Would Adam & Steve Do Well on the Main Series?

All Stars Rivals is over, and Adam & Steve walked away with championship titles. There’s only one place to go from here: the main series.

Much like Jonna returned to the flagship show after winning All Stars, it’s not inconceivable that Adam & Steve would jump to the main series. In fact, Adam even has a championship title from winning The Gauntlet in 2003. The show has changed a lot since then, and in many ways, All Stars is better preparation for the main series than The Gauntlet was.

If the Road Rulers returned to the main show, could either claim a title? Or have they reached their ceiling on All Stars?

Adam

On the Death, Taxes, and Bananas podcast, Leroy and Bananas said Adam wouldn’t do well on the main series. They thought he could physically compete in the dailies, but the long-term mental game would be his downfall.

There may be some truth to this, because on All Stars Rivals, Adam was an early target. He only had a few connections in the game, which made him a scapegoat. We also saw Katie coaching him to be a more aggressive competitor who doesn’t smile as much.

While Bananas and Leroy’s opinions may not be entirely baseless, they’re also overlooking many data points. Adam has done exceptionally well in eliminations since returning to All Stars, and historically, there have been a lot of wildcard games in the Arena. Adam’s social circle is also growing. If production invites him to do the main series, they’ll likely want Averey to be part of the season so their story can continue on screen.

Adam will likely have to try harder to excel on the main series than on All Stars, but he’s not a complete non-contender. If anything, he’d lose before he sets foot in the sand. All Stars films for about 6 weeks, and the main series films for twice as long. Adam may not want to be apart from his family for that long, which could deter him from showing up.

Steve

If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again — Steve is a wildcard in the game. He came super close to winning All Stars 4, then he returned on the next season and snatched the championship.

Unlike Adam, Steve holds his cards close to his chest. If Adam came onto the main series, you’d likely know he’s working with people like Averey or Katie. Steve’s alliances wouldn’t be quite as obvious, but he would undoubtedly be scheming behind the scenes.

Steve would likely do well in daily challenges on the main series. At this point in time, the bulk of them have puzzles attached to them, and he’s a whiz with a puzzle. This could put Steve in a position of power, and he’s no stranger to making game-rattling moves when that happens.

We know Steve spent a lot of time pondering his strategy after All Stars 4, and he’d likely do the same entering a bigger playing field. From a competitive standpoint, Steve’s return on the flagship show may be more interesting. When people come into the game without connections and an ability to compete, they tend to disrupt the status quo.

At this point, both Adam and Steve would be welcome additions to the main series, but I see them being cast for different reasons. Adam’s romance with Averey would probably be his focal point, at least early in the season, but Steve’s unconventional quest for domination would be his plot line.