Analyzing 'Tough Enough' Contestants from Indy Wrestling Circuit

The casting call is closed. WWE has found who it wants on the revived Tough Enough series. The field of potential Superstars includes MMA fighters, models and fans just looking to try their hands at the business, not to mention a handful of prospects from the independent wrestling circuit.

WWE revealed on its official website who made the final 40. Just a few of those contestants hail from the indy world.

That group doesn't include any major names but does boast an Iraq War veteran and one of Zack Ryder's best buds. Even the greener grapplers here will have the upper hand right away during the show's early stages; they can lean on actual wrestling experience.

Who are these wrestlers? What can we expect from them on Tough Enough?

Let's dig into their past, peek at their resumes and scan footage of them in action to find out.

Patrick Clark

Clark hails from Washington, D.C., and has mostly competed for Maryland Championship Wrestling in his short career.

As he said in his audition video, he's just 19 years old:

He shows a spark during his speech and comes off as a passionate, likable young man. His speaking skills aren't yet his strength, though. It's his physical attributes that stand out right now.

His matches show off a good understanding of ring psychology. He sells well and seems more interested in telling a story than just doing athletic tricks, as too many indy wrestlers do.

Clark is strong and quick, and although he's still raw in the ring, he displays potential as a mat wrestler.

He's a good-looking guy with a thin build. As he matures and focuses on weights in the gym, he's bound to get thicker.

Chelsea Green

Green (known in the ring as Jaida) is the only Tough Enough contestant to have already appeared on Raw. She played Daniel Bryan's physical therapist in an angle from last year in which Stephanie McMahon tried to convince Brie Bella that her husband was cheating on her.

The Victoria, British Columbia, native didn't impress with that segment, seemingly shrinking under the heat of the spotlight.

Even so, she will be one of the better female competitors on the show. She has the advantage of experience, learning the mat game as part of the Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling promotion. 

In the ring, Green is fluid and shows good jumping ability. She's not Naomi-level athletic but is quick and agile enough to make a strong impression on the Tough Enough judges.

Her arsenal includes some standout high-flying moves, including a well-executed missile dropkick.

Michael Hayes

Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Hayes made his name in the wrestling business working for Ohio Valley Wrestling.

The Iraq War veteran has one of the more compelling backgrounds among the contestants. An explosion blew off part of his leg during a tour of duty, forcing him to use a prosthetic. As Eli Keel wrote for Insider Louisville, "His Humvee gets caught in an IED blast. He suffers severe burns over large portions of his body. He loses his left leg."

With the injury, it's not surprising that Hayes' in-ring movement isn't stellar. He manages to work around it, though.

He already can control a match pretty well. Should he progress in the show, it will be on the strength of his storytelling on the mat and his heart.

Hayes showed off the latter quality, as well as potential as a talker, in his audition video:

Having wrestling experience will help keep him around as the rounds progress on Tough Enough. A backstory like his won't hurt either, as it will make for good TV.

Adam Ohriner

Fans of Ryder's Long Island Iced-Z web series already know Ohriner as Big O.

The powerhouse appeared on the show several times. As he explains in his audition video, he and Ryder are "broskis:"

His inclusion on Tough Enough isn't a case of nepotism, though. Ohriner has been making a name for himself as a wrestler in the New York area.

The Long Island, New York, native has been the New York Wrestling Connection champ and carried the World Extreme Wrestling TV title as well.

He boasts an impressive physique, just the kind of build WWE has traditionally coveted. His Cagematch.net profile lists him as 6'2'' and 249 pounds.

As a performer, he has decent charisma and good movement for his size. His biggest asset is his intensity. That element of his game is clear in any of his work at NYWC or elsewhere.

Kevin Penczek 

Penczek will have his work cut out for him to advance on Tough Enough.

He will have more in-ring experience than the bulk of his competition but doesn't have any standout qualities. He's a decent seller and a below-average athlete overall.

His frame could translate into a good build with some added bulk. He won't have much time to transform in that way before the show is over, though.

The grappler from Belle, West Virginia, will be one of the competition's underdogs. 

Don Arner

Known to Pittsburgh wrestling fans as Cassidy Stone, Arner is a showman with good potential. 

The 26-year-old has a strong presence both in the ring and on the mic. He has a flair that the Tough Enough judges will notice.

He has a distinct look complete with large beard and in-ring dance moves. Like Penczek, though, he'll have to add some muscle to be taken more seriously. Cagematch.net has him listed at 188 pounds.

Arner has competed for Pro Wrestling Express in Pennsylvania, winning both the PWX Futures Cup Championship and PWX Television Championship. 

He doesn't have elite speed but is a decent athlete with strong footwork. He's fluid in the ring but more importantly is fun to watch. He knows the power of adding pizzazz to the action.

Making to the finals of Tough Enough is going to be an arduous journey for Arner, his indy wrestling cohorts and the assorted other men and women on the show. Getting noticed in the crowded field will be a struggle for everyone.

At least these contestants have already been toiling inside the ropes and have wrestling foundations to build upon.