There’s a sense of excitement when a new Challenge cast is announced, but people often leave the franchise in silence. So far, every Challenge has marked the final Challenge appearance from at least one person.
Here, I’m going to look at every single Challenge and name the most notable person who ended their career with that season. This list is fairly subjective, but I’m considering these factors when naming someone the “most notable” retiree from each season:
- Their level of success on their final season
- Success throughout their entire Challenge career, not just their final season
- The competitor’s total number of Challenge appearances
- Being involved in memorable story lines, drama, or relationships
- Fame and memorability outside of The Challenge/ MTV
Road Rules: All Stars-Extreme Challenge: Based on the casting structure of the first four Challenge seasons, everyone who stopped their Challenge career with the earliest installments only made one appearance. Therefore, they are the most notable One Challenge Wonder from each season.
Battle of the Seasons: Sean Duffy
Retirees: Becky, Belou, Chadwick, Chris M., Danny R., Kelley, Holly B., Lindsay, Josh F., Mike J., Mike L., Piggy, Sean D., Sharon, Stephen, Tara
Never mind the fact that Sean won this season as part of the “ultimate season.” Sean made a lasting impression on the reality TV world when he married Rachel Campos, making them one of the first reality TV couples to wed. Even that seems trivial compared to Sean’s political career. In early 2025, he was named Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump — at the inauguration he met up with his former Challenge opponent Theo Von.
Battle of the Sexes: Emily Bailey
Retirees: Amaya, Anne, Antoine, Blair, Christina, Colin, David E., Ellen, Emily, Eric J., Gladys, Jake, James, Lori, Melissa, Puck
This season is filled with notable competitors, including Real World royalty like Puck and Melissa, notorious Road Rulers like Ellen and Gladys, and Christina Pazsitzky before she got famous. But in the Challenge world, Emily stands out as the most noteworthy. Fans credit Emily for turning the competition into the sneaky, backstabbing game we love. That was on full display during Battle of the Sexes… until she took herself out of the competition when her boyfriend James, left, and neither has graced our screens since.
The Gauntlet: Sarah Greyson
Retirees: David B., Dave G., Elka, Irulan, Matt, Nathan, Norman, Rachel B., Sarah G., Theo G.
The Gauntlet was the birth of the modern Challenge in the sense that it introduced elimination rounds. This became a compelling part of the competition, and we can thank Sarah Greyson for that. She fought through five Gauntlets, winning each and stealing the title of “Queen of the Gauntlet.” She won the season, along with future celebrity Dave Giuntoli. Challenge fans are more likely to remember Sarah’s successes before they remember Dave skated to the end without having to prove himself in the Gauntlet.
The Inferno: Holly Shand
Retirees: Christena, Holly, Mallory
The Inferno is a monumental Challenge season, and the majority of its competitors have come back. The three girls who ended their careers with this season were fairly low drama, but Holly stands out because she’s a multi-season champion and a pretty solid competitor, who probably could have achieved more Challenge success if she continued to appear.
Battle of the Sexes 2: Eric Nies
Retirees: Angela T., Chris G., Dan S., Eric, Genesis, Jacquese, Nick, Shawn, Steven
There are OGs, and then there’s Eric Nies. He was on the first Real World season, and he looked like he was ready to compete on The Challenge years before The Challenge was even a thought. Not only did Eric do well on Battle of the Sexes, but he won, and he used his platform to promote the health benefits of jump roping while wearing a jump rope as an accessory all season.
The Inferno 2: The Miz
Retirees: Dan R., Jamie C., Jon, Karamo, Mike “The Miz”, Shavonda
Few people have impacted The Challenge as much as Mike. He won his first season, was involved in drama and hookups, and played a pivotal role in creating the rookie/ veteran dynamic. By the time he was on The Inferno 2, he was essentially the team’s captain, and he led the Good Guys to victory. Then, he went on to have a very successful WWE career. The Miz has reappeared in the Challenge world as a host, but he hasn’t actually competed on the show in over two decades.
The Gauntlet 2: Julie Stoffer
Retirees: Cameran, Danny D., David B., Jamie M., Jeremy, Jo, Julie, Montana, Randy
For a competitor who has given us so many great Challenge moments, The Gauntlet 2 seems like such an unremarkable appearance for Julie. She made it to the end of the season, but was part of the losing Veterans team, and she avoided most of the drama. While you could talk about The Gauntlet 2 without mentioning Julie, you can’t talk about the early years of the show without acknowledging her willingness to get involved in drama. Whether she was arguing with her Real World roommate Melissa or tampering with Veronica’s safety harness, Julie knew how to get under people’s skin and onto our screens.
