Best Candidates to Replace Steve Austin on WWE's 'Tough Enough'

Tough Enough, WWE's behind-the-curtain look at aspiring wrestlers, is returning, but without hard-nosed, charismatic host Steve Austin.

WWE has a number of other viable options now that "Stone Cold" won't be available, including the man who Austin battled at WrestleMania XIV and the man he once ambushed in a grocery store on SmackDown.

As announced on WWE.com, "Tough Enough will be returning to television on USA Network." Austin won't be featuring, though. Citing a scheduling conflict, Austin explained on his podcast that he would not be hosting this time around.

The Texas Rattlesnake was the heart of that show; his personality and name power were key to its success. In seeking his replacement, WWE has to find another big personality with name recognition, an accomplished wrestler who fans and trainees alike will respect. Training experience is a plus.

Those are the qualities shared by the top candidates to take over Tough Enough. The list doesn't include The Rock, who is likely too busy being a megastar to take Austin's spot. 

Dark Horses

• Ricky Steamboat
• Bob Backlund
• Sgt. Slaughter

This trio of Hall of Famers would be great in terms of the actual wrestling part of the job. Each would have plenty of advice to offer the show's contestants. 

Steamboat, Backlund and Slaughter are legends in the business as well.

Their star power isn't what it used to be, though. Younger prospects and viewers will have missed out on these veterans' primes. 

And Tough Enough would benefit from having a host who is louder, wittier and more charismatic than Backlund or Steamboat. They would be better suited as NXT trainers or in supporting roles on the returning reality show.

5. Booker T

Booker T is a wacky, funny guy with training know-how. He runs the Reality of Wrestling school and wrestling promotion in Houston. The adjustment from that role to Tough Enough host would come naturally to the Hall of Famer.

And WWE wouldn't have to go far to find him; it could just pull him off the announce desk temporarily. As a former WCW world champ and high-profile WWE wrestler, he has name power on his side as well. 

WWE can get a more famous wrestler, however; a guy like Chris Jericho would have the advantage in terms of stardom.

It would be mighty entertaining to hear Booker tell a prospect, "Tell me I didn't just see that!" after a mistake, though. 

4. Dustin Rhodes and Dusty Rhodes

Together, father and son could appeal to a wider audience.

Dusty Rhodes will make older fans seek out the show for a nostalgia fix. Younger ones will know Dustin Rhodes from his days as Goldust.

Both wrestlers have experience in the training world. Dusty has worked for NXT for a long time. His son has worked with main-roster talents in the past as an agent and producer. Combining them would give Tough Enough double the knowledge in a package with two very different personalities.

Dusty is sure to be funny and unpredictable. It's less clear what Dustin would be like in this role, though. He's more subdued than his dad (when he's not in Goldust mode) and not as big a personality as Chris Jericho, for example.

3. Chris Jericho

Star power makes Chris Jericho a top candidate to host Tough Enough.

He was a fixture in the business for years and has dipped his toes back into the wrestling waters recently, staying a part of the scene. The show may also get some curious crossover viewers from his band Fozzy's fanbase.

And WWE knows he can host a show. Jericho has hosted VH1's 100 Most Shocking Music Moments as well as shows like Robot Combat League.

He is a less experienced trainer than many of the other men on this list. That's a problem that could be solved by adding Lance Storm as well. Storm runs a wrestling school and can provide the steak while Jericho provides the sizzle.

Jericho's sense of humor promises entertaining TV. It's unclear whether he can go into drill-sergeant mode when needed, however. Mick Foley could have similar issues but gets the edge thanks to his motivational-speaking prowess.

2. Mick Foley

When Tough Enough needs a moment in which the host gets serious, reflects on his past in the business and goes on a moving rant, Mick Foley would thrive.

WWE has used him in a role much like that one in his more recent appearances on Raw. He's a great public speaker and a man fans adore and respect.

Like Jericho, he's not as well-versed in training as Booker T or Dustin Rhodes and would thus need a strong co-host to pick up the slack there.

Still, he is such a compelling figure, well-known wrestler and likable guy that WWE has to consider him for Steve Austin's replacement. The company has a candidate who is the perfect marriage of star and teacher, though...

1. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels might take some convincing to walk away from his hunting but would be perfect for Tough Enough.

He's a massive star who will have the prospects' full respect. Viewers will tune in to see him partly because he's just not on TV anymore. While Booker T is a commentator on Raw and Chris Jericho is on a number of shows and in a touring band, The Heartbreak Kid is more reclusive. That would add to the appeal of his taking over for Steve Austin.

And in addition to being a highly decorated wrestler, he's also a skilled trainer.

Michaels ran The Texas Wrestling Academy, where he helped groom several grapplers, the most famous among them being Daniel Bryan. That knowledge, combined with his sense of humor and charisma, would make him a surefire success on Tough Enough.