Cutthroat may be in our rareview mirrors, but the season gave us six new Challengers who may be looking ahead to future seasons. While most rookies want to compete on more than one Challenge, not everyone gets a second chance. Production is often selective, and they don’t always invite people to return.
Based on what we saw on Cutthroat, here’s how I’d rank each rookie on their likelihood of returning.
6. Reilly Smedley
The first girl out of the game, Reilly didn’t have a memorable run on Cutthroat. It really wasn’t her fault; she performed decently, but she was stuck on an imploding Blue Team. But on a show like The Challenge, the worst thing you can be is forgettable, and I’m guessing producers won’t remember to give her an availability call.
5. Josh Goldstein
If you’ve been following any online discourse surrounding Cutthroat, you’d know Josh was involved with (and largely responsible for) the season’s triple disqualification. While I do not think he’ll be back, he played a pretty big role in the first half of the season. He had drama with Nurys, a showmance with Adrienne, and emerged as a team captain. If he hadn’t gotten disqualified, he’d be a shoo-in for a second season. And production didn’t air the actual offense that got him kicked off, so we can’t completely dismiss the idea of them trying to protect Josh so he can come back.
4. Keanu Soto
Entering the season, Keanu seemed like a physical force, and he started strong. He eliminated Brad in the second male elimination, and he emerged as a confident player. This never developed into a compelling storyline, though he was tangentially related to Cory and Nelson’s dynamic this season. Then, he lost to Nelson in Knot So Fast. While he didn’t have an incredible first run, he did leave enough of an impression that some people believe he has more potential.
3. Deb Chubb
Deb is probably the opposite of Keanu. Coming into the game, most people immediately dismissed her. Then, she proved she wasn’t as weak as anticipated by defeating Reilly in the first female elimination. Her romance with Will and argument with Sydney gave her some memorable moments during the season, and leaving a Challenge with a new ex and rival puts any player in a good position to get invited back.
2. Alexis Lete
Like many rookies before her, Lete began her Challenge career by entering a showmance with Bananas. This is enough to get her invited back, but Lete stands out as one of the strongest rookies we’ve seen in ages. She’s a dominating presence in the game who’s so confident in her abilities that she’s unafraid to make enemies. Not only does this mean she leaves Cutthroat with unfinished storylines, but viewers are interested in seeing how her presence shakes up the status quo in future seasons.
1. Anna Leigh Wilson
If I had to summarize Anna Leigh’s debut season, I’d call it a glorious mess. From day one, she exceeded expectations by becoming the first captain, and from there, she continued making unexpected moves. She kinda-sorta flirted with Leo, pissed off Lete, and stole Bananas’ underwear (allegedly). Anna Leigh’s odd behavior earned her more camera time than anyone expected, but her unapologetic attitude was a breath of fresh air. She provided a level of chaos that The Challenge has been missing — and needs back in the future.