Fresh Meat: Theo von Kurnatowski
Retirees: Chanda, Jesse, Johnnie, Linette, Theo
Four rookies and one well-known veteran retired after Fresh Meat — so yes, Theo is obviously the most notable person to end their Challenge career after this season. While this appearance may not have been one of his highlights, he is a two-time champion who helped launch the franchise. If you miss Theo, he’s not hard to find. Nowadays, he’s a highly successful comedian with a podcast and comedy special on Netflix.
The Duel: Svetlana Shusterman
Retirees: Kina, Svetlana
Many Challenge seasons have had a rookie push through the competition, but Svetlana feels like the archetype for the unexpected rookie finalist. She fought her way to the end by working with a then-unproven Wes and by winning three Duels. While Kina also ended her Challenge career this season, The Duel doesn’t feel like a satisfying conclusion, especially because she appeared on (and won) Road Rules: Viewers Revenge.
The Inferno 3: Timmy Beggy
Retirees: Cara Z., Timmy
Watching The Inferno 3 felt like the end of an era for Timmy. He was a well-respected Road Rules alumnus who was known for his sense of humor, and he served as a team captain on the season (even though he struggled in some missions). Sadly, he injured his knees pretty badly in the Smash House Inferno and was disqualified. He announced his retirement after that, and so far, he’s stuck to his word.
The Gauntlet 3: Coral Smith
Retirees: Alex, Angel, Coral, Frank R., Rachel M.
When the Challenge was first becoming a TV phenomenon, Coral was on the show, causing drama and capturing people’s attention. She was the perfect blend of competition, confrontation, and humor that made The Challenge must-see TV. So it was sad to see Coral leave The Gauntlet 3 on bad terms, and it’s a shame she hasn’t returned to the show since. Whenever she competed on a season, you knew it was going to be good, and even in her worst moments, she had eyeballs glued to TV sets.
The Island: Ashli Robson
Retirees: Ashli, Colin, Dave
You’d think that The Island would have scared a few cast members away from The Challenge, but only three people ended their careers with this season. None of them made particularly strong impressions on the show, but Ashli stands out because we almost got to see her return on Battle of the Seasons, only to see her second shot get washed away when the Sydney team was sent home.
The Duel 2: Brooke LaBarbera
Retirees: Brittini, Brooke, Derek M.
This is another season that only ended three Challenge careers, and if we were only looking at The Duel 2, Brittini would easily be the most memorable. Brooke was fairly low-key that season, though she did get involved with a three-way make-out session with Davis and Ryan. When we look at The Gauntlet 3, Brooke was a part of one of The Challenge’s most memorable romances. She showed up, decided she wanted to experiment with women, and started a fling with Evelyn. There’s no denying that Brittini is a superior competitor, but Brooke is the type of reality star that always leaves viewers with something to talk about.
The Ruins: Tonya Cooley
Retirees: Brianna, Ibis, Johanna, Kimberly, Nick B., Susie, Tonya
There’s a lot to say about Tonya’s time on The Ruins, but I’m not going to dive into that here. To be honest, Tonya had already established a memorable Challenge career before she showed up to compete on this season. She became an iconic reality TV presence on Battle of the Sexes 2 and The Inferno 2. Most of her Challenge career was defined by her flirty, confrontational, and slightly kooky personality that became reality TV gold — especially because she could actually compete. She won The Inferno 3, and it’s a shame her time on the show ended with such a dark cloud.
Fresh Meats 2: Landon Leuck
Retirees: Carley, Jeff, Jillian, Landon, Noor, Pete, Sandy, Sydney
Two Challenge champions ended their careers with Fresh Meat 2, but ultimately, Landon had a bigger impact on the franchise. He hasn’t appeared on the show in over 15 years, but fans still ask for him to return. And why wouldn’t they? He left Fresh Meat 2 as a three-time champion, and his victory with Carley was one of the most impressive accomplishments the show has ever seen. Landon is often debated as one of the Challenge GOATs, and it’s hard to argue that he’s not worth being in the conversation.
Cutthroat: Tori Hall
Retirees: Ayiiia, Dan, Luke, Shauvon, Tori H.
The fact that Tori pulled out her second Challenge win on Cutthroat is quite impressive. Not only was she the only girl who won, but she was playing against stacked competition, though most of the girls on Cutthroat hadn’t fully proven their abilities. It also felt like Tori didn’t really want to compete this season; she just wanted to be there to help Brad. And she did. The married couple won together, and Tori decided it was time to move on to married life, while Brad would eventually return to the show.
