WWE Tough Enough: Rating Stone Cold Steve Austin's Performance So Far

Two weeks into the revived Tough Enough, Stone Cold Steve Austin has really impressed the wrestling fanbase.

Many who have watched the three previous versions of the wrestling reality show saw a gritty look at what it really takes to be a WWE superstar.

However, it had been nearly seven years since a Tough Enough season took place and the WWE has changed a lot in that time.

Many fans, including myself, feared that Tough Enough would fall into the same criteria as NXT, which has taken developmental talent and paired them with current members of the main roster.

NXT had storylines and pushed some talent over others, while Tough Enough was built around the contestant doing their best to impress the WWE-appointed trainers.

Tough Enough had often taken people who had never been in the squared circle before and tried to mold them into stars, while NXT was merely a way for WWE to peek the talent they had stored in the minors.

The three previous Tough Enough seasons had yielded 13 contestants that have appeared in the WWE after the show ended. Of those 13, the only ones that remain in WWE are John Morrison, Skip Sheffield, The Miz and Josh Mathews.

Of the four NXT seasons that have already taken place, 12 of the rookies are still on WWE RAW or Smackdown rosters.

With a youth movement in full swing and older talent walking away (including this week's shock of Edge's retirement), why would WWE bother investing in a man or woman that would end up being a project anyway?

Thankfully, there was a nice blend in this season of Tough Enough between rather inexperienced contestants, and a few that had a bit of experience in the independent circuit.

Of the 14 contestants in this season, six of them have Wikipedia pages that at least state their previous experience with another wrestling promotion or mixed martial arts. Even still, there were some celebrities in the mix.

A lot of press was made of Rima Fakih, the reigning Miss USA, joining the show.

There are two other contestants with reality show experience.

Michelle Deighton participated in the fourth cycle of "America's Next Top Model", where she finished sixth. Jeremiah Riggs was also on reality TV as a member of "Daisy of Love", where he finished fifth.

They all hope to join The Miz and David Otunga on the WWE roster. The Miz was once Mike Mizanin, a cast member on "The Real World: Back to New York". Before NXT, Otunga competed on the reality show "I Love New York 2".

So, with a bunch of reality stars, a beauty queen and some indie wrestlers, how would Stone Cold Steve Austin handle his own season of Tough Enough?

The season has gone very well so far. Austin has kept the show moving similar to the original creation, while also putting Austin's own special touch to it.

Each episode has a type of theme with a life lesson that Austin tries to teach. In just the first two episodes, contestants have been made to clean up after a live event, run away from an attack dog and be on the receiving end of Bill DeMott squashing you in the turnbuckle.

Austin fails to miss an opportunity to curse, regardless of if it gets bleeped or not. This just reiterates how serious and unscripted Austin and the rest of the show is.

The show also keeps a constant Austin vibe during the episode, whether Austin is on-screen or not. Much of the landscape seems to have that Austin seal of approval on it. It almost looks like Austin invited the contestants into his house for this show.

In the first two episodes, Austin has taken one contestant away from both sides. Episode one saw Ariane leave when her lack of desire and wrestling knowledge was exposed. Once she told Austin that her favorite match was a Melina/Alicia Fox match, you knew she was sunk.

This week, Austin sent home Matt, who was a veteran in the ring. Matt did not possess the urgency to stick out from the pack and was sent away.

There is an added element into eliminations with each contestant being given their own WWE Championship belt to hold onto.

While none of them have turned their W's into M's like The Miz, it symbolizes their chances of possibly being like The Miz, going from Tough Enough to a champion in the company.

It was a profound moment last night when Matt was sent home but did not wish to give up his belt at first. Those belts are more than a toy, they represent the hopes and dreams of each contestant.

There are still 12 Tough Enough contestants left in this season and, while there may be some favorites emerging after just two weeks, it could be anyone winning this competition.

In the end, Austin says that he is the one who chooses who stays and who goes home. While I know how much of a pull WWE has had in shows like these, I can't help but feel like this may be Austin's call.

If it is Austin's call after all, I will trust his judgment all the way.

Knowing the success that past Tough Enough seasons have brought, it is exciting to watch and potentially see the next big star getting suplexed by Trish Stratus, or Austin telling him to get a haircut.

My only hope is that Austin and Tough Enough keeps the momentum going that it has built in just two hours of television altogether.

I give Austin's job thus far a grade of a B, but only because it is still very early.

Promos suggest that next week will include Austin getting hands-on with at least one contestant. At this rate, Austin's Tough Enough can easily go down as the best season in the show's existence.