An Exclusive Look at the Crazy-Fit Competitors on The Titan Games, The Rock’s New Fitness Show
Premiering January 3 on NBC, The Titan Games will push them to achieve the impossible.
Once upon a time, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a sort-of normal person. His new athletic competition show, The Titan Games—premiering on NBC January 3 at 8 p.m. ET—reflects how he moved way, way up in the world while bulking up beyond most people’s dreams.
“I think part of his motivation for doing the show is him thinking back on his life and how fortunate he's been,” says Arthur Smith, an executive producer for Titan Games. “He wants to give back. So much of this show comes from his heart because of what he went through. It’s very consistent with what he does on social media—motivating people to be the hardest worker in the room. So many of these people are his followers he inspired.”
In addition to Johnson's role as a quasi-host/commissioner of the series (he was on set every day, and will be in all the episodes), the action star serves as an executive producer. The elaborate challenges are based on his own workouts and physical achievements, according to Smith. Contestants will face off against each other, ending on a mountain-like structure naturally called Mount Olympus—which Smith refers to it as “hell”—vying to become Titans. The series will crown one male and one female champion at the end of the season.
Titan Games was ultimately looking for incredible overall athletes—especially folks with tons of strength. "We really wanted everyday people,” Smith adds of the most vital requirements. “This is a platform for everyday people to become heroes. This is their payoff, their chance to show themselves.” Contestants range from a former trauma ER nurse and a 50-year-old grandmother who doesn't skip the gym, to the less surprising personal trainers and MMA fighters. About 100 people out of thousands of hopefuls went through a sports combine as a tryout, and then got whittled down to 64 in the cast.
NBC provided Men’s Health with official bios for all the competitors on The Titan Games, below. Get ready for epic-ness combined with just the right amount of humanity.
Alma Dwumfour
Age: 27
Occupation: ICU Nurse
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA
Resident: Stratford, CT
Instagram: @almamicheala
Alma loves to push her body to the limits in fitness competitions to see what it is capable of. Through her job, Alma is aware how important it is to seize each day as it could be your last, and she is competing on “The Titan Games” in honor of her patients who can’t.
Angel Villegas
Age: 28
Occupation: Barbershop Owner
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Resident: Jacksonville, FL
Instagram: @Angelraws
At just 14, Angel realized he had found his passion when he started cutting hair to help financially support his family. Eight years later, Angel opened his first barbershop, Raw Cuts. Now he has three successful shops and is a loving father that hopes to inspire his son.
Anthony Fuhrman
Age: 30
Occupation: Active Duty Army & Pro Strongman
Hometown: Erie, PA
Resident: Brandon, FL
Instagram: @anthonyfuhrmanstrong
Anthony is in the Army as a Sergeant 1st Class who fought in Afghanistan as an infantry squad leader. After leaving the Army, Anthony found his love of weightlifting and keeps in shape training 5-6 days per week while listening to Taylor Swift and Cardi B.
Ashley Hawkins
Age: 31
Occupation: Police Officer
Hometown: Madison, NC
Resident: Pleasant Garden, NC
Instagram: @Hawkins_ae
Ashley met her husband in the police academy eight years ago. The former NCAA soccer player enjoys spending time with her two German shepherd “fur babies” and collecting fortune cookie fortunes. Ashley has always strived to stay fit because of the sports she played at a young age, but now her fitness is about being strong enough to protect herself and others on the job.
Ashley Huhn
Age: 28
Occupation: Special Ed Teacher & Soccer Coach
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Resident: Denver, CO
Instagram: @Ashhuhn17
When Ashley’s not improving the lives of her students, you can find her hanging out with her two dogs and coaching kids in soccer. If anyone can bend it like Beckham, it’s Ashley.
Ayonna Procter
Age: 33
Occupation: Doctor of Physical Therapy
Hometown: Elba, AL
Resident: Mariposa, CA
Instagram: @YonnieStyle
Nicknamed “Doctor Proctor,” Ayonna inspires her patients to live a healthy lifestyle. Growing up low income in a small town, she overcame all odds to receive an NCAA basketball scholarship. Ayonna’s #1 supporter has always been her hard-working mom, whom she is driven to make proud.
Ben Afuvai
Age: 32
Occupation: Metal Polisher
Hometown: American Samoa
Resident: Tacoma, WA
Instagram: @ben_afuvai
Ben wants to be the best version of himself, physically and mentally. A huge Dwayne Johnson fan, this family man is determined to represent other Samoans well and to make his family, and Dwayne, proud.
Brad Schaeffer
Age: 34
Occupation: Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Hometown: Pottstown, PA
Resident: Weehawken, NJ
Instagram: @doctor.bradley
Growing up an athlete, Brad was a standout on the Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team. However, his biggest challenge came when he decided to trade in his cleats for a medical degree. Though the exams were tough, Brad used that academic opportunity to get stronger mentally. He wants to prove to people that you can achieve anything as long as you never give up.
Brehanna Daniels
Age: 24
Occupation: NASCAR Tire Changer
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Resident: Charlotte, NC
Instagram: @brehannadaniels
Brehanna is making history as the first female African-American NASCAR tire changer. She was a basketball player for Norfolk State University with an incredible work ethic. Brehanna hopes to inspire young people by diversifying NASCAR.