Rivals: Kenny Santucci
Retirees: Adam R., Adam K., Davis, Evan, Evelyn, Jenn, Katelynn, Kenny, Mike R.
Rivals felt like a breath of fresh air for many reasons, but it was a captivating season because its cast was so strong. It would also be the final Challenge appearance for many super veterans, though a couple of them may not have wanted to end their careers with this season. Both Kenny and Evelyn were serious contenders for this spot, but I ultimately went with Kenny because he played a central role on the show. He’s a triple champion, and his rivalry with Wes was a focal point across three seasons. It’s hard to overstate his importance to the franchise as we entered the 2010s, and production was left scrambling when he stopped appearing.
Battle of the Exes: Robbin Hibbard
Retirees: Heather M., Nate, Priscilla, Robin, Vinny
When Robin started doing The Challenge, she emerged as a rookie to watch. She made it deep into Battle of the Sexes and entered a relationship with Mark, which would cause drama down the road. As her time on the show progressed, she was involved in more drama, and she became increasingly desperate to win. She took some time off after The Duel 2, returned for Rivals, but gave one of her best performances on Battle of the Exes. While she’s had her share of personal problems in more recent years, she seems to be in a better place now. She may not return to the show in the future, but it’s great to see she’s overcoming some personal battles and working to protect her health.
Battle of the Seasons: CJ Koegel
Retirees: CJ, Danny J., JD, Lacey, Laura, McKenzie
From a story standpoint, Danny Jamieson may be the standout Challenger who ended his run on Battle of the Seasons, but from a competitive angle, CJ takes the cake. He was one of the frontrunners on the season, and despite his non-confrontational nature, he was a part of the drama. He was also a part of the nail-biting Hall Brawl that put the elimination on the map and nearly took Zach out of the game, which would have changed the course of the season.
Rivals 2: Paula Meronek
Retirees: Cooke, Dunbar, Anastasia, Marlon, Naomi, Robb, Trey, Ty
A fair number of Challengers ended their runs with Rivals 2, but at the time, it felt like Paula was a mainstay on the show. This was her 10th season, and she was the first person to hit the milestone, so it was hard to imagine the franchise without her. She became a champion after the first Rivals season, but she earned two-time champion status when she won Rivals 2 with Emily. While Paula’s absence from the show was definitely felt, she seems to be doing well without The Challenge, and she’s made her health, family, and sobriety her priority.
Free Agents: Devyn Simone
Retirees: Chet, Devyn, Emilee, Isaac, Preston, Swift
Devyn is a rare Challenger. She only competed on two seasons, but she’s never been eliminated. She shocked a lot of viewers when she made it to the end of Free Agents, and while she finished the final in third place, this was an accomplishment for the fashion-forward competitor. She’s also unique because she never disappeared from the Challenge world. She hosted the official podcast and has done reunion hosting — most recently for Vets & New Threats.
Battle of the Exes 2: Diem Brown
Retirees: Adam K., Brittany, Diem, Dustin, Hailey, Knight, John J.
This season is dedicated to Knight and Diem, and both made lasting impressions on viewers. However, Diem’s Challenge story feels especially unfinished. We watched her romance with CT blossom on The Duel and the Gauntlet 3, only to watch it dissipate on The Duel 2. They formed a friendship on Battle of the Exes 1, and they were so close to winning that final. Many fans felt Exes 2 was Diem’s chance to win. She had a stellar teammate and seemed to be in good spirits. While cancer took her out of the competition, she was a fighter until her last day, and her legacy prevails through the people she inspired.
Battle of the Bloodlines: Abram Boise
Retirees: Abram, Anthony, Brianna J., Candice, Emily R., Jill T., Larissa, Mike B., Mitch, Raphy, Rianna, Stephen B.
Abram showed up as a replacement on Bloodlines, and it may have been the most uncomfortable Challenge appearance of all time. It was pretty clear that he was just there to infuse drama into the season and to force Cara Maria to address her relationship with Thomas. This diminished the successes of a once-dominant Challenger who had two championships under his belt. We saw glimpses of the old Abe — like when he opposed Bananas and only referred to him as “John” — but it really felt like he showed up to help Cara Maria win. For better or for worse, that effort was successful.
