The Challenge: USA is set to be a one-of-a-kind competition reality show when its inaugural season premieres on July 6, and like fans at home, host TJ Lavin already has his eye on a few Survivor alumni. The anticipated The Challenge spin-off, which was first announced in February 2022, is expected to be one of four new series, with three international versions planned to take place in the UK, Australia, and Argentina. Comprised of 28 contestants from multiple reality shows, The Challenge USA features players from Survivor, The Amazing Race, Big Brother, and Love Island.
The eight Survivor alumni who will compete for the $500,000 grand prize and the coveted title of "Challenge Champion" are Domenick Abbate, Tyson Apostol, Ben Driebergen, Danny McCray, Tasha Fox, Sarah Lacina, Shan Smith, and Desi Williams. In addition, the competitors are given individual challenge accounts that start off with $1,000, but have an insane amount of potential to increase. With even more money on the line than the first place prize, the incoming players will randomly face off in various challenges throughout the season in the hopes of earning even more money for their efforts.
While it's nearly impossible to predict the winner of The Challenge USA with such a strong and well-rounded cast, TJ, who has hosted every season of The Challenge since season 11, already has his eye on a few Survivor alumni who could go all the way. In The Challenge USA's "Meet the Cast: Survivor" promo video, which can be watched on YouTube, TJ states that the other contestants should watch out for Tyson more than anyone, and even called him "the one to beat." Tyson, who describes himself as "the third oldest in the house...barely," has competed in four intense Survivor seasons: Tocantins (season 18), Heroes vs. Villains (season 20), Winners at War (season 40), and Blood vs. Water (season 27) which ended in Tyson chosen as the "Sole Survivor" with an almost unanimous vote.
While Tyson's is TJ's predicted winner ahead of The Challenge USA, the 45-year-old says that if Tyson doesn't make it to the end, "a close second" would be Ben, who won Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (season 35) before returning alongside Tyson for Winners at War. TJ also shouts out Danny as a potential victor as well, a former NFL player who gained recognition as a physical competitor on Survivor 41. "I don't think any of the other guys from any of the other shows have a chance," TJ ultimately declares. "Those three dudes are hard."
Although TJ has high expectations for The Challenge USA contestants who learned how to outwit, outplay, and outlast from their time on Survivor, the same can't be said for the eight incoming Big Brother players. While TJ undoubtedly expects a Survivor alum to win the anticipated The Challenge spin-off, TJ has cast doubt that the Big Brother contestants will be able to keep up with the high physical demands of the show. With the mental aspect of the game just as important as the physical, however, The Challenge USA can quickly become anyone's game as the season progresses this summer.
The Challenge USA premieres July 6 at 9:30 p.m. EDT on CBS.
Source: MTV's The Challenge/YouTube