Daniel Puder (born October 9, 1981) is an American social entrepreneur and retired
Professional Wrestler and
Mixed Martial Artist. He started as a successful amateur wrestler as a kid, and later expanded his training to MMA before entering the fourth edition of
WWE Tough Enough in order to earn a job in
WWE. Puder actually won the edition, but the thing most people know him for was actually a real life scuffle in TV against Olympic gold medalist and WWE veteran
Kurt Angle. After watching Angle injuring another
Tough Enough contestant in a not very clean amateur wrestling bout, Puder volunteered to give it a try, and he ended up putting Angle in an even less clean armlock which Angle and the referee had to hide with a flimsy pro wrestling pin. Afterwards, Puder was given a similarly real beating by other veterans in his next appearance, wandered between development territories, and was released to no fanfare. He would have two short careers in
Ring of Honor and
New Japan Pro-Wrestling, mixed with a low tier MMA career. Puder eventually retired and became an entrepreneur with various charity and anti-bullying programs.
Tropes
- A Day in the Limelight: In true Tough Enough winner fashion, Puder had a handful of appearances in WWE TV before disappearing.
- Bullying a Dragon: His shoot match with Angle. As Kurt had previously mauled Chris Nawrocki with an illegal technique, Puder would have had reasons to think the same treatment was awaiting him, so he took the matter in his own hands and shot first.
- Finishing Move: A Kimura lock, the same move he made famous against Angle.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: He was subjected to this at the 2005 Royal Rumble at the hands of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit who chopped and beat him down like a ragdoll. And just when it seemed like it was over, Hardcore Holly's music hit.
- Poor Communication Kills: The whole wrestling segment with Angle has been called a complete screwup by all involved, starting from the moment in which nobody in charge bothered to leave the rules of the bout clear. It was officially hosted under amateur wrestling rules, yet Angle used illegal necklocks (and even afterwards, referee Jim Korderas did a pro wrestling 3-count instead of a proper amateur pin).