Rivals 3: Sarah Rice
Retirees: Brandon, Cheyenne, Christina L., Jamie B., Jessica, Johnny R., Nate, Sarah, Thomas, Vince
While a fair number of competitors retired with Rivals 3, Sarah easily has the strongest resume — but that actually doesn’t matter. Her involvement in the money-stealing twist would make her the most notable person to retire after this season. But her long career makes her absence felt much more intensely. Sarah earned a reputation as a puzzle queen, a determined competitor, and a good girl with a cutthroat edge. The twist at the end of Rivals 3 really soured her experience with the show, though a return can’t be entirely ruled out.
Invasion of the Champions: Theo King-Bradley
Retirees: Anika, Anthony, Bruno, Theo
You probably don’t remember any of these people too well, but you might remember TJ making an odd Britney Spears reference when Theo quit the Who’s Got Balls elimination.
Dirty Thirty: Camila Nakagawa
Retirees: Ammo, Briana L., Camila, LaToya, Shane R., Simone
Whether you love or hate Camila, there’s no doubt that she was a huge presence on The Challenge. She was a fierce competitor who often flew off the rails, and it felt like producers loved to see the Camilinator — until she went too far. She truly broke trust with producers with a freak-out on Champs vs. Stars, though her explosion on Leroy on Dirty Thirty was portrayed as her unforgivable moment. This made Camila’s departure from the franchise feel ominous, and it can be hard to look back at her melt downs, but there’s no denying she played an impressive game.
Vendettas: Nicole Ramos
Retirees: Alicia, Eddie, Nicole R., Victor
Nicole wasn’t even on a whole episode of Vendettas, but all its retirees were fairly unremarkable on the season. At least Nicole had a few good seasons before Vendettas. She was a notable newcomer on Bloodlines, but Rivals 3 was probably her shining season. She defeated her cousin, Nany, in an elimination, and she was in a relationship with Nate. Nicole wasn’t the toughest competitor, but she had a good sense of humor and brought a big personality… and bigger lips.
Final Reckoning: Marie Roda
Retirees: Angela B., Britni, Chuck, Derrick H., Marie, Jozea
Only two Final Reckoning retirees stand out: Britni and Marie, but Marie takes the cake here. She found herself building a friendship with Cara Maria during the season, and it forced her to question her relationship with her Lavender Lady allies. We also saw Marie step up as a competitor, and she won Redemption rounds with Cara Maria. She left the show on a high note, making it to her first final but finishing in last place. It felt like Marie was getting progressively better with each season, and had she stuck with this momentum, she may have become a champion.
War of the Worlds: Hunter Barfield
Retirees: Alan, Chase, Gus, Hunter, J.P., Julia, Liz, Morgan, Natalie N., Shaleen
Most of the veterans on War of the Worlds had very established Challenge careers, but Hunter seemed to be on the season for revenge. He memorably had his Final Reckoning prize money stolen by Ashley, but he took her out of this season in the first elimination. As War of the Worlds progressed, we saw a more confrontational and abrasive side of Hunter, but that managed to take him to the final. However, he didn’t win any money back. He bowed out of the race after the first day, and it seems like he bowed out of the franchise altogether.
War of the Worlds 2: Zach Nichols
Retirees: Esther F., Faith, Georgia, Idris, Joss, Kayleigh, Natalie “Ninja,” Nicole B., Sean, Zach, Zahida
Many of the big UK personalities on The Challenge ended their runs on War of the Worlds 2, but an American was the most notable departure from the franchise. Zach had been a Challenge mainstay for about seven years when he appeared on War of the Worlds 2, and this season seemed to be one of the strongest performances in his career. He opposed the majority alliance in the game, aka “Cult of Cara,” but he wasn’t overly confrontational — at least, not on camera. Zach has since become a podcaster, and he revealed he hasn’t received invitations to do The Challenge because of his checkered relationship with production.
Total Madness: Dee Nguyen
Retirees: Bayleigh, Bear, Chris “Swaggy C.,” Dee N., Jenn L., Jenna, Mattie
This honor should really go to Jenna, but you can’t tell the story of The Challenge in the 2020s without talking about Dee. She went from a likable underdog on War of the Worlds, to a champion on War of the Worlds 2, to a villain on Total Madness. While her dastardly behavior during her final season made for compelling TV, her off-screen personality was also taking a turn. This resulted in some tone-deaf social media comments, and MTV was quick to swoop in and make an example out of her. Dee got publicly banned from The Challenge, and Total Madness was edited to remove her from the season. This resulted in a shift in tone on the show, and it hasn’t fully recovered since.
