This season on The Challenge: Spies, Lies & Allies, a veteran competitor will likely win, but that doesn’t mean this season’s rookies can’t try again next time. Many rookies fall into the category of one-and-done, but others catch the Challenge bug and become addicted to the game. Those rookies generally return to take their place as veterans, and this season there are several male rookie players who could morph into Challenge legends.
The veterans dominated the game this season in a way that Challenge fans have never seen before. They formed a near-iron-clad alliance and for the first half of the season, they picked off rookies one-by-one. The strategy worked like gangbusters and at this point in the season, there are only a small handful of rookie players left.
With the success of the season 37 veteran alliance, veterans will almost certainly get the win, though that doesn’t mean the rookies’ Challenge career is over. Several of this season’s rookies have a lot of promise and demonstrated the skill and strength to make it in the competition. These are the male rookies who are most likely to return in future seasons.
Emanuel Neagu
Emanuel has been a very strong player the entire season and has done an excellent job allying himself with the right veterans to secure his place in the game. He’s currently in the Emerald Cell, which has won back-to-back challenges and has set the pace for the second half of the season. If any rookie is going to win, it would probably be Emanuel, and even if he doesn’t, there’s a strong chance of him returning in a future season.
Logan Sampedro
Season 37 rookie Logan has mostly flown under the radar this season but has demonstrated some valuable skills along the way. However, Logan was injured in one of the recent daily challenges, so his time in the competition this season might be up soon. Still, his performance this season was impressive, and he’s cultivated friendships with several veterans, so he could be well-positioned for a return to the show in another season.
Gábor 'Gabo' Szabó
Gabo became an unlikely fan favorite this season and seems to be as much beloved by his fellow competitors as he is by viewers. He lost his elimination challenge to Logan but left with his head held high. Gabo has said he didn’t know what The Challenge was all about, so with more preparation, he could be a formidable player next season.
Ed Eason
Enthusiastic contestant Ed was recently eliminated, but while he was on the show, he impressed a lot of veterans and viewers. Unfortunately, Ed chose poorly when selecting his opponent for the elimination challenge, and it’s something he hopefully learned from. If Ed could tighten up his political game and approach the competition more strategically, his return to The Challenge could really shake things up.
Corey Lay
After Corey’s dramatic elimination, it initially seemed like he wanted nothing to do with The Challenge moving forward. But on social media, Corey has clarified his position and reevaluated his behavior on the show. Corey wants to prove to the world that gay men can be strong and effective competitors, and his desire to set a good example could push him to return to The Challenge.
With The Challenge: Spies, Lies & Allies almost fully over, these season 37 rookies probably won’t win their first time around, but if they were to return in a future season, they could make some serious waves. The difficult competition isn’t for everyone, but these rookies could be seen on the show again.