What Could Battle of the Exes 3 Look Like?

Battle of the Exes is undoubtedly a popular Challenge format, but it has one problem: We have a finite number of couples. So, Exes 3 hasn’t happened (yet), but it’s been a decade since the last installment of Exes filmed. This has given us plenty of relationships the could fit the bill, and many fans feel the format is overdue for a return.

What would happen if we did get a Battle of the Exes 3? Likely, it’d have an all-star cast. Here are 13 couples (the same number as the first two installments) that would make that season a must-watch

For this list, I’m only going to include Exes pairings that have not yet appeared on Battle of the Exes 1 or 2. I’m also omitting pairs that appeared on Final Reckoning or will be featured on All Stars 5. Further, I’m not going to list people more than once, even though many competitors have multiple exes they could be partnered with.

Jordan & Tori

I know, this story line has been played out for the past three years, and these two seem to be on OK terms now. But, these ex-fiances are the most notable exes in the modern Challenge era. They’d also be a powerhouse team, but it’d be an interesting dynamic. Typically, they work together in the same alliance, but if they were partnered, they’d only have one vote and their alliance’s numbers would be reduced.

Brad & Britni

It’s been a few years since we’ve seen Brinti on The Challenge, but last time we saw her she was reaching the end of her relationship with Brad. To be fair, no one expected this relationship to last and there hasn’t been any type of messy, drawn-out drama. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be an interesting pair to watch, and we know Britni is no stranger to finding herself in the middle of drama.

Kyle & Cara Maria

When these two met on Vendettas, it was lust at first sight. They seemed to be a fun duo that season, but distance caused their romance to end. Then, Final Reckoning happened, Paulie entered the picture, and the drama really began. This rivalry lasted until Cara Maria and Paulie took a Challenge hiatus after War of the Worlds 2, but now the three players seem to imply they’ve left their drama in the past.

Note: There have been rumors that Kyle has been investigated for his behaviors on The Challenge. Kyle stated on the Zach Nichols Podcast that he has not been blackballed from the show, and spoiler accounts seem to imply the investigations did not amount to anything. I would never wish for this pairing to happen if their relationship was mentally or physically damaging.

Theo & Kam

It’s hard to remember, but there was a time when Leroy and Kam weren’t a power couple. During War of the Worlds, Kam had a fling with Theo, which seemed to help Leroy realize how much he valued Kam. While the two split on good terms, they could be a super strong team if they could work together without bringing drama to the show.

Bananas & Natalie

When the newbies arrived on Vendettas, they weren’t shy about entering relationships, and Natalie immediately gravitated toward Johnny Bananas. They seemed to be a power duo until a Devin spread a rumor about Kayleigh and Bananas making out. This resulted in Natalie feuding with Kayleigh and distancing herself from Bananas, but on Final Reckoning she claimed she’ll always have a soft spot of Bananas, so they could be a great team if they could avoid drama.

Cory & Kailah

These two had a quick (but hilarious) fling on Kailah’s debut season, Invasion of the Champions. By the time the two returned for Dirty Thirty, there was a lot of awkward energy and they didn’t want anything to do with each other. This was years ago, and both Cory and Kailah are in their own happy relationships, so perhaps this focus could help them both secure their first wins.

Devin & Marie

If you only watched The Challenge, you might not know that these two have a romantic past, but it was a prominent story on Ex on the Beach 3. Marie even started to think she might have feeling for Devin until he showed he was a bit of a player. Now, Marie has a child and Devin is in a relationship with Michele. This could allow them to focus on the game… or at least focus on creating drama with other people.

Emanuel & Michele

After Battle for a New Champion, we know Michele and Emanuel have options for an Exes season, but these two are quickly drawn to each other when they debuted on Spies, Lies and Allies. Then, they were kind of allies on season 39, and both of them have been successful on their more recent seasons, so they might be a dark horse team if they can stay on the same page.

Faysal & Amanda

When Amanda returned to The Challenge on Spies, Lies and Allies, she quickly developed feelings for Faysal. When the two reunited after the season, Faysal had left the picture and she was involved with Messy Fessy. Their romance quickly ended, so this duo likely has some unresolved drama, but they could also be a strong team — akin to Zach & Amanda on Final Reckoning where their unique strengths make them a very well-rounded partnership.

Kyland & Melissa

On Battle for a New Champion, this pair had some very awkward moments, but they were also kind of sweet. Kyland was very supportive of Melissa, and this could be the start of a good partnership. Based on that season’s reunion, these two are on good terms, and could work well together. The only problem? Both of them seem to have an affinity for drama, and that would only multiply if they were a team.

Hunter & Nany

Last time Hunter had to work with an ex, it didn’t end up so well, but that didn’t stop him from getting new exes. On War of the Worlds, he had a fling with Nany. By the time we got to the reunion, he was expecting a baby with another girl, confirming there would be no future with Nany. Now that Nany is in a relationship with Kaycee, it’s fair to say the romantic drama would be gone, which could help Hunter stay focused and allow Nany to have a strong partner that could help her win.

Johnny & Nurys

Before finding her perfect match in Horacio, Nurys had a fling with Johnny Middlebrooks. The romance ended once Johnny left Ride or Dies, and the two seem to be on OK terms, but it did cause a riff between Nurys and Johnny’s partner Ravyn. Since then, Nurys has made a huge splash on the Challenge scene, but Johnny hasn’t gotten his chance for redemption, so this could be an unexpectedly strong team.

Horacio & Laurel

These two have been at the center of drama recently, which is very different than the budding romance we saw on Ride or Dies. That season, they were a sweet pair, but Horacio didn’t want to develop a real relationship because he was pursuing an unnamed girls at home. Things have gotten a bit messier since then, but there’s no denying the strength on this team could make them unstoppable if they bring their A games.

Honorable Mentions

Danny & Melinda: These two should have done Exes 1 or Exes 2, and they’d still be an incredible addition to an Exes season. However, we briefly saw them on Battle of the Seasons, where they were a friendly team that didn’t last long.
Zach & Ashley K.: Apparently, this duo was asked to do Exes 1, but they were still dating. Similar to Danny and Melinda, we saw them work together as exes on Battle of the Seasons, though they were much more successful than the Austin exes.
Rogan & Dee: For a time, this was a very tumultuous couple. They worked well together on War of the Worlds 2, but Rogan threw Dee to the wolves on Total Madness. However, we know we’ll never see this couple return to the show.