Double Agents: Theresa Gonzalez
Retirees: Amber M., Gabby, Joseph, Lio, Liv, Lolo, Mechie, Natalie A., Theresa
In a sea full of one-and-done appearances, Theresa is the sole veteran to retire after Double Agents. To be honest, the fact that she showed up on this season was a complete surprise, but it was a welcome change of pace. Theresa was fairly calmer this season and showed a lot of growth compared to her earlier appearances, but she was still a sneaky competitor. She tried to make some shifty moves in the game, and it led to Ashley getting sent home (for real this time). This devious gameplay put a huge target on her back, and she was sent home shortly after Ashley.
Spies, Lies and Allies: Kyle Christie
Retirees: Bettina, Emy, Esther A., Gabo, Jeremiah, Kelz, Lauren, Logan, Priscilla, Renan, Tacha, Tommy, Tracy
When the UK players first invaded The Challenge on Vendettas, Kyle stuck out as a humorous and likable competitor. He made it to the final without seeing a single elimination, but his fun-loving reputation started to fade on Final Reckoning. He found himself involved with drama with Paulie and Cara Maria, and that continued on War of the Worlds and War of the Worlds 2. By the time Kyle showed up for Spies, Lies and Allies, he had won multiple eliminations and was a formidable competitor. The season tested him, especially when he was on the failing Ruby Team, but he made the final. He finished in second, meaning he left The Challenge without becoming a champion.
Ride or Dies
Retirees: Analyse, Emmy, Jakk, Johnny M., Kailah, Kim, Kenny C., Nam, Sam, Tamara, Tommy
When Kailah debuted on Invasion of the Champions, she was a standout rookie. She did the next three Challenge seasons until she was kicked off Final Reckoning. This seemed to sour her experience with the show, but her return on All Stars 3 proved she still has a lot of fight left in her. That would not be the case on Ride or Dies. She was the first girl sent home, and she took her husband, Sam, with her. This was a tough blow, especially because Kailah’s allies were sitting on the sidelines, waiting to make their debuts in episodes 2, 3, and 4. While Kailah might return in the future, the show’s pay structure has made her reluctant to come back.
Battle for a New Champion: Jay Starrett
Retirees: Asaf, Berna, Callum, Chauncey, Ciarran, Colleen, Ed, Emanuel, Hughie, James, Jay, Jessica B., Jujuy, Moriah, Ravyn, Zara
This season felt like a cast of misfits, but Jay was one of the few competitors who had already established a decent identity on The Challenge. He was beloved on Total Madness for going into the first three male eliminations — he even defeated CT. Then, he played a somewhat deceitful game with Theresa on Double Agents, and he targeted the veterans on Ride or Dies. So, by the time Battle for a New Champion rolled around, the nice guy persona had mostly gone. We got full Survivor Jay this season. He was the ringleader of the majority alliance, and he was perceived as a villain. This got him to the final, but he was targeted by Corey in the Chaos elimination, kicking him out of the game before he reached the finish line.
Battle of the Eras: Jordan Wiseley
Retirees: Amanda, Averey, Brad, Brandon, Cory, Darrell, Emily Schromm, Horacio, Jenny, Jodi, Jordan, Josh, Kaycee, Kyland, Laurel, Mark, Michele, Nehemiah, Nurys, Paulie, Rachel, Ryan, Tina, Tony, Tori
Let’s be honest, a lot of these people are going to come back (assuming there’s a future on the show), so it’s hard to know who’s really done with The Challenge. As it stands, a lot of huge names in the franchise are “retired” after Battle of the Eras. If they all stay retired, Jordan would probably be the most noteworthy because he was the sole male winner, has amassed five Challenge wins, and seems to think he really might not get a call back.
Anyone who appeared on Vets & New Threats is presumed to be active in the Challenge world and has not “retired.”
All Stars 1: Trishelle Cannatella
Retirees: Arissa, Alton, Eric “Big Easy,” Jisela, Ruthie, Trishelle
While All Stars may not have been her shining moment on The Challenge, Trishelle has a unique spot on the show. On some seasons, like The Gauntlet and Battle of the Seasons, she was a great competitor. Other times, like The Inferno and Rivals 2, she was caught up in drama. All Stars seemed to be a drama-heavy season for her, but she left after a memorable argument with Katie. Then, she competed on The Traitors — a show she truly excelled at.
