Week 1Fade In:Interior. A small gym.
We see all 18 competitors, carrying their bags, walking into a gym. We hear the competitors talking. In the middle of the gym is a wrestling ring. Inside of the ring is Gavin Loudspeaker, a renown wrestling announcer.
Gavin
Welcome and gather around. You 18 have been chosen for the first season of Dang, They're Tough! The goal of this competition is to find out if any of you have what it takes mentally and physically to become a pro wrestler. The winner will win the first Dang, They're Tough trophy and already instantly recognized on the independent scene. Now, meet your trainers.
Camera pans over to the locker room as Nigel McGuinness walks out, followed by Mike Quackenbush and Val Venis.
Mike
This is going to be the toughest thing you have ever attempted. After our first week, at least one competitor will be eliminated until there is only only one left. You will be living and training together for the next 18 weeks. You will need each other to survive and flourish. But, in the end, there will only be one left. My goal is make each and every one of you better. I think, with the right trying, each of you can be a part of the next generation of pro wrestlers.
Nigel
No matter if you have had training or not, you all are a work in progress. Even when you are a 10 year vet, you are a work in progress. My goal is to help you come into your own. But I won't make it easy. You are going to have to earn everything. You will be given nothing. You are going to have to learn your own style. I am just your sherpa. It's like when you are growing up and you like the Ultimate Warrior or Fit Finley. You take a little bit of this and a little bit of that and it blends in all together to become your own style. You will take alittle bit of Quack, alittle Nigel, and some Val, along with some others who will help in your training, to create your own unique style. I cannot wait to be along the trip with you.
Val
I have been to the mountain top of professional wrestling. I want to see each in every one of you make it there as well. As long as your are worthy of it. This competition is to determine if you are worthy. Yes, there will be only one winner. But that does not mean that each one of you cannot make an impact in professional wrestling. When this competition is over for you, it isn't an ending. It is just a beginning. And now is the beginning of the competition! Across the street is your home for hopefully the next 18 weeks, if you are lucky. You have three minutes to get across the street, pick a room, drop your bags, and be back here ready for training. The time starts now!
Cut to exterior:We see the contestants running out of the front door, across a one-way street, to a large Victorian style home.
Cut to interior of home:We see the contestants running into the home and up the stairs. Michael Andrews, the gym rat from Pittsburgh, is first in the door and up the stairs. He takes the first room on the left. Others come running in. We see Billy Kickingwing take the room with Michael Andrews. All the contestants are all trying to move their quickest except Rick Vanover. Rick is moving nonchalantly. He is the last one in the house and up the stairs. We see his take the last room on the right where Camir Rutkowski is throwing his bag on the bed and running out of the room. Vanover sits on the bed and starts to unpack.
Cut to interior of gym.Trainers are all waiting on the contestants. Andrews is the first back, followed quickly by Adam King, then the rest of the group, minus Vanover. Of that group, Romeo Ortega, a heavy-set Hispanic, is the last in the gym. He is sweating profusely and is starting to become pale.
Val
Keep moving, fatty. This is just the beginning.
Ortega starts to bend over. He places his hands on his knees and starts to dry heave. Val gets into his face.
Val
Don't you throw up on my floor.
Ortega starts nodding his head. Ortega starts to lift up his head, then violently throws it back down and vomits.
Val
Oh crap.
Pan over to Mike, who is standing in the ring.
Mike
We have everyone?
Pan over to Nigel, who is holding a clip board. He is pointing his finger and counting.
Nigel
No. Missing one. Rick Vanover. The big guy.
Just then, Vanover comes strolling in. He is taking his time, making sure his shoes are tied and his shirt fits right. He starts stretching and rolling his shoulders. Nigel gets in his face.
Nigel
What the bloody hell. Who do you think you are? Everyone here is working their ass off and you just come strolling in? Are you better than everyone else? Are you better than my sport?
Vanover
Listen, I'm not here to be treated like a child. I'm not some out of shape fat ass like those guys.
Vanover points to Ortega, still bent over, and Habib Ali Pahalwan, a rotund Pakistani who is also sweating liberally.
