The Challenge: Battle of the Eras

[Alex95]

 

The 40th season cast has officially been revealed as a Battle of the Eras season. Divided into 4 teams of 10 representing the different eras of The Challenge. A meet the cast special premieres on 8/7 before the season officially starts on 8/14.

 

Era 1

–Tina Barta (8 Challenges)
–Katie Cooley (11 Challenges, 1 win)
–Aneesa Fereira (17 Challenges)
–Brad Fiorenza (13 Challenges, 1 Win)
–Derrick Kosinski (13 Challenges, 3 Wins)
–Mark Long (8 Challenges, 2 Wins)
–Rachel Robinson (8 Challenges, 2 Wins)
–CT Tamburello (19 Challenges, 5 Wins)
–Darrell Taylor (14 Challenges, 4 Wins)
–Jodi Weatherton (5 Challenges, 2 Wins)

 

Era 2

–Derek Chavez (5 Challenges)
–Nehemiah Clark (7 Challenges, 1 Win)
–Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio (23 Challenges, 7 Wins)
–KellyAnne Judd (7 Challenges)
–Ryan Kehoe (7 Challenges)
–Aviv Melmed (1 Challenge, 1 Win)
–Brandon Nelson (6 Challenges)
–Emily Schromm (3 Challenges, 1 Win)
–Cara Maria Sorbello (15 Challenges, 2 Wins)
–Laurel Stucky (8 Challenges, 2 Wins)

 

Era 3

–Tori Deal (9 Challenges, 1 Win)
–Amanda Garcia (7 Challenges)
–Leroy Garrett (13 Challenges)
–Jonna Mannion (10 Challenges, 2 Wins)
–Nia Moore (4 Challenges)
–Tony Raines (7 Challenges)
–Averey Tressler (3 Challenges)
–Devin Walker (7 Challenges, 1 Win)
–Cory Wharton (10 Challenges)
–Jordan Wiseley (9 Challenges, 4 Wins)

 

Era 4

–Paulie Calafiore (4 Challenges)
–Theo Campbell (3 Challenges)
–Kaycee Clark (5 Challenges, 1 Win)
–Michele Fitzgerald (4 Challenges)
–Horacio Gutiérrez Jr. (2 Challenges)
–Olivia Kaiser (2 Challenges)
–Josh Martinez (6 Challenges)
–Nurys Mateo (2 Challenges)
–Jenny West (2 Challenges, 1 win)
–Kyland Young (2 Challenges)

Edited August 22 by Alex95

[Alex95]

Lmaooooo @*Wallace can you move this to TV & Movies subforum this shouldn't be here

[Zoey]

Omg a new rankdown. 

[Alex95]

1 minute ago, Zoey said:

Omg a new rankdown. 

And Katie Cooley is winning!

[Alex95]

Me just automatically clicking on this subforum and typing cause I don't go anywhere else

[QueenKalie]

Maybe Wes won't win the rank down again this time.

[*Wallace]

46 minutes ago, Alex95 said:

Lmaooooo @*Wallace can you move this to TV & Movies subforum this shouldn't be here

LMAO I'm cracking up because I refreshed the forum and was like "Alex posted this in the wrong forum!  "

 

hahaha but yess I will surely move this!  

[*Wallace]

46 minutes ago, Zoey said:

Omg a new rankdown. 

Speaking of, we probably do need a new The Challenge rankdown now that there are a few more people that have been watching it lately.  

[Solaris]

1 hour ago, Alex95 said:

–Aneesa Fereira (17 Challenges, Big ol' 0 wins)

 

 

That looks about right.

[Solaris]

Era 2 is stacked, love that for them.  Laurel vs Cara again.  The women will definitely carry this team.  Oh the gays are on it too!

 

 

Era 3 can disappear into the aether (except for Jonna)

[*Wallace]

Forgot to actually comment on the actual thread. I really like this theme and love how we have players from the older eras and newer/current eras. Not sure which team I'm rooting for on paper as I like and will root for a number of people on each team. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out!

[QueenKalie]

Era 1 is definitely the weakest. 

[Alex95]

Having now seen All-Stars 4, Averey being cast over Ashley Mitchell is completely egregious. I would've lost Averey's number after her pathetic showing. Ryan too. Derek was questionable before seeing AS4, but I think he earned his spot now (and I'm glad Jonna has a friend on the cast if other eras can protect you).

Edited June 24 by Alex95

[Solaris]

On 6/24/2024 at 1:38 PM, *Wallace said:

Speaking of, we probably do need a new The Challenge rankdown now that there are a few more people that have been watching it lately.  

 

 

[*Wallace]

38 minutes ago, Solaris said:

 

 

Why not? You're one of the new people that can participate in it now.  

[Solaris]

Just now, *Wallace said:

Why not? You're one of the new people that can participate in it now.  

 

i dislike basically everyone, nominations would be impossible.

[*Wallace]

Just now, Solaris said:

 

i dislike basically everyone, nominations would be impossible.

LOL That's what makes the game so fun.  Though you can't cut everyone all at once so that would be a struggle.  

[Solaris]

1 minute ago, *Wallace said:

LOL That's what makes the game so fun.  Though you can't cut everyone all at once so that would be a struggle.  

 

 

 

 

me trying to find a way to eliminate all the shitty people.  

[QueenKalie]

Honestly I don't know that we need another Challenge rankdown considering how the first one went.

[Solaris]

 

[Solaris]

 

 

 

This was a fun watch, especially with Amanda calling Michele out.

[Alex95]

With this all vet cast, I decided to do some power rankings before the season. This isn’t personal opinion, just who I think is most to least likely to win.

 

Men:

1. Jordan - Jordan’s the GOAT in my eyes and a win this season would make it impossible to deny. All-Stars 3 is his only legitimate loss since Free Agents (lost a pole wrestle with one hand to Fessy in TM and saddled with Aneesa on RoD). Maybe his temper gets the best of him or he does have a rare off day like in AS3. But if I was a betting man I’d just put my money on Jordan.

2. Theo - A risky pick for this high as Theo has only done three seasons and does not have a win, but he has performed exceptionally well in all three. 2x finalist. Runner-up on one of the most difficult finals ever. Defeated Kyle twice and Bananas in elimination. He is an all-around athlete, yet I think he’s been out of the game enough that he’ll be able to sneak under the radar like he did in WC. And if you let him sneak under the radar, watch out.

3. Bananas - Expierence will always be king on this show and Bananas has more experience than everyone else. He’s also played with every single person on this cast besides Kyland & Aviv, so he’s certainly got connections. He may not be as threatening as he once was as he continues to age, but he’s coming off being a finalist in RoD and USA2. He’s proven he’s still got it.

4. CT - Maybe I’m crazy for having him this low. His dadbod he’s entering the season sporting doesn’t inspire much confidence. He did win WOTW2 with the dadbod, but that was a team season. He is coming off of two straight wins and a Traitors win. And for some reason people just don’t throw CT into elimination. He can absolutely win again. I just have a bit more confidence in my top three.

5. Cory - Cory has come so close so many times and is easily one of the best to never win. In my gut, I really feel like it’s gonna happen one day for him. If he can take some of the bigger threats out before the final, and can get some help with puzzles, maybe he can win.

6. Horacio - Horacio has everything it takes to win. What he accomplished in ROD is nothing short of remarkable. Kyland & Nurys need to encourage him to be a more strategic player to get the threats out and Horacio could win.

7. Kyland - Kyland lacks experience. The fact that he’s one of four men to never run a final (and the other three are my bottom three) is a very legitimate worry. Having said that, Kyland beat Darrell, Brad and Zara in 39. He has all the makings of a champion. It will be an uphill battle against all these threats here, but it is certainly possible.

8. Derrick K - I might have him a bit too high, but I feel like Derrick is gonna want this more than most. We’ve already seen him in a stacked cast after a long break (Dirty 30) and he still finished second. He also followed up with that impressive elimination performance against Joss in Vendettas. His All-Star appearances have been nothing to write home about, but I still have confidence in him.

9. Paulie - USA2 was a disappointment. There’s no getting around that. But Paulie was That Bitch from FR-WOTW2. But even on those seasons, he would lose it at the very end. Paulie needs to merge the fire he has from his original run with the humbleness he portrays now and then he’s a contender.

10. Devin - There’s a very specific set of circumstances where Devin wins. He definitely has friends and he definitely excels at certain aspects of the show. But if he gets thrown into a pole wrestle against Horacio or something, he might as well start packing his bags. If he can skate by on his social game and puzzle skills though, maybe he makes a run.

11. Tony - Tony was a mediocre competitor who slowly got better and better at the game. By the time Vendettas rolled around, Tony was finally a legitimate threat. And then he stopped doing the show just as he was getting the hang of it. So now we have an older more mature Tony. Hopefully for his sake less likely to DQ. The question is whether he’s rusty or if he gets right back into the swing of things and contends.

12. Nehemiah - Nehemiah’s a huge wildcard. His original run on the show was eh. But he’s had a strong All-Stars showing. Similar to Derrick, I see the want with Nehemiah. I think he’s gonna lay it all out there. I wouldn’t put money on him to win, but I do think he’s a dark horse.

13. Leroy - I truly fear it’s over for Leroy. I thought Double Agents was the season for him. Then I thought All-Stars 4 was the season for him. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. I’m sure he’ll do well. Everyone loves him and he’s obviously a great competitor. But can he win? I just don’t think so.

14. Derek C - All-Stars 4 absolutely helps this ranking. He definitely impressed me in those dailies and he has the cardio to win a final. He also comes into this season with a decent amount of friends, more than I’m used to seeing for him. His weaknesses are apparent though. He struggles in eliminations, he’s been first boot multiple times. It was easier for him to stand out in All-Stars 4 than he will here. But if he can sneak under the radar and avoid elimination, he can win a few dailies and suddenly be in a great position.

15. Brad - All-Stars 4 also affects this ranking, but not in a good way. I may be a bit harsh in Brad, but he hasn’t been looking good lately. He was good in All-Stars 3, but he also had Wes by his side. He was completely lost in All-Stars 4 and got humiliated. He got his ass kicked by Kyland on 39. Just think he’s going through a rough patch and I’m not sure if this will be the season he breaks out of it.

16. Mark - No one is more respected on this show than Mark. On All-Stars, he can skate by to the end on respect alone. I wonder if the kids in these later eras will have the same reverence for Mark. Despite his age, Mark can still perform well. He’s huge and I think he can still dominate some of these people in eliminations. Hell, he beat freaking Jordan in All-Stars 3. But I don’t think he can win. He can surprise us, but I can’t imagine him keeping up with people like Jordan or Horacio in a final.

17. Darrell - Once upon a time Darrell was in the GOAT conversation, but I think those days are behind him. He still struggles with heights. He’s been embarrassed by Jordan and Kyland in eliminations as of late. He & Veronica couldn’t beat Amber & Chauncey in a puzzle elimination. He did have a good run in WC, but I think Kiki deserves a lot of the credit for that. I always welcome Darrell on the show, but I think his winning days on the main show are behind him.

18. Josh - My bottom three are the only ones I can confidently say cannot win. Josh is underrated in some areas. He’s a great teammate and a fantastic swimmer. He’s obviously got lots of friends and I’m sure he’ll last a lot longer than any of us want him to. But he still hasn’t made a final yet. He’s absolutely abysmal in eliminations. The longer Josh stays on the show I do feel like he’ll make a final one day. But I don’t think this historic season will be the one to do it.

