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Much like Gabi Castrovinci, WWE Tough Enough competitor Mada Abdelhamid was looking forward to being a superstar with international appeal. But after last night’s surprising intervention from The Miz, he was eliminated from the show. Here’s what Mada had to say about the challenges of Tough Enough and the turbulent road that led him there.
With Spandex: What have you been doing since last night’s elimination?
Mada Abdelhamid: I’ve been talking to my family, my wife… Definitely a little disappointed about last night, but I’ve got my head held up high. I’m ready to move on to the next step, and I know this is not the end for me. I’m going to get back, hopefully into NXT, and try to enter WWE one day.
I don’t think anyone saw The Miz’s save coming. What did you make of that?
MA: That definitely came out of nowhere. None of the judges had used a save this season. It was very surprising, especially on his first day.
Do you think Amanda has what it takes to capitalize on the second chance she’s been given?
MA: I hope so. Amanda’s got some potential, so I hope she realizes that. She got a huge second chance from The Miz last night, because she was definitely going home last night if it wasn’t for that save. I just hope she makes the most of it.
Since the personality challenge in Week 3, you really committed to that pharaoh side of yourself. Do you think that’s something you could’ve developed further if you had the chance?
MA: Yes. That challenge came out of nowhere, I picked that “King of the Ring” card and I decided to go with more of a pharaoh than a traditional king. And since that day, I’ve wanted to develop that character. I used it in the promo skills challenge, I used it again in the following week, and I definitely would have loved to work on that character… I’m sure I’ll play around with it in the future. Who knows, I might use it again one day.
You’ve talked about some very close calls in Egypt where you almost didn’t make it out alive. Were you an active part of the uprising, or were you a bystander that got caught in the crossfire?
MA: I was just there at the time of the revolution. The main thing from that was the learning experience – I learned a lot about myself, what I wanted to do with life. It just showed me that life is short, and you should always chase your dreams and go after what you love. That’s what I’m doing right now. I love WWE, I have huge passion for it, and now that I have a taste, I want it even more.
Was the opportunity to be an international ambassador for WWE important to you?
MA: Very important. I got huge support from Egypt and the entire Middle East. There’s never been a WWE superstar from Egypt, and very few out of the Middle East. I know I have a huge fanbase there, I know the WWE is huge in that part of the world, and they’re dying to get somebody like me in the WWE. I would be very proud to represent them.
Did you find any lasting friendships among the cast members?
MA: Oh, yes. Josh is like a brother to me now. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re both very similar. We played professional sports, we both have kids… So, we got along. We worked out together, we ate together, and we’re definitely going to be lifelong friends.
What caught you by surprise on Tough Enough? Did you end up with any knowledge that you didn’t expect to learn?
MA: To be honest, every challenge was a surprise. From the swamp challenge, swimming with alligators, to climbing up on high ropes and swinging through the trees, every challenge was different and tested you, both physically and mentally. I did things on the show that I would never do in my life. It was very fun and exciting, but I got to see what I was made of and how far I could push myself.
Do you have any picks for who’s going to win this season?
MA: I think Josh is going to win it for the guys. I think he brings the overall package. Tanner just doesn’t have the personality yet. ZZ’s not in the right shape, and I’m not sure he really wants this. For the girls, I think Gigi’s going to win it. Gigi’s got the overall package – physicality and personality. I think those two are my picks to win.
What’s next for you?
MA: What’s next is NXT. I’m trying to get back to Orlando and get my foot in the doors of the Performance Center with NXT. It’s a state-of-the-art facility with the best coaches in the world. I was there, and I’ve told myself I can’t wait to get back there. From there, I can really develop myself. Hopefully, it’s going to help me transition to the WWE and achieve all of my dreams.
