got rid of his Donny Osmond nickname. Luke said Martin was a cheesy actor but he was the real deal. The judges retired to discuss eliminations…[C]

Shore's Slant: I wish we could have seen more footage of that workout as it looked to be fun to watch, but you only have an hour. Luke better be careful. I don't think he goes home tonight, but he might be in the bottom three to prove a point, and that's a dangerous place to be.

[Q4] They put over Martin and panned Rima for her technique. Austin asked about Mickael and Trish said, "Who?" Ouch. They really panned him for not having technique. They shit all over Ryan for being a goof, especially DeMott. They said Eric had problems with cardio, but was getting better.

They made their decision and Austin went to the ring. He called out Mickael, Ryan and Rima. He sent them all back and told those three to pack. Rima was visibly upset and borderline on tears. Luke talked to Ryan and said he needed to have a little bit of asshole in him to succeed. Mickael took Ryan's bed apart "to help him out," and said Ryan would not be coming back tonight…[C]

Shore's Slant: OK, both times I have picked the obvious elimination only to be screwed by Austin. So I'm going to say Andy is the gimmie, but Mickael goes home because Ryan grows a pair out of nowhere. Hell, I'll pick Rima too, that way I can't be wrong!

Austin joked about Rima and Ryan being back again. He said Mickael was now in the bottom three and said he didn't know anything about him. Mickael said he needed to be there because he had no other options. Austin asked him how tough he was, and Mickael said he was tough enough to be here.

He asked Ryan who he was and Ryan said he was pissed of now. Austin punked him a little but Ryan stuck to his guns. He asked Rima about being here and she said she knew her technique was bad, but she had asked DeMott and Booker for one on one time and they had accepted.

Austin put over her asking for that one on one time and sent her back to the house. He said since Ryan and Mickael didn't like each other, he wanted them to cut a promo on each other and to give it their best. Ryan destroyed Mickael in the promo and Mickael was sent home…

Shore's Slant: I knew it! See you Mickael. He was an asshole so I'm happy to see him go. And to lose to Ryan just makes it better for me. Another fun episode. I never thought I would say this, but I'm pulling for a second season.