Vanover
I'm a fine tuned machine. There is no need to get this Mustang's engine running for no reason.
Chase Monroe, standing about 10 feet in front Vanover and Nigel talks from over his shoulder.
Monroe
Vanity is a deadly sin.
Val shoots Monroe a glare and Monroe turns his head back forward. Nigel turns back to Vanover
Nigel
I don't know who you think you are, but this is my life. I have seen so many of your kind. You come in, thinking you know everything. But inside that shell is a man with no heart. No guts. No balls.
Nigel slaps the larger Vanover. Vanover turns red and throws a punch. Nigel grabs Vanovers arm, sidesteps, and takes him down with a cross armbreaker. Vanover is on the ground, tapping out and screaming.
Mike
That's enough. I think he has learned his first lesson.
Nigel lets go of Vanover. Vanover starts to get up, rubbing his arm and shoulder.
Mike
Now, if you have learned some respect for our sport, get back to your position. If not, grab your crap and leave.
Vanover, still rubbing his arm and glaring down Nigel, slowly gets back into his position.
Mike
Now the training begins.
We go to a montage of the training day. Val, Nigel, and Mike are showing the contestants how to tie up. They are body slamming, punching, kicking, chopping, and throwing the contestants off the ropes. Ortega is shown throwing up again. But along with him is Todd Lilly, a skinny contestant with some training already. Vanover is shown throwing some contestants around and “accidentally” shoving quite a few.
[Commercial]Faid in.
We see all of the competitors standing around in the ring. Most are holding their backs, arms, or legs. All look to be tired. The trainers, along with Gavin, are in the ring with them.
Val
Today is the end of your first day of training. This is just the beginning of the beginning.
Gavin
While our training for the day ends, you still have a few things to do. You can now go back to the house and unpack, relax, and shower. However, at the end of each day, you must go to the video diary room and speak about what is on your mind.
The competitors start to slowly get out of the ring and walk out of the gym.
Cut to interior of homeThe contestants slowly walk in. All look beat up. We hear some grumbling from them. Danny Powell looks over to Billy Kickingwing, a Native American.
Powell
What was with Vanover pushing you around today?
Kickingwing
What the $#$@ was that, Vanover? You think you are some big guy and you can do whatever you want?
Vanover
Listen here, red man. You need to shut your mouth before I shut it for you. Go drink some fire water and get out of my face.
Kickingwing
Make me!
Vanover takes a step towards Kickingwing, but Kickingwing spears him. They roll around the ground until a few other contestants break the fight up. Vanover has a bloody lip. Camera closeup on Vanover's bloody lip as we fade to black.
[Commercial]Fade in:Interior Interview RoomBrent Rollins is in the interview room.
Rollins
Well, I guess they want me talking about how I feel about this training. To be honest, I am loving it. Reminds me of college practice. I have missed working my ass off. Its only day one, but I can see myself doing this for the rest of my life.
Fade to Chase Monroe in the roomMonroe
God has led me here. Never underestimate Him. I think there are a lot of lost people here, and I plan on guiding them into the light.
Fade to Michael AndrewsAndrews
Listen, I'm already blowing the competition away. I'll let all these meat heads take each other out. They won't even notice me until I have already won.
Fade to Jed WinchesterWinchester
You know, I have to agree with that Rick Vanover. That little red man should keep his mouth shut. Not only him, but that dirty wet back that I have for a roommate. His fat ass better keep his mouth shut, or I'm going to stick my size 14 down his throat.
Fade to Danny PowellPowell
All this drama makes me laugh. My grandma use to say, “Only the spoon knows how to stir the pot.” Keep an eye on this spoon, fans.
Fade out.Interior of gymThe trainers are in the ring with the contestants.
Nigel
Consider this a free week. No one will be tested nor will there be eliminations. But you can bet your ass that you will either learn something or leave. Now, lets get to work.
Credits roll as we see the contestants learning more from the trainers. They are shown how to arm drag, how to dropkick, and other moves as the show ends.
Fade to black.