Tough Enough 4, Armageddon & Episode 9: Rocky, This Ain't

As reported last time, Mike Mizanin and Dan Puder were told by Al Snow that they would have a "Dixie Dogfight" boxing match during the December 12th WWE pay-per-view (PPV), Armageddon. The match was even heavily advertised during the WWE promotions for the broadcast, and about twenty minutes into the program viewers got their first glimpse of the finalists when Puder came on screen to do a promo for the upcoming bout. He starts off by talking about two pains in his life - his right and his left, as he indicates his hands. Okay, he's no Muhammad Ali, and he even pauses too long at one point to come off as anything more than a guy just starting out, but Puder is okay and he ends his promo by stating that he can't wait for the match.

A few minutes later, Mizanin appears with his own promo for the boxing match. He talks a lot about Puder's reputation. So much in fact, that he essentially sells Puder as winning the match. He does, however, see himself as the underdog for once in his life and sees the underdog in this match breaking out and proving himself.

After a short recap of the series so far, Al Snow is introduced at the announcers' desk with Tazz and Michael Cole. Teddy Long - Smackdown's general manager - comes down to introduce the Executive Director of the Georgia Boxing Commission, Thomas Mischou, and the referee for the match, George Chip. Mike Mizanin comes to the ring, followed closely behind by Dan Puder who… skips to the ring. I think he meant to look like he was darting back and forth as he moved to the ring, but it looked more like skipping. Either that, or he was just really, really happy to be on the PPV.

The rules for the match are that there will be no "standing eight-count," no three knockdown rule, no boxer can be saved by the bell, and there will be a mandatory eight-count for a knockdown. The match is set up to be three one-minute rounds and after a brief talk with the referee, the TE opponents go to their corners awaiting the bell to start off the match.

What we get is a classic example of the how the guy who doesn't know what he is doing in a game can sometimes stay the distance with someone more professional. In this case, Mizanin comes out with his arms swinging. Swinging everywhere, as a matter of fact. Sometimes even coming close to actually hitting Puder, while Mizanin holds his head down and doesn't really pay any attention to where he is going as long as it is somewhere near Puder. Puder, on the other hand, had boxed before and is trying to perform in a professional manner. Not easy to do with the guy you're fighting is moving like a caffeine-induced Jerry Lewis. Puder ends up backing away from the clumsy punches Mizanin is throwing and slips due to nearly falling out of the ring. Back in, Puder gets in plenty of shots, while Mizanin gets a couple of lucky ones.

The second round sees Puder a bit calmer, probably realizing that he was getting Mizanin's awkwardness affect his own performance. Mizanin, meanwhile, leans, trips, plows away, and holds on to Puder as much as possible. The crowd starts booing as Mizanin gives them nothing to watch, although he does almost elbow Puder in the mouth in anger at one point when he is facing the ropes.

Round Three sees much more leaning and holding on by Mizanin. The crowd boos more. Well, the crowd always booed Muhammad Ali when he would hold on to the other guy as well, so you can expect that sometimes. The match is finally over and Mizanin holds his hand up, maybe to dry his armpits, but most probably because he thinks he was the winner for some reason.

The two are brought out to the center of the ring and Teddy Long asks the audience to cheer for who they thought won. Mizanin gets some cheers with a few boos mixed in a well. Puder gets a louder chorus of cheers and Puder is declared the winner. Mizanin isn't happy with the results, but still congratulates Puder. Al interviews both after the match and then fans are reminded one more time to vote for their favorite before the lines are cut off at midnight that night.

A few days later and it is time for the reveal of who is the winner of the $1,000,000 contract on Smackdown. There's not much in the way of preliminary setup for the payout, just Al Snow in the ring with the Tough Enough trophy. The trophy looked smaller than the ones seen previously, but that is just perhaps a trick on the eyes.

Mike Mizanin comes out first and slaps some hands as he makes his way to the ring. Puder then comes out and makes his way completely around the ring before entering the ring. He joins Mizanin and Al in the center of the ring where the trophy rests on a podium. Puder and Mizanin shake hands and give each other a quick hug before Al pulls out the envelope containing the winner.

Al then announces Dan Puder as the winner of the $1,000,000 WWE contract. Puder is thrilled, jumping around like crazy. Mizanin cannot contain his disappointment, but he is very professional about the loss and congratulates Puder on the win. Puder holds up the trophy and then tries to catch his breath as Al asks him how he feels. Puder talks about how happy he is to win, and how much work he has put into achieving his goal. Al then asks Puder if he would like to main-event WrestleMania 21. Puder seems a little confused, but said he would be happy to do something like that.