Rima Fakih Talks Being Approached By WWE, Time On Tough Enough, Stratus & More
Former Miss USA & former WWE Tough Enough contestant Rima Fakih was one of the featured guests on this week's edition of Monday Night Mayhem. Here are some interview highlights courtesy of Kahlil Thomas, MNM's associate producer & official correspondent:
How she was approached by the WWE during her reign as Miss USA: "It happened that the Miss Universe pageant was going on, and there was people from the WWE backstage. I'm not sure if they were there for recruitment or something like that. It happened that out of the 95 girls that was competing, I was one of the girls interested in wrestling. I told them how big of a wrestling fan I was, and that made them very happy. They wanted to do something with me. The organization (Miss USA) said 'We don't know. Why would you want a beauty queen on your show?' WWE said that I didn't seem any other beauty queen. It went from me hosting, to me being on Tough Enough, which I was so excited to be a part of."
The most important thing she learned from her time on WWE Tough Enough & what she feels was the best part of the experience on the program: "Fearlessness, never to be fearless. Being on 'Tough Enough' was one the highlights of my year. The best part of the experience was working with someone as great as Booker T, and Stone Cold' (Steve Austin), and Trish Stratus. They're more than just wrestlers. They so amazingly strong, smart, and so supportive. They know you can give more. They will keep after you until you do. Bill DeMott as well, even though he scares the heck out of me."
Why she has not given up on her dream of being a WWE Diva, what she believes she can give to the company, & her reaction to being referred to as "the next Trish Stratus" by the former seven-time WWE Women's Champion herself: "I would love to show them what a real Diva could be. Trish Stratus told me I was 'the next her.' That would be an honor for to think that I could be 'the next Trish Stratus,' and change the game, and make it look like hot girls can be wrestling fans, and wrestle & kick butt. I feel like I want to bring that confidence to women in the ring and outside the ring."
Source: Monday Night Mayhem