Daniel Puder Daniel Puder ( October 9 , 1981 ) is an American retired professional wrestler and retired professional mixed martial artist . In 2012 he founded My Life My Power World , an anti - bullying and youth development program . As a mixed martial artist , Puder trained at the American Kickboxing Academy , in San Jose , California . Puder is undefeated in MMA competition , holding a record of eight wins and zero losses . As a professional wrestler , Puder trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling . Puder is , best known for having won the $ 1 , 000 , 000 Tough Enough challenge during his time in World Wrestling Entertainment and Ohio Valley Wrestling . Puder has also worked for Ring Of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling . He is a born - again Christian , and a Shriner . Early life . Puder was involved in amateur wrestling during high school . In high school at Monta Vista High School , in Cupertino , California , Puder finished first place in his weight division in the California Interscholastic Federation ( CIF ) Central Coast Section , in amateur wrestling , while wrestling with a broken hand . Puder was also involved in entrepreneurship during high school , starting several businesses . At the age of 16 , Puder began training in mixed - martial arts and professional wrestling . Professional wrestling career . World Wrestling Entertainment and Ohio Valley Wrestling ( 2004 – 2005 ) . Puder entered the fourth Tough Enough competition that was conducted as part of WWE SmackDown between October and December 2004 . The prize was announced as a $ 1 , 000 , 000 professional wrestling contract , however , it was in reality a four - year contract at $ 250 , 000 a year , with the option to terminate the contract after the first year . On October 28 , 2004 , episode of SmackDown ! , during Tough Enough , Puder was legitimately shoved spine - first into a locker by The Big Show . On November 4 , 2004 , episode of SmackDown ! , taped in St . Louis , Missouri , during an unscripted segment of Tough Enough , Kurt Angle , a former American amateur wrestler and 1996 Olympic gold medalist , challenged the finalists through a squat thrust competition . Chris Nawrocki won the competition , and the prize Nawrocki won was a match against Angle . Angle quickly took Nawrocki down , breaking his ribs , then made him tap out with a neck crank . After Angle defeated Nawrocki , Angle challenged the other finalists . Puder accepted Angle ' s challenge . Angle and Puder wrestled for position , with Angle taking Puder down , however , in the process , Puder locked Angle in a kimura lock . With Puder on his back and Angle ' s arm locked in the kimura , Angle attempted a pin , one of two referees in the ring , Jim Korderas , quickly counted three to end the bout , despite the fact that Puder ' s shoulders were not fully down on the mat , bridging up at two . Puder later claimed he would have snapped Angle ' s arm , thus making Angle tap out on national television , if Korderas had not ended the match . On December 12 , 2004 , Puder competed in his first WWE pay - per - view event , Armageddon , defeating Mike Mizanin in a Dixie Dog Fight . Puder was announced as the winner on December 14 , 2004 ( televised on December 16 , 2004 ) . On January 30 , 2005 , Puder competed in his second WWE pay - per - view event , being entered in the Royal Rumble match . Puder , however , was shortly eliminated after being chopped by Chris Benoit , Hardcore Holly , and Eddie Guerrero . Puder was eliminated by Holly . In January 2005 , Puder participated in the WWE ' s developmental territory , Ohio Valley Wrestling ( OVW ) . In September 2005 , Puder was released by WWE as a cost - cutting move . Puder was given the option of signing a development contract with WWE and transferring to its Deep South Wrestling development camp with less pay , but Puder declined the offer . Ring of Honor ( 2007 – 2008 ) . In December 2007 , Puder signed with Ring Of Honor ( ROH ) . On December 29 , 2007 , at the Manhattan Center , in New York City , Puder made his debut in ROH , at Rising Above , attacking Claudio Castagnoli and aligning himself with Sweet and Sour Inc . , led by Larry Sweeney . On December 30 , 2007 , at Final Battle 2007 , Puder helped Sweeney defeat Castagnoli . In January 2008 , Puder would appear on two more shows ; however , due to budget cuts , Puder was released . New Japan Pro Wrestling ( 2010 - 2011 ) . On June 19 , 2010 , Puder made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Dominion 6 . 19 , losing to former three – time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura . On October 11 , 2010 , it was announced that Puder would team with Nakamura in the 2010 G1 Tag League , which would take place over eleven shows in October and November . In their first match in the tournament on October 22 , Puder and Nakamura were defeated by Hiroshi Tanahashi and TAJIRI . On October 25 Puder picked up his first victory in New Japan , defeating Tomoaki Honma via submission in a singles match . After two wins and three losses in the group stage of the G1 Tag League , Puder and Nakamura finished fourth in their block and didn ' t advance to the semifinals . Mixed martial arts . While training at the American Kickboxing Academy , in San Jose , California , Puder sought the tutelage of Javier Mendez , Bob Cook , Frank Shamrock , Brian Johnston and Danny Chaid . On September 6 , 2003 , at the X - 1 promotion , Puder defeated Jay McCown by unanimous decision . On March 10 , 2006 , at Strikeforce : Shamrock vs . Gracie , at the HP Pavilion at San Jose , in San Jose , California , Puder made his return to MMA , defeating Jesse Fujarczyk by submission due to a rear naked choke . Three months later on June 9 , 2006 , at Strikeforce : Revenge , at the HP Pavilion at San Jose , in San Jose , California , Puder defeated Tom Tuggle by submission due to an armbar in only twenty - eight seconds . To end the year , on December 8 at Strikeforce : Triple Threat , at the HP Pavilion at San Jose , in San Jose , California , Puder defeated Mike Cook by submission due to a rear naked choke . On February 18 , 2007 , at BodogFight Series III in Costa Rica , Puder defeated Michael Alden by knockout in forty - five seconds . Several months later on September 29 , 2007 , at Strikeforce : Playboy Mansion , at The Playboy Mansion , in Los Angeles , California , Puder defeated Richard Dalton by unanimous decision . On May 16 , 2009 , at Call to Arms I , at the Citizens Business Bank Arena , in Ontario , California , Puder defeated Jeff Ford by knockout . On August 15 , 2009 , at Call to Arms : Called Out Fights , at the Citizens Business Bank Arena , in Ontario , California , Puder defeated Mychal Clark by unanimous decision . Puder was scheduled to compete against Tank Abbott , an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler . The bout was scheduled on February 26 , 2011 , at Knockout Fights : The Beginning , at the Santa Monica Airport , in Santa Monica , California , however , Puder withdrew from the bout due to injury , Puder had suffered a torn meniscus and was unable to compete . Abbott , however , had his own opinion on Puder ' s withdraw , according to Abbott , Puder noticed that Abbott had shown up in shape during a pre - fight news conference and subsequently pulled out of the bout , however , when informed of Abbott ' s account , Puder simply laughed and asked , " Tank , in shape ? " In 2011 , Puder retired from MMA competition , holding a record of eight wins and zero losses . Personal life . Puder was born with ADHD .