Daniel Puder

Daniel Puder
Puder in 2008.
Birth name	Daniel Puder
Born	(1981-10-09) October 9, 1981 Cupertino, California, United States
Resides	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Daniel Puder
Billed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Billed weight	235 lb (107 kg; 16.8 st)
Trained by	Al Snow Bill DeMott Bob Cook Frank Shamrock Javier Méndez Lance Storm Nightmare Danny Davis Ohio Valley Wrestling Paul Heyman Tommy Dreamer
Debut	2004

Daniel Puder (born October 9, 1981) is an American professional wrestler and retired professional mixed martial artist. In 2012, he founded My Life My Power World, an anti-bullying and youth development program.^[1]

As a mixed martial artist, Puder trained at the American Kickboxing Academy, in San Jose, California.^[2] He is undefeated in MMA competition, holding a record of eight wins and zero losses.^[3] As a professional wrestler, he trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling.^[4] He is best known for having won the $1,000,000 Tough Enough challenge during his time in WWE's Ohio Valley Wrestling.^[4] He has also worked for Ring of Honor^[4] and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Early life

Puder was involved in amateur wrestling during high school. In high school at Monta Vista High School, in Cupertino, California, he finished first place in his weight division in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Central Coast Section, in amateur wrestling,^[5] while wrestling with a broken hand.^[6][7] He was also involved in entrepreneurship during high school, starting several businesses.^[7] At the age of 16, he began training in mixed martial arts and professional wrestling.^[7][8]

Career

Professional wrestling

World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2005)

Puder entered the fourth Tough Enough competition that was conducted as part of WWE SmackDown between October and December 2004.^[9] The prize was announced as a $1,000,000 professional wrestling contract, however, it was in reality a four-year contract at $250,000 a year, with the option to terminate the contract after the first year.^[10] On October 28, 2004, episode of SmackDown!, during Tough Enough, Puder was legitimately shoved spine-first into a locker by The Big Show.^[11]

On November 4, 2004, episode of SmackDown!, taped in St. Louis, Missouri, during an unscripted segment of Tough Enough, Kurt Angle, a former American amateur wrestler and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, challenged the finalists through a squat thrust competition.^[12][13] Chris Nawrocki won the competition, and the prize Nawrocki won was a shoot match against Angle.^[14] Angle quickly took Nawrocki down, breaking his ribs, then made him tap out with a neck crank.^[14] After Angle defeated Nawrocki, Angle challenged the other finalists.^[14] Puder accepted Angle's challenge.^[14] Angle and Puder wrestled for position, with Angle taking Puder down, however, in the process, Puder locked Angle in a kimura lock.^[13][14][15] With Puder on his back and Angle's arm locked in the kimura, Angle attempted a pin, one of two referees in the ring, Jim Korderas, quickly counted three to end the bout, despite the fact that Puder's shoulders were not fully down on the mat, bridging up at two.^[13][14][15] Puder later claimed he would have snapped Angle's arm, thus making Angle tap out on national television, if Korderas had not ended the match.^[14] Dave Meltzer and Dave Scherer gave these following comments:

“

It was real. If you don't follow fighting, Puder had Angle locked in the Kimura, or keylock as Tazz called it, although Tazz didn't let on the move was fully executed. Not only was Angle not getting out of the move, but most MMA fighters would have tapped already. Angle couldn't tap for obvious reasons. The ref counted a three even though Puder's shoulders weren't fully down, trying to end the thing, because the reality was Angle would have been in surgery had it gone a few seconds longer or had Puder not given up the hold. ― Dave Meltzer[13][15]

”

“

As you would expect, Kurt Angle was less than happy backstage at Smackdown after almost being forced to tap out to Tough Enough contestant Daniel Puder. Downright ticked off would probably be the best way to describe his mood. The unscripted nature of the contest was the main reason that Angle was made to look so bad since Puder just reacted to the situation and could have forced Angle to submit had the referees not thought quickly and counted a pin that wasn't there on Puder. ― Dave Scherer[13]

”

On December 12, 2004, Puder competed in his first WWE pay-per-view event, Armageddon, defeating Mike Mizanin in a Dixie Dog Fight.^[16] Puder was announced as the winner on December 14, 2004 (televised on December 16, 2004).^[17]

On January 30, 2005, Puder competed in his second WWE pay-per-view event, being entered in the Royal Rumble match. Puder, however, was shortly eliminated after being chopped by Chris Benoit, Hardcore Holly, and Eddie Guerrero. Puder was eliminated by Holly.^[18]

In January 2005, Puder participated in the WWE's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). In September 2005, Puder was released by WWE as a cost-cutting move. Puder was given the option of signing a development contract with WWE and transferring to its Deep South Wrestling development camp with less pay, but Puder declined the offer.^[19] Puder gave this comment;

