


As a result, the idea for a legit tough guy tournament was bandied about as a way to both utilize some of these men and capitalize on the recent interest in Toughman Contests around the country.Īccording to John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Vince Russo came up with the idea when Layfield wanted to create a hardcore wrestling division in the WWF. Throughout 1998, the WWF experienced a growth in roster size but due to limited amount of television time a number of their more genuine "tough guys" were left without much to do.
