CMT to debut 'Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling' Oct. 18

By Christopher Rocchio
08/18/2008
RealityWorld

CMT has announced Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling, a new reality competition series that will follow 10 celebrity contestants as they are trained to be professional wrestlers by the Hogan Knows Best patriarch and American Gladiators co-host, will premiere Saturday, October 18 at 8PM ET/PT.

Each hour-long episode will follow the participants as they are divided into two teams of five and compete in various team challenges, training scenarios and elimination matches that include mastering complex wrestling moves, trash talking and working a live audience.

At the end of each episode, the contestants will be judged by Hogan, wrestling promoter and former World Championship Wrestling president Eric Bischoff and wrestling manager Jimmy Hart.

The winner will be crowned "Celebrity All-Star Wrestling Champion."

Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling's cast consists of former child actor and Breaking Bonaduce star Danny Bonaduce; former NBA star and Celebrity Mole: Yucatan champ Dennis Rodman; former Saved by the Bell actor Celebrity Fit Club participant Dustin "Screech" Diamond (pictured with former Welcome Back Carter star Ron Palilo from an episode of Celebrity Boxing); former Diff'rent Strokes actor Todd Bridges; super-heavyweight boxer ButterBean; former The Real World: Las Vegas roommate Trishelle Cannatella; ex-Bewitched actress Erin Murphy; singer and actor Frank Stallone; 1980s pop star Tiffany; and Playboy playmate Nikki Ziering.

CMT ordered the eight-episode series in May and it is produced by Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment, with Hogan, Bischoff and Jason Hervey serving as executive producers. Melanie Moreau and Bob Kusbit are executive producers for CMT.

Also scheduled to appear on the show are Rob Van Dam, Bill Goldberg, Brian Knobbs and Brutus Beefcake.