“

I'm proud of winning the very first ever Million Dollar Tough Enough. I'm proud that I adapted from MMA to WWE. I'm proud of my work in the ring with my pro wrestling trainers Lance Storm and more recently Al Snow, who was my Tough Enough trainer too. I am proud of my association with a man like Danny Davis. I am proud to have worked with Tommy Dreamer. I am proud and have enjoyed working with and learning from Paul Heyman, and all the opportunities this experience has presented. And I know I will use this experience to my advantage when I make my next long term career move. For the time being, I am headed back to Louisville, because Paul scheduled me in an OVW Title match against Johnny Jeter tomorrow night at the Davis Arena, 4400 Sheperdsville Road in Louisville. I hope it's my best pro wrestling match to date. I live up to my obligations and commitments (sic). That's the kind of man I am. And I'm going to show the world that at 23 years old, WWE thought short term and not long term with me. But I won't brag about it in advance. I'll prove it to everyone!!!!!!!! Thanks for all of your support.[20]

”

Ring of Honor (2007–2008)

In December 2007, Puder signed with Ring of Honor (ROH).^[21] On December 29, 2007, at the Manhattan Center, in New York City, Puder made his debut in ROH, at Rising Above, attacking Claudio Castagnoli and aligning himself with Sweet and Sour Inc., led by Larry Sweeney. On December 30, 2007, at Final Battle 2007, Puder helped Sweeney defeat Castagnoli. In January 2008, Puder would appear on two more shows; however, due to budget cuts, Puder was released.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2010-2011)

On June 19, 2010, Puder made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Dominion 6.19, losing to former three–time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.^[22] On October 11, 2010, it was announced that Puder would team with Nakamura in the 2010 G1 Tag League, which would take place over eleven shows in October and November.^[23] In their first match in the tournament on October 22, Puder and Nakamura were defeated by Hiroshi Tanahashi and TAJIRI.^[24] On October 25 Puder picked up his first victory in New Japan, defeating Tomoaki Honma via submission in a singles match.^[25] After two wins and three losses in the group stage of the G1 Tag League, Puder and Nakamura finished fourth in their block and didn't advance to the semifinals.^[26]

Mixed martial arts

While training at the American Kickboxing Academy, in San Jose, California, Puder sought the tutelage of Javier Mendez, Bob Cook, Frank Shamrock, Brian Johnston and Danny Chaid.^[7][8]

On September 6, 2003, at the X-1 promotion, Puder defeated Jay McCown by unanimous decision. On March 10, 2006, at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie, at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, in San Jose, California, Puder made his return to MMA, defeating Jesse Fujarczyk by submission due to a rear naked choke. Three months later on June 9, 2006, at Strikeforce: Revenge, at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, in San Jose, California, Puder defeated Tom Tuggle by submission due to an armbar in only twenty-eight seconds. To end the year, on December 8 at Strikeforce: Triple Threat, at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, in San Jose, California, Puder defeated Mike Cook by submission due to a rear naked choke.

On February 18, 2007, at BodogFight Series III in Costa Rica, Puder defeated Michael Alden by knockout in forty-five seconds. Several months later on September 29, 2007, at Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion, at The Playboy Mansion, in Los Angeles, California, Puder defeated Richard Dalton by unanimous decision.

On May 16, 2009, at Call to Arms I, at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California, Puder defeated Jeff Ford by knockout.

On August 15, 2009, at Call to Arms: Called Out Fights, at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California, Puder defeated Mychal Clark by unanimous decision.

In 2011, Puder retired from MMA competition, holding a record of eight wins and zero losses.^[3]

Personal life

Puder is a born-again Christian and a Shriner.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
8 matches	8 wins	0 losses
By knockout	2	0
By submission	3	0
By decision	3	0

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-0	Mychal Clark	Decision (unanimous)	Call to Arms: Called Out Fights	02009-08-15-0000August 15, 2009	3	5:00
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-0	Jeff Ford	TKO (shoulder injury)	Call to Arms I	02009-05-16-0000May 16, 2009	1	1:23
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6-0	Richard Dalton	Decision (unanimous)	Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion	02007-09-29-0000September 29, 2007	3	5:00
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5-0	Michael Alden	TKO (head kick & punches)	BodogFight Series III: Costa Rica Combat	02007-02-18-0000February 18, 2007	1	0:45
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-0	Mike Cook	Submission (rear naked choke)	Strikeforce: Triple Threat	02006-12-08-0000December 8, 2006	2	2:31
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-0	Tom Tuggle	Submission (armbar)	Strikeforce: Revenge	02006-06-09-0000June 9, 2006	1	0:28
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-0	Jesse Fujarczyk	Submission (rear naked choke)	Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie	02006-03-10-0000March 10, 2006	1	1:54
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-0	Jay McCown	Decision (unanimous)	X-1	02003-09-06-0000September 6, 2003	3	3:00

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Keylock

• Entrance themes
  • "Getting Away With Murder" by Papa Roach

Championships and accomplishments

• WWE
  • $1,000,000 Tough Enough winner

Notes

External links

• Official website
• Professional MMA record for Daniel Puder from Sherdog