Source:WWF.com
It seems only natural that "Fear Factor" -- an NBC program in which contestants are challenged to participate in bizarre stunts -- and the World Wrestling Federation would team up. After all, anybody who has ever watched Federation programming knows that the superstars are among the world's most extreme daredevils.
This week, the partnership materialized, as Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Jacqueline, Lita, Mighty Molly and Test taped an episode of the show on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is scheduled to air in early March. The winning superstar gets to donate the prize money to charity.
"I've just seen the commercials," said Jeff Hardy, perhaps the most daring devil of them all, who other superstars said was the favorite to win. "It looks pretty creepy, but I was pretty fired up and didn't hesitate to agree to do it."
Indeed, none of the superstars who were participating had seen the show, which often airs on the days the Federation tapes its own programming.
"I didn't know what I was saying yes to," Lita said.
In part because of that unknown, the superstars said they weren't nervous in the days leading up to the taping.
"I'm not nervous because they haven't told us what we're doing," Molly said. "It's a surprise. My only goal is to do better than Test."
Test had his own reasons for agreeing to do the show
"I just thought it would be something cool to do," said the former Intercontinental Champion. "We're in the position to do some things that not everyone gets to do."
None of the superstars could think of something that they would immediately refuse to do.
"I'm willing to try anything," Jacqueline said. "I'm just going with the flow."
"I never say yes or no until I'm faced with something," Lita said. "I'll just feel it out."
Agreed Matt Hardy, "I'll just kind of make it up as I go along."
The six superstars are giving up precious days off before one of the most challenging weeks of the year. Next week, the Federation is conducting four television tapings for the holiday season. Most superstars spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at home resting for what is sure to be a physically and mentally taxing week, but the six on "Fear Factor" did not have that luxury.
Superstars often give up their days off for charitable causes, and this is no exception. They were even allowed to pick their own charities. Three of them picked cancer-related causes -- the American Cancer Society (Matt), the American Institute for Cancer Research (Jeff) and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Jackie).
"We need to wipe breast cancer out," Jackie said.
Lita and Test both picked animal-related charities. Test's is the Humane Society of the United States. Lita, who along with Big Show played for the Humane Society on the "Weakest Link," chose the Lang Foundation. The small Los Angeles-based organization rescues animals that are about to be euthanized in other shelters and spays or neuters them.
Molly's charity is Prison Fellowship Ministries, an organization that spiritually rehabilitates prisoners and sends prisoners' children Christmas gifts on their behalf, among other things.