Jeremiah Riggs (Tough Enough) Interview
Posted by David Damage on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Under: Interviews
Jeremiah Riggs was one of the last three standing, but wasn't "Tough Enough" to make it to the finals.Riggs, 28, was eliminated Monday from USA's "Tough Enough.""It's been a hell of a ride," Riggs said during his elimination interview on the show's website.
"I left it all in (the wrestling ring) -- 100 percent. What else can you say? I came into this competition knowing my skill level and, you know, it did catch up to me. I understood everything 'Stone Cold' (Steve Austin) said."Throughout the course of the show, Riggs' "green" experience level was pointed out by the coaches and the show's host, WWE Hall of Famer Austin."That more or less, kind of to me, it seemed like a cop-out -- the things that didn't add up. How many times did you ever see me hurt anybody, or anything like that? I'm an athlete. I pride myself on being an athlete -- a professional athlete at that. There are things we did all the time that they didn't show. I was out performing anybody and everybody. I bit my tongue on it a lot," Riggs said of being called "green."Riggs is an experienced mixed martial arts fighter, but had no wrestling experience. Still, he was able to outlast all but two of the other 13 contestants.
"(Monday was) the only time made it to the bottom three. Every
day I raised the bar and set the standards. It's unfortunate that I had
to leave, especially with who was left standing, but that's how the ball
rolls sometimes," Riggs said.Riggs spent six weeks taping the
program, which premiered on April 4. The final round airs Monday and
will pit Andy Levine against Luke Robinson for the chance at a WWE
contract."Between them two, I think competition-wise it will be
tough to beat Luke. He is on point. And though he might be a pretty-boy,
he does have talent and you've got to give it up to the guy," Riggs
said during his elimination interview.The Vicksburg truck driver and former Army Ranger said he watched the show and has no regrets."I
really look at having a future in this business. I think my ability, my
personality -- I'm an entertainer. I think that I can excel at anything
I do," Riggs said. "I never would have dreamed in a million years that I
would be where I am now. The people I've met, the fan base. I love
interacting with the fans. I love interacting with new people. I can
take lots of things from it. Being a part of something like that."Riggs
said he plans to "sand down the rough edges and smooth some things
over," to help him make it to the big ring and a career in professional
wrestling.
"I left it all in (the wrestling ring) -- 100 percent. What else can you say? I came into this competition knowing my skill level and, you know, it did catch up to me. I understood everything 'Stone Cold' (Steve Austin) said."Throughout the course of the show, Riggs' "green" experience level was pointed out by the coaches and the show's host, WWE Hall of Famer Austin."That more or less, kind of to me, it seemed like a cop-out -- the things that didn't add up. How many times did you ever see me hurt anybody, or anything like that? I'm an athlete. I pride myself on being an athlete -- a professional athlete at that. There are things we did all the time that they didn't show. I was out performing anybody and everybody. I bit my tongue on it a lot," Riggs said of being called "green."Riggs is an experienced mixed martial arts fighter, but had no wrestling experience. Still, he was able to outlast all but two of the other 13 contestants.
What's Next For Jeremiah Riggs?
In : Interviews