By Chris Shore

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

[Q1] A video narrated by "Stone Cole" Steve Austin recapped last week's show and Ariane's elimination…

The show started with Eric and Michelle coming back to the house from the elimination. Matt said he thought Eric would be the next eliminated…

The contestants were working out in the ring. Austin came in and said this week they would deal with courage. He said it takes a lot of courage to step into the ring. He said he's seen people paralyzed and even die in the ring. Booker T added his thoughts on courage in a video.

The contestants worked side headlocks into take downs in the ring, and then bodyslams onto a big mat outside the ring. Skid Marks was especially bad and DeMott really got on him about it…[C]

Shore's Slant: Straight to the action this week. I like it. I also like how each week is themed. From the highlights I've seen, courage is definitely the theme once the challenges start.

Booker T worked with the contestants on body slams in the ring. Michelle got the ring knocked out of her. Trish had other contestants working on their character. Trish called out Matt Cross, and he and Luke had a three minute exhibition. Matt didn't show any character, but Luke did.

John Cena came into the training room. A video narrated by Austin highlighted Cena in WWE. Cena told them to worry about making it to tomorrow instead of winning the whole thing. He took questions from the audience. He was asked if there was anybody left he wanted to work with and he said yes while looking at Austin. Miss USA asked him to marry her and marked out for Cena a little. She took about ten straight body slams while Cena watched. Cena left and the day ended.

[Q2] Everyone was drinking at night and Jeremiah and Luke entertained the group as others said they had a budding "Bromance" brewing…[C]

Shore's Slant: Wow, Miss USA marking out for Cena was a little nauseating to watch. Cena didn't say much that was shown, but the moment with him and Austin was pretty good.

Ryan (Skid Marks) was busted writing letters to his girlfriend and he gave an interview where he was borderline crying…

Shore's Slant: Give me a break! Austin must have shit we he saw that.

Austin told the contestants to meet him outside. Austin, DeMott, four dogs and their trainers were waiting for them. Austin described the challenge, which was to run a sprint while being chased, and ultimately attacked by a dog. Eric said the dog would not take him down, and he didn't. Mickael said the dog wouldn't get him either, but it did.

Luke made it to the flag. Andy didn't and DeMott made fun of him. Jeremiah made it to the flag in full sprint with the dog on his back which impressed DeMott. Ryan made it, and yelled that it was for DeMott. DeMott was not happy about it. Rima was the last to go, and the dog got her good…[C]

Shore's Slant: Austin giggling his ass off as the group was mauled by the dogs was too much. A great segment of TV, and who made it was a little surprising.

[Q3] The contestants were all in the gym, except for Rima. She overslept and showed up 20 minutes late. DeMott said something to her, but didn't blow her up. Austin came in and gave the skills challenge: a corner splash from DeMott, followed by five successive body slams. Holy crap.

The guys looked brutal. The girls made me want to cry. Rima looked like she might throw up. Michelle took it very well. DeMott hit Skid Marks pretty hard, but he took it well. In the end, Austin said everyone did well. He told them to hang tight while they decided who was in the bottom three…[C]

Shore's Slant: Given my choice, I would take the dogs. And I am terrified of big dogs after getting mauled as a child.

The judges (minus Booker-T who was doing Smackdown) discussed the contestants. Trish said she liked Luke and DeMott agreed. Austin liked Eric, even though DeMott said he was hard to train. Austin asked about Ryan and DeMott called him a goof. Austin said when he thought main event, he didn't think of Ryan.

They trashed Matt for being boring and blowing his chance against Luke. Austin said Rima was super tough, but she was too far behind. Trish said she was in the same boat. DeMott pointed out she was late and Austin said it sounded like she needed some motivation.

[Q4] They went back out and Austin said they were judging based on everything they had seen from day one, not just today. He announced the bottom three of Matt, Ryan and Rima and sent them to pack.

Michelle gave Matt a pep talk, and he put over that he had no backup plan. Rima said she was nervous, but confident. Mickael shit all over Ryan to his face and said he would be eliminated. Ryan said he would fly to the shit hole New Jersey when Mickael got eliminated next week. Mickael said there is no way Ryan was coming back to the house…[C]

Shore's Slant: OK, I think we have it established that Mickael is the Omarosa of the house. He's definitely going to have an easier time getting over a heel wherever he ends up. But I also agree with him tonight. My pick is Ryan for elimination.

The bottom three walked to the gym and entered the ring as Austin talked about courage. He came into the room and asked Rima what she saw in the mirror. She said people saw a pretty girl, but she wanted to prove them wrong. Matt said he saw potential. Ryan said he saw a strong, determined individual. Austin asked how long it took him to make up that bullshit. He said it was good, he didn't buy it, but it was good.

He pointed out that not one of them said they saw a WWE Superstar. He asked Matt what he was doing, and Matt said he hadn't shown him all he had. Austin yelled at him and said he had seen as much from Miss USA as he had from Matt.

Austin showed his watch and said he was obsessed with time, and it made him physically ill to be late. He ran down Rima for being late and said her body couldn't keep up. She protested and he shut her down.

He turned to Ryan and asked him why DeMott hated him. Ryan said he didn't know why DeMott hated him. Austin asked him why he didn't tell DeMott to take his "Skid Marks" nickname and shove it up his ass. Ryan said respect, but Austin shook his head.

Austin asked Matt why he should stay and Andy should go home. Matt said Ryan missed his girlfriend and cried while talking to her. Austin punked Andy over it, but Andy said he wouldn't leave because he was here for a dream.

Austin asked Matt why he hadn't shown out with all his experience yet. Matt said he hadn't been given the opportunity. Austin lost his shit and yelled at Matt for not showing him shit. He said nobody gave him an opportunity to be "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he took it by the horns and refused to be anything but number one.

Matt said, "Permission to say something." Austin went nuts again and said, "Oh for the hell of it, permission granted!" Matt said he didn't want to show off, he thought there would be a chance later. Austin shut him down and told Ryan to suck it up and Rima to never be late again. He said Matt was cut and went for the belt.

Matt held on and tried to convince Austin to change his mind. Austin said it was too late and Matt said he could show him some things now. Austin said he knew he could, but the competition was over. Matt finally let go. He walked away and gave his final interview by saying he didn't know what tomorrow held because this was his only plan. Austin closed the show by saying Matt was cut because he didn't have the courage to stand out from the pack…

Shore's Slant: Much like last week, I knew immediately that Matt was going home when he said "Permission to speak." I really think Austin is the guy making the cuts because I can see how the "Melina vs. Alicia Fox" and "Permission to speak" things would send him over the top and cause those eliminations. Another good showing from Tough Enough. Thanks for reading along.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or on Twitter @the_shore_slant with whatever is on your mind.

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