WWE Tough Enough III The third season was won by John Hennigan and Matt Cappotelli . Hennigan , who wrestled for two years under the name " Johnny Nitro " , is now wrestling on WWE ' s " Raw " brand as " John Morrison " . He is a former ECW Champion and was the first " Tough Enough " contestant to win a major championship in WWE . He is a three - time Intercontinental Champion , and he has held both the WWE World Tag Team Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship , making him the most successful " Tough Enough " winner . Cappotelli was developing his talent further in the WWE development territory Ohio Valley Wrestling ( OVW ) , but was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2005 , forcing him to step away from wrestling and relinquish his OVW Championship . The tumor was removed in 2007 , although it is unknown whether Cappotelli will return to professional wrestling . Melina Perez tried out for " Tough Enough III " and made it to the final 25 , but was cut from the competition . During the tryouts , however , she met John Hennigan and they eventually began a romantic relationship . She now works for WWE as Melina on the " Raw " brand and became the first - ever " Tough Enough " contestant to win the WWE Women ' s Championship , a title she has held three times . Additionally , Melina is also the first - ever " Tough Enough " contestant to win the WWE Divas Championship , making her the most successful female " Tough Enough " contestant to enter the WWE . Both Shawn Daivari and Daniel Puder are seen on film during audition episode . Both made it to the final 75 , but were cut before they could make it to the training facility . Both men later went on as performers for the WWE . Contestants . Order of Elimination : In the cover story from the October 5 , 2002 issue of the " Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter " , it was revealed that contestant " Lisa " was removed from the show after what was referred to as a " psychotic breakdown . " After being left at the house while the other contestants went out to dinner , she began throwing herself against the walls of the house , eventually breaking into the hidden MTV control room and working her way onto the roof . After being talked down by producers , she was committed to a hospital facility to receive psychiatric treatment . Her parents flew in from New Mexico to pick her up , but she physically attacked them , claiming she did not know them . She then escaped custody inside LAX , shutting down a wing of the airport until she was located . Again , she was hospitalized , but she was able to check herself out shortly after . She then contacted " Tough Enough " producers , claiming she was ready to return to the show . Producers informed her she had been removed from the competition due to her actions . The other contestants ( and , subsequently , the audience ) were initially told that Lisa simply decided wrestling " wasn ' t the right career for her . " Lisa then reemerged in Louisville , Kentucky at the Ohio Valley Wrestling training center , claiming that trainer Al Snow and producer John " Big " Gaburick had sent her for additional training , both in the ring and to learn further about the structure of the developmental territory system . At a series of shows in California in September 2002 , she managed to talk her way backstage , and was even allowed to assist with the pyrotechnics for the wrestlers ' entrances at a TV taping . One source even claimed that she had a face - to - face conversation with Vince McMahon , who was apparently unaware of her status with the " Tough Enough " program . Soon after , her photograph was circulated to security personnel and she was barred from any backstage areas .