Dave Meltzer gave a very interesting, and sobering, insight into the USA Network and the upcoming season of Tough Enough over at his subscribers-only message board:

WWE had no hand in picking the cast. USA Network and the production company had full control of that aspect. The goal was to pick models for the cast.

This should come as no surprise considering the news and rumours that have been flying around about the show in recent days. Miss USA Rima Fakih (who has made previous appearances for WWE in the past, including a guest host stint last year) was officically announced as the first contestant for the show, in the following press release by the USA network:

IS MISS USA™ "TOUGH ENOUGH®?"



NEW YORK, NEW YORK – February 17, 2010 USA Network and WWE® announced today that Miss USA™, Rima Fakih will be one of the aspiring contestants on USA Network’s upcoming non-scripted series WWE TOUGH ENOUGH®. Fakih will be squaring off against a tough group of challengers vying for an once-in-a-lifetime shot to become a WWE Superstar or Diva. The series will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, the day after WrestleMania® XXVII and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW®. It moves to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.



"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to battle for a title in an entirely different competition," said Fakih. "Miss USA is an incredible honor that’s provided invaluable experience which will undoubtedly help me as I push my performance and athletic skills to the limit. I look forward to learning if I have the mettle to make it in WWE."



The casting announcement follows the recent appointment of WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin® as series host and WWE Legend Booker T™ as a trainer. WWE TOUGH ENOUGH contestants will be a diverse group of men and women who will live, train, eat and sleep under one roof in a house in Southern California. Each week the contestants will battle it out in a series of unique challenges designed to test for such characteristics as showmanship, creativity, athleticism and desire, just to name a few. Viewers will witness the trials and tribulations of what it takes to be one of the best in the world’s greatest sports entertainment organization. The grand prizewinner will be awarded a contract with WWE.

In fairness, she did have better mic skills than most of the divas when ring announcing her episode of Raw and, unlike most of the indifferent and lazy guest hosts viewers were burdened with last year, seemed happy and genuinely enthused to be there. But clearly, the young woman was chosen for P.R reasons, rather than anything she may bring to the table wrestling wise. Does Fakih even want a future in wrestling or is this simply a chance to heighten her profile? Well, I'm not a regular viewer of the Miss USA contest, but I seriously doubt, when asked by the judges what her goals in life were, the beauty queen responded: "Pro-Wrestling Superstar and proud member of the WWE Universe."

This point was reinforced to fans when news leaked out about wrestling talent that had been turned down from the show. Indeed, F4WOnline.com noted that Austin Aries, an established wrestler with stints in TNA and ROH on his resume, was one wrestler who never made it past the auditioning process. Meanwhile, Diva Dirt mentioned that Mercedes Martinez and Brittney Savage, two women's wrestlers on the independent scene, had also been rejected by the show's producers.

So, what wrestling fans can expect from the upcoming season of Tough Enough? The most likely option: young, scantily-clad, extremely attractive people having Issues and Lots Of Drama with each other, complete with tears, boozing and maybe even the occasional hook-up . There will probably be a hot tub. This may make a good reality show and garner the ratings the network wants. Will it be a good wrestling show, though? It seems unfair to dismiss the upcoming season before an episode has even aired, but the fact that Miss USA is the star, and three longtime independent wrestlers didn't even get a look-in may say it all.

But, on the bright side, the idea of Stone Cold Steve Austin trying to teach Miss America and an assortment of vapid, dim-witted models how to wrestle does sound like gloriously entertaining trainwreck television. In that respect, this season might be must-see TV after all.

Update: Meltzer corrected himself in a Feb. 20 post on his forum: