The latest iteration of MTV's hit franchise, The Challenge: CBS, comes to Paramount Plus on May 11, 2022, hot on the heels of the 2021 premiere of The Challenge: All-Stars. Clearly, the 35-year-old reality favorite is finally spreading its wings.
An integral part of The Challenge's success has been recurring players like CT and Johnny Bananas, who would return year after year to build a strong relationship with the audience. Still, there are some fan favorites who, while successful in their rookie seasons, didn’t return for another season, leading fans to wonder what could have been.
Bayleigh Dayton - Total Madness (Season 35)
Bayleigh was one of four rookie players coming off of against Challenge legend, Aneesa Ferreira.
The real-life flight attendant was most notable for her blowups with her fellow Big Brother alums. Once her fiancé, Swaggy C, was eliminated from the competition, Bayleigh embraced the drama and made waves with Kaycee. Fans tended to side with Kaycee, but Bayleigh's histrionics hearkened back to an earlier time in the franchise, reminding fans that while the athletic competition may have gotten more intense, reality TV is best with beef.
Mitch Reid - Battle Of The Bloodlines (Season 27)
The cousin duo of Challenge, rookies Cory Wharton and Mitch, proved to be a potent combo. While Cory was coming off of Real World: Ex-Plosion and would go on to play the game almost annually ever since, this was Mitch’s only foray into reality television.
The mismatched cousins were a successful mix of brains and brawn, with Mitch as the duo’s resident puzzle master. In the team's two daily challenge wins, Mitch's puzzle ability was key and they won one dramatic elimination thanks in large part to his efforts. The team finished the season in second place and Mitch walked away from the show $37,500 richer.
Heather Cooke - Rivals II (Season 24)
This particular Rivals had one team with a distinct advantage: Heather Cooke and Cara Maria Sorbello. Cooke came into the show as a professional soccer player and was paired with her Real World: Las Vegas nemesis, Naomi Defensor. But when Naomi was forced to leave early in the season, Challenge favorite, Cara Maria, subbed in.
Their rivalry was close to nonexistent and the pair worked well together, with the calm, cool, and collected Cooke acting as a nice counterbalance to the famously anxious Cara Maria. The two went on to finish second in the final, earning Cara Maria her best finish to that point and netting the pair $17,500 each. Fans have long called for Cooke to return to the show, but her athletic career took priority. Nearly 10 years after her season, she was cast as an alternate for All-Stars, and though her services weren't required, that should certainly give fans hope.
Sam McGinn - Battle Of The Seasons (Season 23)
Sam made waves in her season of The Real World and returned to the MTV universe a year later with her San Diego castmates in Battle of the Seasons. She handled her business in the team-oriented season, winning four daily challenges and two eliminations, leading to the San Diego squad going into the final fully intact.
However, the season was defined by contentious relationships, and the San Diego crew was no exception. Sam's casual attitude and caustic relationship with her aggressive teammates cast a pall over their path to victory, and the strife lasted all the way through to the reunion, despite each winning $62,500 each. Nevertheless, when it came to eliminations, Sam stepped up and performed well, which proved crucial to their eventual season win.
Michael Ross - Rivals (Season 21)
Michael “Mike Mike” Ross was always an odd fit for The Challenge. He was not particularly athletic and didn’t have the competitive spirit or the flair for the dramatic that defines most players on the show, Still, he found himself thrown into the deep end on this first Rivals season when Adam Royer was DQ’d in the first episode, leading nice guy Mike to be paired with his Real World roommate, Leroy.
Somewhat breaking the premise of the show, Leroy and Mike were actually great friends, and the two performed well, winning one Daily Challenge and making it all the way to the final. Though the team had to drop out midway through when Mike was too gassed to continue, he remains a fan favorite for his innate likability and everyman perspective. As the show gets more and more intense, it is unlikely fans will ever see his kind again.
Noor Jehangir - Fresh Meat II (Season 19)
Noor entered Fresh Meat II as one of the strongest rookies, performing well in the pre-season combine. He was the first guy picked in the episode 1 draft, and he tapped into his competitive spirit with his socially oriented partner Jenn Grijalva to get the job done.
In a season defined by a war between Kenny Santucci and Wes Bergmann, Noor and Jenn successfully played both sides while only winning one daily challenge. They won the final elimination in a nail-biter, finally finishing fourth overall. According to Noor himself, the show didn't find him controversial enough, with his low-key interviews and go-with-the-flow approach to game politics. Still, Noor has said he is open to returning if asked.
Carley Johnson - Fresh Meat II (Season 19)
Carley was the last girl picked in the Fresh Meat draft and was partnered with popular competitor, Landon Lueck. Perpetually underestimated by everyone in the house, she consistently gave it her all in every daily challenge and elimination. The two won two dailies and two eliminations before reaching the final.
Carley remains one of the most unlikely winners in Challenge history, but her run is pretty undeniable. Sure, she clearly didn't have the stamina and athleticism that defines most Challenge greats, but unlike so many who get in over their head on this show, Carley never gave up and her perseverance paid off, with she and Landon winning the grand prize of $100,000 apiece.
Svetlana Shusterman - The Duel (Season 13)
Svetlana was an instant hit on The Duel. Her unlikely journey from The Real World: Key West to Challenge finalist captured the hearts of both the fans and her housemates with her no-nonsense attitude and non-stop engine. She won two daily challenges partnered with Challenge regulars, CT Tamburello and Wes Bergmann.
She really shone in her individual elimination wins, most notably in the emotional final elimination against her close friend, Aneesa. Despite a valiant effort in the final, she couldn't stack up against Challenge legends, Wes and Jodi Weatherton, Thanks to her potent mix of drama and competitive prowess, fans have clamored for her return ever since. The producers reportedly have asked her to return several times, with no luck so far.
Aviv Melmed - Fresh Meat (Season 12)
In the first Fresh Meat season, Darrell Taylor and Aviv's teams laid low and turned it up at just the right time. The duo only won two daily challenges, but they also managed to stay out of elimination thanks to a savvy social game. They beat Wes and Diem Brown to earn entry into the final challenge to face off against the toxic duos of Kenny & Tina Barta and Wes & Casey Lynn Cooper.
Against those bickering teams, Darrell and Aviv's chemistry shone. The men of the final all stacked up rather evenly, but Aviv stood head and shoulders above her female counterparts. Her puzzle prowess saved them time and energy, helping the team cruise to $125,000 each.
Jamie Chung - The Inferno II (Season 10)
Jamie actually achieved crossover success after her one season of The Challenge. Coming off The Real World: San Diego, Chung's easy-going and friendly demeanor stood in contrast to the high-energy antics coming from her fellow castmates.
This approach proved invaluable. She was the last woman on her team in the final, surrounded by physical beasts like "The Miz," Landon, and Darrell. Throughout the final, despite struggling to keep up physically, she remained cool-headed and came through on the puzzle portions to secure the win, earning the team $57,500 each. She went on to a successful acting career that includes extended runs on shows like Gotham, and Dexter: New Blood.
