Daniel Puder wins $1 million and lucrative contract in
professional wrestling
For two months, Daniel Puder competed, fought and survived week after week to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.
For two months, he sacrificed time with his family in Morgan Hill and his social life to achieve this goal.
For two months, Puder was on national television competing for $1 million and fame.
Now he has it.
This week, Puder beat out thousands of applicants to win the WWE’s Tough Enough challenge, which aired Thursday on Smackdown.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Puder was brought out into the ring with Mike Miznian, the only other contestant left. They stood there with Al Snow, a noted WWE superstar who trained contestants during the two months.
Snow pulled out an envelope; he looked at it, then the two competitors.
After a brief pause, he read Puder’s name, chosen by WWE fans via online voting the week before.
Puder began jumping up and down and let out a huge cheer. He was awarded a golden trophy that read “Tough Enough Champion,” and he hoisted it over his head.
The announcers seemed pleased with the outcome.
“He showed excellent charisma and personality throughout this event,” said WWE announcer Michael Cole.
Puder said was elated to have won.
“It’s very exciting,” Puder said. “I have had a new life for two months. I’ve just lived in Connecticut for two months. It is going to be a great opportunity for me.”
The $1 million and a chance to wrestle on national television before thousands of fans would seem like a big enough prize. But Snow had an additional announcement for Puder: the opportunity to wrestle in the biggest pay-per view the WWE has to offer, Wrestle Mania. Puder will compete in the 31-man Royal Rumble for the chance to wrestle for the championship title.
Puder, a Cupertino resident whose family moved to Morgan Hill in 1999 just before his senior year at Monta Vista High in Cupertino, is accustomed to success in wrestling. During his senior year at Monta Vista, in 2000, Puder won a Central Coast Section championship with a broken hand.
It was his experience in high school that forged his desire to take wrestling to the next level.
After high school, Puder went on to Menlo College where he is studying business. He said he is about two semesters from graduation. He plans to continue with his studies while he takes part in the WWE.
“I’ve talked with (school officials) and they are helping me out,” Puder said. “It will be an honor to graduate from Menlo College.”
While it may be tough to do both college and the WWE, a job that requires the wrestlers to travel most days out of the year, Puder should be capable of handling it, said his mother, Wanda Puder.
Puder said her son loves to multitask. While in high school, he trained at the American Kickboxing Academy under mixed martial artist Ken Shamrock, a former WWF star. (The WWF became the WWE in 2003). He has also worked with children in a nonprofit venture and owns his own print shop business.
But Puder said her son has wanted to be in the WWE more than anything.
“He has wanted this for a long time,” Puder. “We see Dan as a real champion and a real athlete. He was born a strong boy and he kept getting stronger.”
Daniel said he planned to break into the business via Ultimate Fighting, but when the Tough Enough contest came along, he jumped at the opportunity.
While on the show, Puder said he had to undergo an extensive and tortuous training regimen.
“It was pretty crazy,” Puder said. “The first weekend was the hardest because that was when they taught us to take bumps. It got a lot easier.”
Puder attributed his victory to his work ethic and how he carried himself through out the competition.
“The fans reacted to how I competed, my composure, how I acted and how I performed in the ring,” Puder said.
Puder said he has received a lot of his support from his brother David, a Live Oak grad. Puder said since David competed in sports, there is a deeper connection.
“My brother understands,” Puder said. “He understands what I want to do. You can’t understand (how competing feels) unless you’ve been there yourself.”
Puder said he is appreciative all the support he has received.
“Thanks to all my coaches, fans and everyone,” Puder said.
Puder has a Website, www.danielpuder.com, where he lists information about himself and where he came from. He plans to include an email list to update fans at least every week about his progress.
WWE Smackdown airs Thursday nights at 8pm on UPN-44. WWE also airs on Monday nights at 8pm in TNT.
Details: www.wwe.com
