Forty cast members showed up to compete on Battle of the Eras, but only one male and one female will win. Going into this blindly, it means each competitor has a 1 in 20 (or 5%) chance of taking the victory.
These are slim odds, but in reality, some people are in better positions to win than others. Based on past performances, these five competitors seem to have the best chance of walking away with the grand prize.
Of course, these are just my opinions. The Challenge is full of twists and there are always elements of randomness in the competition. But these five males and five females seem to have a better chance.
Men
5. Theo Campbell
There are people who are hungry for a win, and then there’s Theo; at one point in time he was flat-out desperate. It’s hard to blame him though, because he came so close to winning the grueling War of the Worlds final, then an eye injury sidelined him for a while. While his appearance on the World Championship was a bit underwhelming, he has the size and speed to do well in the competition, and this could be his season to shine.
4. Horacio Gutiérrez
During Battle for a New Champion, Horacio found himself with many enemies in the game. This time around, he has far fewer, but he returns with his friend Kyland and girlfriend Nurys. He’s in a good position on his team, but the cast isn’t going to overlook the fact that he performed exceptionally well on Ride or Dies. This earned him respect from the veterans, so assuming he continues to perform well this season, he should be able to leverage his relationships to get far in the game.
3. CT Tamburello
From the looks of it, CT might not be in his best shape this season, but he should never be underestimated. Dad Bod CT won War of the Worlds 2, and many people live in fear of the Challenge legend. Likely, this will help him avoid elimination, and his experience will help him navigate the twists and turns all the way to the final.
2. Johnny Bananas
Love him or hate him, Bananas is the most decorated Challenger ever. For that reason, it would be foolish to dismiss his potential to win. We know that he has many connections in the game, and even though he’s had many enemies throughout the year, he comes onto this season with very few foes. So, his path to the final might not be that tough — unless he finds himself making more rivals along the way.
1. Jordan Wiseley
Many people consider Jordan The Challenge’s GOAT, and even if you award the title to someone else, it’s hard to find a competitor who’s more impressive than Jordan. He has three wins on the flagship series and he won the World Championship — not to mention he won the last milestone season, Dirty Thirty. Competitors have learned not to underestimate Jordan because he’s either the frontrunner in the game, or he’s poised to excel under pressure.
Women
5. Rachel Robinson
As the official Challenge Workout trainer, Rachel has decades of experience in both fitness and The Challenge. However, we tend to see one of two sides to Rachel. Sometimes she goes home way too early, like she did on The Island or All Stars 4. The other side of her is unstoppable, and if Duel 2 Rachel shows up this season, the other girls have their work cut out for them.
4. Cara Maria Sorbello
An undeniable force in the game, Cara Maria has made six consecutive finals on The Challenge and All Stars. She also has an outstanding elimination record, so she’s poised to be serious competition this season. However, she may also be her own biggest enemy. While she’s made it to six finals in a row, she only won one of them.
3. Emily Schromm
We haven’t seen this Challenge champ on a main series show in over a decade, but she’s one of the few remaining players to hold a pristine never-eliminated record. Perhaps her athletic abilities have changed since Rivals 2, but most likely, we’re going to see the same beast that dominated that season. And no doubt, other girls will take notice and be afraid.
2. Jenny West
We have a tough lineup of girls this season, but Jenny West stands out as a physical specimen. She’s extremely physically fit, but she’s also a smart and savvy player. While politicking may not be her strong suit, the fear of facing her in elimination will likely be enough to let her advance in the competition.
1. Laurel Stucky
Coming in after an All Stars 4 win, Laurel is going to be someone to look out for. Not only is she a great competitor, she’s also more socially connected than ever. She made friends during All Stars 4 and Ride or Dies, and she has longstanding friendships with other veterans. Taking her out of the game will be a battle, and targeting her will come with serious repercussions.
Stop Being Polite 