Breona Evans
Age: 27
Occupation: Accountant
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Resident: Atlanta, GA
Instagram: @breonanicole7
Breona, a former cheerleader for Georgia State University, brings her love of fitness into her everyday life. This six-time CrossFit regionals athlete inspires all who know her to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Bridger Buckley
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Hometown: Snohomish, WA
Resident: Pullman, WA
Instagram: @bridgerbuckley
Bridger is a student at Washington State University and no stranger to overcoming adversity. Being an overweight kid motivated him to become an athlete and play college football. While in college, he survived being hit by a car and wants to prove he can push past what most people won’t.
Carla Miranda
Age: 34
Occupation: Luxury Hotel Account Manager
Hometown: Humacao, Puerto Rico
Resident: San Francisco, CA
Instagram: @carlooki
Carla was born and raised in a small town in Puerto Rico and being away from her family is difficult. It was especially hard when Hurricane Maria hit and she wasn’t able to reach anyone for four days. Carla hopes to make her people proud.
Charity Witt
Age: 26
Occupation: Metabolic Technician
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Resident: Suwanee, GA
Instagram: @charity_witt
At a young age, Charity learned the meaning of hard work and quickly adapted to overcoming adversity. She was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia at 17 and that led her to her passion for powerlifting. Charity’s motto – “I don’t quit when I’m tired, I quit when I’m done” – reflects her tenacious personality.
Chris Ruden
Age: 27
Occupation: Youth Motivational Speaker
Hometown: Coconut Creek, FL
Resident: Coconut Creek, FL
Instagram: @chrisruden
Chris was born with a congenital birth defect that manifested in a short arm and only two fingers on one hand. Growing up, he was bullied and embarrassed but Chris found powerlifting and fitness to become the elite athlete he is today. He regularly speaks to youth with disabilities in order to motivate them in everyday life.
Christiana Rugloski
Age: 21
Occupation: Horse Riding Clinic Assistant
Hometown: Camp Verde, Arizona
Resident: Lake Jackson, TX
Instagram: @krisrugloski
Christiana is the youngest female competitor on “The Titan Games” and brings a youthful zest for life to the competition. Growing up not having access to sports, she wants to make up for lost time and is always finding ways to push her body to new limits. Christiana enjoys working with horses and doesn’t shy away from a hard day’s work.
Christina Luna
Age: 33
Occupation: Dental Hygienist
Hometown: Wayne, WV
Resident: Colorado Springs, CO
Instagram: @beastingthebeauty
Life hasn’t always been easy for Christina. From living in a trailer with her grandparents to being a single mom living below the poverty line, she knows what hard work looks like. She overcame those past hardships and earned her dental hygiene degree while serving in the Air Force. Today, she proudly enjoys a stable life with her two young daughters in their beautiful home.
Christopher Watt
Age: 33
Occupation: Personal Security Contractor
Hometown: Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Resident: Kabul, Afghanistan
Instagram: @Cwatts13
Christopher is more than an elite athlete, he’s a decorated hero. He spent time fighting for his country in Iraq but was injured by explosions while on deployment. He has defied the odds to become the athlete he is today.
Cole Wadsworth III
Age: 32
Occupation: Farmer
Hometown: Peoa, UT
Resident: Draper, UT
Instagram: @coleabiahwadsworth
Cole is not your average entrepreneur. Raised on an 8,500-acre farm by his father who taught him to haul bales of hay, ride horses and tend to everyday needs, Cole and his family run their very own urban farm they use as their own personal jungle gym. He wants to prove to his fellow athletes that there is no better training than training on the land.
Covenant Falana
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Hometown: Oyo, Nigeria
Resident: Chicago, IL
Instagram: @king.covie
Covenant was born in a small town in Nigeria with dreams of moving to America. At 7, his parents won the green card lottery and at 14 his visa was approved and he came to America. He used to watch The Rock wrestle from his tiny TV in Nigeria, so now, to be competing in a competition with Dwayne Johnson, his American dream is really coming true.
David Reid
Age: 28
Occupation: Motivational speaker / Former Army Special Operations Ranger
Hometown: Tracy, CA
Resident: Selma, TX
Instagram: @davidreidiii
David lost his leg in 2010 stepping on an IED while serving in Afghanistan. After the blast he suffered from severe PTSD and used fitness as his outlet to heal. David feels like he died after the injury and he got a second chance at life. Now he is stronger than he was before his accident and uses his story to support military personnel.
Watch Next
You Can Stream Every Planet of the Apes Right Now
Rivers Cuomo Hasn’t Taken a Break in 30 Years
Why Weezer's 'Blue Album' Still Hits So Hard
How to Watch the PGA Championship This Month
![netflix tom brady](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/tom-brady-attends-netflix-is-a-joke-fests-the-greatest-news-photo-1715028677.jpg?crop=0.669xw:1.00xh;0.109xw,0&resize=360:* "Netflix Is A Joke Fest's "The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady"")
