Former WWE Tough Enough Contestant Arrested For Murder
Highlights
- Former WWE Tough Enough contestant Daniel Rodimer arrested on open murder charge for death of Christopher Tapp.
- Tapp called for help in 2003 at a Las Vegas motel, later succumbed to injuries; coroner ruled death a homicide.
- Rodimer contests allegations, asks for presumption of innocence; history includes brief wrestling, political career.
A former contestant on the WWEreality series Tough Enough has been arrested on a charge of open murder. Daniel Rodimer was part of Season 4 of Tough Enough and had a short stint in OVW and FCW, WWE's then developmental promotions, and even competed on WWE TV a few times, before leaving wrestling for politics. According to the Associated Press, yesterday the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department put out a warrant for the arrest of the 45-year-old Rodimer for the death of Christopher Tapp, leading to Rodimer turning himself in.
Tapp called for help on October 29, 2003 at a Las Vegas motel. After being transported to a hospital, he later passed away. On November 22, detectives began a suspicious death investigation after receiving new information about the circumstances surrounding Tapp's death. Police called Tapp's injuries "a result of a purposed accident", adding:
“Through the course of the suspicious death investigation ... detectives have learned Tapp was in an altercation inside a room at the resort before being located and transported to the hospital.”
The Clark County Coroner's Office ruled Christopher Tapp's death as a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head. Lawyers for Daniel Rodimer, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, emailed a statement to the Associated Press, saying:
“He intends on vigorously contesting the allegations and asks that the presumption of innocence guaranteed all Americans be respected."
Every WWE Tough Enough Winner, Ranked By Career Success
How did the wrestling careers of WWE Tough Enough's winners pan out?Who Is Daniel Rodimer?
WWE began Tough Enough in 2001 as a reality series where contestants competed for a chance to become a WWE superstar. There have been some notable contestants and winners, including The Miz, Johnny Nitro, Maven, Christopher Nowinski, Chelsea Green, and Sonya Deville. Daniel Rodimer was part of Tough Enough's fourth season, which produced The Miz and the future Ryback, and was won by Daniel Puder.
In 2006, Rodimer signed a WWE developmental contract, before being placed in Deep South Wrestling. He wrestled in Ohio Valley Wrestling as well, then got a chance in the spotlight, competing three times on Heat in 2007, beating Eugene in his first match. Those were the last times he'd be on WWE TV, as Rodimer was sent to Florida Championship Wrestling, before being released on August 22, 2007.
Rodimer popped back up in the public eye in 2018, losing a bid for the Nevada State Senate. The next year, he lost a congressional election in Nevada as well, but later he moved to Texas and ran for Congress again in 2021, losing badly once more.