19. Brandon - I love Brandon and I’m always rooting for him. But he’s not winning. He’s never made a final and has never even made it to the halfway point of the season. He’s been hit with a lot of bad luck, but I just have to look at the history there and I can’t imagine him going from never making the halfway point to being a winner on this season. Maybe another All-Stars season down the line will be the one for him!

20. Ryan - He’s made it to one final which was The Island which barely counts. He’s never really been a good performer and All-Stars 4 was not a good showing for him despite the fact that he nearly made the final. This cast is too good for Ryan to win.

 

Women:

1. Emily - I feel like Emily is getting severely underrated going into this season. She has never lost an elimination. She has been an exceptional challenger from day one. I feel like she’s not gonna have a target on her back since she’s been out of the game for so long which is amazing for her. We’ve seen Emily do it all and she can absolutely win this season.

2. Laurel - Laurel ended her slump with an All-Stars 4 victory which should give her the confidence she needs going into the season. And most importantly, she might have friends? They handed her an All-Stars 4 victory. Even Laurel’s “slump” isn’t that bad if you look at it. Potentially threw an elimination to Camila, a controversial elimination loss to Ninja, and partnered with a weak competitor in Jakk in ROD. A victory this season would solidify Laurel as the GOAT.

3 Jenny - Jenny had a strong showing on WOTW2, learned her weaknesses, practiced them, and came back for Total Madness to run pretty much a perfect season. While she’s not the biggest personality in the world, I don’t think she should’ve been completely dumped from the franchise. Hell, they keep being Kaycee back despite being twice as boring. So I’m glad to see her back and I think it’s gonna be very difficult to take her out.

4. Kaycee - Kept going back and forth between my next three. All three have a high chance at making the final, but I’m not sure about their winning potential. Kaycee has only missed one final, and that’s because she was partnered with her shitty brother. Despite all her finals appearances though, she only has one win. And frankly, it wasn’t that impressive of a win. She’s had some bad luck in finals, but she also isn’t that dominant. She absolutely can win, but if she’s in the finals with any of my top three my money’s on them.

5. Cara Maria - Another insane straight finals run with only one win. Hasn’t missed a final since Dirty 30! Also has had some bad luck in finals, but also just hasn’t performed as well as she needed to. She’s probably gonna have to fight this season, just like she did in All-Stars 4. So I think her chances of making another straight final are not amazing. But we all know she’s a fighter and if anyone can do it with their back against the wall it’s Cara.

6. Tori - A third girl with a nice straight run of making finals with just one win. And that win was taking down Nany & Aneesa which isn’t saying much. She underperformed in the WC and USA2 finals. Having said that, Tori is still amazing love her or hate her. She is so well-insulated with so many people. And we saw in WOTW2 she can perform even with her back against the wall. This will be a good season to see if she’s not getting the respect she deserves or if she’s just done well in easy casts.

7. Rachel - An OG legend. Rachel has a lot of friends and is just so f*cking strong. Her All-Stars 4 showing wasn’t amazing, but her elimination was stupid so I’m not giving it too much weight. I can’t rank her higher because we haven’t properly seen her in a modern season. But she’s still a huge threat here.

8. Jodi - All these years later and Jodi still looks as strong as ever. Jodi dominated on her original run on the show and she’s has two really good comeback seasons on both AS2 and WC. No she hasn’t made a final since her comeback, but she was probably the top performing girl on AS2 and she did really well on WC despite her lack of connections and being partnered with an Argentinian. So I do worry that Jodi will just be frankly outperformed by some of these younger and more well connected girls. But I think she does have some connections from her era and she is undeniably a very strong competitor. Watch out for Jodi!

9. Nurys - Nurys is in a very interesting position entering the season as the undisputed star of the previous season. Because of that she could have the biggest target on her back or she could be the girl everyone wants to be friends with. No matter what, I’m sure she’ll deliver. But I can see her make a deep run or get booted almost immediately, no middle ground.

