On The Challenge, finals are notorious for being grueling events designed to test players’ endurance and desire to win. However, some have been far worse than others. These were the gnarly Challenge finals that pushed competitors to, and sometimes past, their limits.
Finals on the show have evolved over the many seasons the popular MTV competition show has been on the air. They used to take place over one day, and the finals overall weren’t too demanding. But the later seasons have stepped it up considerably.
Now, challengers can expect two-day finals that test them in ways they never imagined. These are the most dastardly finals producers have concocted over the past 37 seasons.
Double Agents
One of the hardest finals in Challenge history happened just last season on Double Agents. Viewers were stunned by the Double Agents final that included a grueling first day. The final kicked off with five miles of running on rocky terrain that to Kaycee Clark’s injury. During the Double Agents final, competitors also had to scarf down fish eyes, sheep hearts, sheep faces, ram testicles, and a liter of blood, before heading to a wet, freezing ice cave where they spent the night. The second day included more running and puzzles, and after the entire ordeal, Amber Borzotra and CT Tamburello were thrilled, but exhausted, when they came in first.
Rivals
For the Rivals final, players started off being dragged underwater by a speedboat and then required to kayak for three miles before reaching the next checkpoint. Competitors were required to carry a “pet rock,” which was a large rock attached to a chain. The Rivals Challenge final also included a dastardly brain teaser that had players memorize a complex campsite and recreate it after a lengthy amount of time. There was also an eating portion and a literal climb up a mountain as part of the final, and two teams didn’t even make it across the finish line.
Battle of the Exes II
This two-day final dropped contestants into water from a helicopter, and in addition to a hefty kayaking portion, there were also liquid fish eggs and caviar paste that players had to suck down. There was a surprisingly-difficult rock-tossing challenge that took up a lot of competitors’ time, and made their bike ride later all the more difficult. Challenge champ Jordan Wiseley and Sarah Rice secured the win, but had to endure this nightmarish final to take home the cash.
Battle of the Bloodlines
The Battle of the Bloodlines final stands out in many fans’ minds because it was the only final to take place within a busy city. Players had to complete a running portion while carrying an either 120- or 60-pound bag for men and women, respectively. Then they had to get a series of unwieldy barrels up a hill, going back and forth. Later, competitors were tasked with a difficult challenge of flipping beer steins into into a barrel, and they had to chug a beer if they didn’t get it in. Like in Rivals, players were given a heavy briefcase to tote around, and after a 10-mile paddle and eight laps in an Olympic stadium, every challenger was completely worn out.
War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds season had the most grueling final of just about any season. Competitors had to traverse what was called “The Death Path” which included over 50 miles of desert terrain. There was a 24-mile portion of the final that alternated running and cycling and there were several puzzles, challenges, and math problems. Players had to cross endless sand dunes, eat large amounts of food, and kayak, and at the end of the final, the times from each portion were added up to determine a winner. It was an intimidating final, and multiple challengers were medically disqualified, and the ones who finished are probably scarred for life.
The Challenge finals are never easy, but these finals must have given the competitors who finished them PTSD. They were difficult in ways that players never thought possible, and tested their limits. Overall, the finals seem to be getting harder and harder, and contestants of the future are in for a rough time.
Next: The Challenge: Female Competitors In The Running For Rookie Of The Year