Former WWE Tough Enough contestant Luke Robinson talked about several topics with WrestlingEnigma.com. Here are a few highlights from the interview.
When was the time when you realized that you wanted to be a professional wrestler?
When I was 15 years old I fell in love with professional wrestling. The Rock/Mankind fued is what drew me in – the story of the loveable loser standing up to the arrogant bully is something that resonates with a lot of people. Believe it or not, I associated myself with the Mankind character. I grew up on a riverside farm in Maine. I didn’t get the new Nike’s every season or the best equipment. I was raised to work hard and get noticed by talent & skill, not the price of your gear. That year, my friends and I started putting on shows in the basement with strobe lights, entrance musice, and costumes. We’d each play our favorite WWE characters, write story lines, and record/edit our shows. Everyone else saw it as something fun we did on the weekends, I saw it as job training. It was in 8th grade that I realied I wanted to do this for living and from that day forward everything I did was a conscious choice to reach that goal. I graduated college at the request of my trainer, WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas, made a name for myself on the east coast and the rest is history.
How did you feel when you were selected as one of the contestants on Tough Enough?
I was euphoric. It validated the past 10 years of my life. Every choice I had made up to that point was designed to get me to that point.
It was the moment; at Raw, you and Andy made your way out with the WWE Tough Enough Championships, and were waiting for the verdict. How was the complete experience on being on WWE’s top show?
That was a surreal but comfortable moment. As I walked out onto the ramp from the Gorilla position, I felt like this was “home.” This is what I was meant to do. I was nervous backstage, but felt totally confident as I strode down the ramp. I was embacing the hate from the fans. I had worked hard to position myself as a villian on Tough Enough and I was able to soak up the fruits of my efforts in that moment. Live on Raw. Living my dream.
As we all know, Andy Leavine won Tough Enough, much to the dismay of the so-called “WWE Universe”. Were you informed before that he had a contract with WWE’s development territory, FCW?
During the first episode, John Laurinitias pulled Andy and what’s her name of the bus we were on. It got leaked then, that they both have developmental contracts prior to the show. I was kinda shocked because most competitions wouldn’t allow someone who already had the “prize” to be in the contest. It was obviously a little bizarre and suspect.
How was the environment backstage with the other guys?
There were definite cliques within the house. Jeremiah and I pretty much stuck together, had fun, laughed a TON, and enjoyed the experience. A lot of the other guys were almost too focused. They were so uptight and square and didn’t even enjoy the experience because they were afraid that if they were having fun people would think they didn’t take the opportunity seriously. It’s pro-wrestling, it’s supposed to be fun. I don’t consider this a job. It’s something I love and I enjoyed every minute in the house.
What does the future hold for Luke Robinson now?
I have an incredible nutrition and fitness business called “WolfPack Fitness.” I teach people how to let food (and carbs) work for them instead of against them. It’s a true life-style change. Helping people understand that they don’t need to be miserable or torture themselves to get in shape has become my greatest joy and passion. I love what I’m doing and want to help reverse the obesity epidemic in our country.