All Stars 2: Teck Holmes
Retirees: Casey, Cohutta, Leah, Sophia, Teck
If we strictly look at The Challenge, Casey is a much more infamous competitor. But Tech is notable because of his fame outside of the show — plus, he was a solid competitor on All Stars 2. After The Real World, Teck was viewed as a reality TV pioneer. Gen Xers who watched cable TV probably know his name, and Gen Z may recognize him as Jordan from Friends. Teck’s entertainment career has taken him a lot of places outside of The Challenge/ The Real World, so it was nice to see him finally return with All Stars (even if it ended poorly).
All Stars 3: MJ Garrett
Retirees: Cynthia, Jemmye, Laterrian, Kendal, Melinda, MJ, Roni, Tyler
A few notable Challengers ended their careers with this season, but MJ’s name sticks out for his two successful eras. “Muja star” was a standout Real Worlder who seemed built for The Challenge, so it wasn’t shocking to see him win his first season, The Gauntlet 2. While his later appearances on the main series weren’t as successful, his return on All Stars 2 proved why he’s a solid competitor. He and Jonna became a dynamic duo, and he pulled off his second Challenge win 16 years after the first. He returned to All Stars 3 with a busted knee, a rumored scandal, and a target on his back. All things considered, it’s pretty impressive he made it midway through that season.
All Stars 4: Kam Williams
Retirees: Ayanna, Ace, Flora, Janelle, Jasmine, Jay G., Kam, Kefla, Syrus, Tyri
Since her debut on Vendettas, Kam has been a standout competitor, but she stood out for the wrong reason on All Stars 4 — she was the first AYTO alum to compete on the spinoff. This was likely because she was there to support Leroy, which makes sense. She had recently given birth and wasn’t physically 100% ready to compete. This doesn’t undermine her impressive performances on seasons like Vendettas, War of the Worlds 2, and Double Agents, but let’s hope All Stars 4 isn’t Kam’s final showing. She has a lot to give to the Challenge… it just doesn’t seem she’s ready to give it on season 42.
All Stars: Rivals
Retirees: Adam, Amber B., Ashley K., Beth, Big T, Corey, Da’Vonne, Dario, Devin, Faysal, Frank, Katie, Kellyanne, Melissa, Nicole, Sam, Shane, Steve, Sylvia, Veronica
Obviously, many of these competitors aren’t truly retired. Theoretically, if they did retire, Veronica would be the most notable person to leave the show. Her Challenge career spans 25 years, she’s a three-time Champion, and her sneaky gameplay is unmatched. It doesn’t matter when you started watching The Challenge; you know Veronica, and you’ve seen her transform the game.
The Challenge USA: Tyson Apostol
Retirees: Azah, Angela, Cashay, Cashel, Cayla, Cinco, Derek X., David A., Domenick, Enzo, James, Javonny, Kyra, Leo, Shan, Shannon, Tasha, Tyson, Xavier
The majority of these cast members only did one season, but The Challenge USA served as a glimpse into a spinoff franchise that could have been. Most of the competitors were semi-new to the reality TV scene, but Tyson was an established name. The Survivor winner may not have had the best time on The Challenge, but it didn’t scare him away from reality TV — we’ll see him again very soon.
The Challenge World Championship: Nelson Thomas
Retirees: Ben, Benja, Claudia, Danny M., Emily Seebohm, Grant, Justine, Kaz, Kiki, Nathan H., Nelson, Rodri, Sarah L., Tristan, Troy, Yes
Here’s the funny thing: Nelson played such a small role this season. He was the first veteran eliminated, and he wasn’t even a real champion. He was likely only on the season to balance the cast, but this was his tenth season, and viewers expected to see him on upcoming Challenges. Then, he got in a life-altering car accident, which resulted in his foot being amputated. While this was a humbling experience for the veteran, he continues to train and work with people with disabilities, so he’s ready to make a comeback if the opportunity arises.
The Challenge USA 2: Wes Bergmann
Retirees: Alyssa L., Alyssa S., Ameerah, Cassidy, Channelle, Chris U., Desi, Dusty, Luis, Monte, Sebastian, Tiffany, Tyler
A few of the newcomers this season were well-liked by Challenge fans, but Wes is one of the most memorable people to come from the franchise. By the time he appeared on The Challenge USA 2, he had been doing Challenges for about 18 years. He’s a three-time champ, but he’s accomplished something bigger during his Challenge career. He went from being Bananas’ foe to being his friend, and the two veterans were allies on this season. Wes is one of the few people on this list who actually announced his retirement, and while some people were skeptical (like me), he hasn’t done a season since making the announcement.
Stop Being Polite 