10. Jonna - This is a make or break season for Jonna. Is she only good against the fellow oldies on All-Stars or can she hang with the younger kids? No one’s had a better return to the franchise since All-Stars debuted then Jonna. Two straight wins and then the frontrunner on WC before her partner got injured. USA2 was rough, and that’s what I worry 40 can be for her. If she gets thrown into elimination against one of my top nine, it will be a tough time for her. But Jonna is smart and sneaky. And she’s got friends this time around. So I just gotta believe in Jonna and hope for the best.

11. Michele - I have no idea how Michele is gonna do. She had a great showing in 39, but I mean that was 39. She’s got some high profile enemies like Laurel, Amanda and Horacio on this cast. But Michele is a social queen and still has friends. She’s an amazing swimmer, she dominates puzzles, she’s killed every mini-final. If Michele wiggles her way into an alliance she can make another surprisingly deep run. But if she gets in Laurel’s crosshairs it could be a really short run for Michele.

12. Olivia - Right after 39 ended I thought Olivia was screwed. No one would trust her after she betrayed Nurys. However, she still seems to be popular with her cast on social media. There’s a few people on this cast who might want to humble Olivia. And I don’t see her winning with a cast this stacked. But I don’t think she’s as immediately screwed as I initially thought.

13. KellyAnne - KellyAnne is another weird one to evaluate. Some days she looks to be one the strongest girls out there and other days she’s having a complete meltdown in the middle of a daily. I think she’s more likely to finally get her win on an All-Stars season than a main one. But I’ll be rooting for her no matter what.

14. Aviv - Lol. Aviv’s pretty much a rookie. She did a single season a million years ago. But I mean she did win it! She still looks really strong and it was her puzzle solving ability that secured her and Darrell the win. They could treat her like a rookie and get rid of her right away due to lack of social connections. Or she could fly under the radar and make a deep run.

15. Nia - My bottom six have almost no shot at winning. Nia is a natural athlete, but also not very good at the show. She has to play nice as to not risk another ban. She made the AS3 final, but didn’t perform that well. She’s got a few friends here and there so I think she can last a bit. But she’s not winning against this cast of women.

16. Averey - Such a terrible pick to represent Era 3. Did all of Ashley, Kailah, Sylvia etc. say no? She performed well enough on All-Stars 4 but lacked that killer instinct. She can’t play scared in a cast this stacked. And even if she did learn from her mistakes, I don’t see how she pulls off a big move with no repercussions.

17. Amanda - All her friends pretty much said f*ck Amanda and abandoned her on this season to party together on AS5 lmao. I do think Amanda’s a bit underrated as a competitor. She’s great at puzzles and she’s not like terrible at anything. But this is a tough cast and she’s got almost no friends here. She’s also never made a final. The deck is stacked against her.

18. Tina - I love Tina and I’m so glad to see her here. She’s not winning. She’s more likely to quit than win lol. But she’s bringing the fireworks in the trailer and that’s all we can ask of her.

19. Aneesa - Aneesa’s got friends. I’m sure she’ll do fine and last a bit. But she’s never gonna win a season. I’m sorry but it’s true. If you can’t win a season partnered with Jordan on a puzzle-heavy final it’s just never gonna happen for her.

20. Katie - Lol. I looooove Katie and she should be on whatever season she agrees to be on. But if she lasts to episode five that would be a win. Though not a win for her because she probably wants to pick up her paycheck and get the hell out of there lmao.

[Alex95]

Tonight is the meet the cast special as the show starts for real next week

[*Wallace]

30 minutes ago, Alex95 said:

Tonight is the meet the cast special as the show starts for real next week

Oooh thanks for posting about this as I didn't know. I hope to remember to watch this over the weekend or so. These meet the cast episodes are always a nice recap of The Challengers time on the show.

[Solaris]

pretty solid trailer