It’s every Challenger’s biggest fear: They win a season and they get no money. We saw this happen on Rivals 3 and Final Reckoning, and it looks like we could have another prize thief on the horizon.
As of episode 11, we don’t know much about this temptation. Unlike Rivals 3 and Final Reckoning, the twist wasn’t announced up front, meaning the competitors haven’t been tallying their individual scores yet. In fact, we don’t even know if this twist is really coming — there could just be a Newlywed Game-style checkpoint, and this could just be one of the questions.
But what if the twist is real? Which competitors are most likely to share, and which ones are most likely to steal? I’m ranking them in order of most likely to share through most likely to steal.
Sam McGinn: We know Sam isn’t the most physically athletic competitor, and this isn’t lost on her. If she wins, her gratitude won’t allow her to steal the money. Even though she has big plans with the cash, she knows this is a team effort and Frank was instrumental to the victory.
Adam Larson: As an aspiring stay-at-home dad, we know this money could do a lot for Adam. Regardless, he knows the victory is about more than just money — it’s also a display of character. He wouldn’t want to set a bad example, and he knows that this is also an opportunity to repair his friendship with Steve.
Frank Fox: Like others, Frank has dreams money can buy, but his return to The Challenge isn’t just about getting paid. Most viewers wouldn’t fault him for taking the money because he “carried” the team in many situations, but his return to the show is also about personal growth, and stealing from Sam wouldn’t align with this mission.
Steve Meinke: Out of all the players, Steve is the biggest wild card. He narrowly missed the $250,000 prize on All Stars 4, and he also stabbed Adam in the back that season. Still, he doesn’t seem super motivated by the money or notoriety that comes with the theft. He really seems to want the title of Challenge champion, and he’d likely split the money as long as he gets that.
Nicole Zanatta: It’s pretty clear that there’s some chemistry between Nicole and her partner, and it doesn’t seem like she’d want to hurt Melissa — but she’s also in a committed relationship. There’s a good shot that she’d keep all the money to send a message: She’s done with Melissa and she wants to invest in her new girlfriend.
Shane Landrum: Out of all the teams, Shane & Da’Vonne seem to have the weakest connection, but so far they’ve performed well in the final. Shane has made it clear that he wants a friendship with Da’Vonne, and if they win, it’ll be because they managed to communicate well. However, Da’Vonne noted one thing: Shane wants to be a reality TV villain. If he takes the money, it’ll be an investment in his role on The Challenge.
Da’Vonne Rogers: We know that Da’Vonne has come onto this season with a renewed relationship with God. That doesn’t mean she won’t take all the money; if she does it, it’ll be well within the rules. Based on the edit, it also seems like the show is building up to a betrayal because we already saw Da’Vonne reject Shane’s invitation to be friends.
Melissa Reeves: If you believe the rumors about Final Reckoning, production wanted a champion who’d take the money from their partner. No one understands this meta game better than Melissa, and she knows to embrace an opportunity when it’s presented to her. Not only would taking all the money preserve her importance on The Challenge, she’s also required to take care of Vienna, her daughter. It’s not her job to look after Nicole.
Stop Being Polite 