With The Challenge: Ride or Dies premiere, some all-time great players return to the game. Certain of the current season’s cast are responsible for playing some of the single greatest seasons of the show in The Challenge's history, and now they’re back to try to add another great performance to their list.
With these returns in mind, fans of the show on Reddit considered challengers who, in the past, carried certain seasons of the show. While some of those players currently compete, others earned their place on All-Stars, and some have yet to return despite fans’ pleas to see them compete again.
Jordan Wiseley
War Of The Worlds 2
While there was debate over whether Jordan’s best season of the show was Exes 2, Dirty 30, or War of the Worlds 2, War of the Worlds 2 was overwhelmingly mentioned as one of Jordan’s best performances and one of the best the show has seen from any competitor.
Therid21 summarizes Jordan’s season as “switching sides and winning while going through some amazing eliminations and getting engaged.” Jordan’s elimination wins from that season against Theo and Josh stick with the audience. And Jordan actively working against giant alliances makes this season even more entertaining.
Emily Schromm and Paula Meronek
Rivals II
In one of the best female partner teams in Challenge history, Emily and Paula were out of every other team’s league on Rivals 2. For rivals, these two knew how to compete with each other better than any other team, making this one of the best seasons of The Challenge for fans.
With six daily challenge wins and winning the season, nobody can argue otherwise when Gradycontent101 describes this as one of the best performances in any season, saying, “Emily and Paula in Rivals II was pure dominance from start to finish.”
Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio
Free Agents
While he may be one Challenge competitor Redditors never want to see again, it’s difficult not to recognize his top performance on Free Agents. Four daily challenge wins, three elimination wins, and winning the entire season; Bananas competed at his best.
Jac1596 ires Bananas’ performance with “a stacked cast that wasn’t really on his side most of the time and a very difficult final…[and he has] the most impressive elimination win.” With Bananas’ win over CT in Puzzle Pyramid, he solidified his place as the major player for the men this season.
Jodi Weatherton
The Duel
While there were some fantastic competitors on The Duel, most Redditors agreed Jodi owned that season with her performance. Some even went as far as to consider Jodi’s work that season one of the greatest Challenge performances by any woman in the show’s history.
Amongst discussion of Svetlana’s Duel performance, NattyB says Jodi “would be my vote for greatest women’s season of all time. Beat Svet in the final and won SEVEN missions.” Without seeing an elimination, Jodi couldn’t be stopped that season as she won challenge after challenge until she finally won the final.
Alton Williams
Gauntlet II
As the first season of The Challenge hosted by TJ Lavin, Gauntlet 2 set the tone of his era of the show, and Alton showed TJ the type of challenger he loves to see to this day. As a man who beat out every man for team captain in the first challenge, Alton always rose to the occasion.
FalconsTC praises Alton for winning “9 more missions [after the first]… 3 eliminations… [and] the final in a blowout. Captain from the start to the end… He was an untouchable athlete.” Alton gave one of the most underrated Challenge performances.
Laurel Stucky
Free Agents
From Laurel’s first season, she showed she would be a dominant force, and that fully came to fruition with her win in Free Agents. With as many daily challenge wins as elimination wins and the final win, Laurel was a true competitor.
ICareAboutThings25 writes Laurel was “strong in dailies. 4 eliminations won… Won a final despite a dying Zach being attached to her.” Nothing was stopping Laurel from winning this season. Her elimination wins in her opponents’ specialties and Zach gassing out on a mountain didn’t keep her from winning.
Landon Lueck
Fresh Meat II
Although Laurel and Kenny dominated daily challenges, Landon more than proved himself this season. Landon and Carley couldn’t be considered one of the best male and female teams in Challenge history without the majority of the credit going to his performance.
GATTACA_IE says, “Not only did he drag Carley all the way to the win, he was super kind a ive the whole way through. Someone like Frank or Zach would have murdered her.” With two daily challenge wins and two elimination wins, Landon led his team to victory with kindness and determination.
Jenny West
Total Madness
Jenny’s work on Total Madness solidified her as a Challenge competitor Redditors would like to see again, even if they’re just has happy to see her win the show and live her life with the earnings.
After her outstanding performances in challenges, she finished the final before any other competitor, proving her athleticism to be next to none. One Redditor thought Jenny’s accomplishments on Total Madness were far and above others “‘cause she got her win, used her money for plastic surgery, and got on with her life. Go Jenny Go.”
Turbo
War Of The Worlds
Some hesitated to credit Turbo for staying safe throughout the season because he never “proved” himself in an elimination against another challenger. However, This isn't a flaw in Turbo's game in a game where challengers are rewarded with safety for winning.
One Redditor says it all, “Turbo won SIX dailies on WOTW and made 7 tribunals. (YES I am counting the final tribunal)…Just because he didn’t go into elimination does not make it less impressive.” Turbo’s performance was objectively impressive and kept him out of elimination, which is considered impressive when other Challenge favorites do the same.
Jenna Compono
Battle Of The Exes II
Amongst discussion of which woman delivered the single best season, WouldByAliceInChains refused to let Jenna be left out of the discussion, saying, “Excuse me. No such thing as ‘greatest women’s season ever’ unless it’s Jenna and exes 2! DUH.”
This comment may be based less on Jenna’s record and more on the Redditor being a huge Jenna fan. However, after a single daily challenge win, Jenna achieved third place in the final. This success was due to Jenna’s game making them the only team to make it to the end without seeing an elimination.
