The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions

Last updated

Invasion of the Champions
Season 29
Invasopen.jpeg
Presented by T. J. Lavin
No. of contestants26
Winners
Location Krabi, Thailand
No. of episodes16 (Reunion Included)
Release
Original network MTV
Original releaseFebruary 7 (2017-02-07) 
May 16, 2017 (2017-05-16)
Season chronology
 Previous
Rivals III
Next 
XXX: Dirty 30

The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions [1] (originally promoted and titled as The Challenge: Invasion) [2] is the 29th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge . The new individual format was filmed in Krabi, Thailand during October and November 2016, and features alumni from The Real World , Road Rules , The Challenge, and Are You the One? competing.

Contents

The season premiered on February 7, 2017, [2] and concluded with the reunion special on May 16, 2017.

Format

The game started off with 18 "Underdogs" (players who have yet to win a challenge) who get dropped off a boat and onto a beach, where they were living in "The Shelter". They compete individually in challenges, followed by an elimination round. The male and female winners of the challenge would be safe from elimination, and earn their ticket to "The Oasis" — the season house. The last-place finishers of each gender automatically went straight into elimination for the first challenge. [3] [4]

In the second challenge, the challenge winners choose a player of the opposite gender to go into the elimination. The remainder of the cast then voted in who goes against them for the first and second challenge. The males vote for the females, and vice versa. [5]

In the third challenge, and the last chance to earn a ticket to the Oasis, the winners are be safe from elimination, and the two remaining players of each gender automatically compete against each other. The winners of the elimination round would return to the game, and earn a ticket to The Oasis. Players could not go into The Oasis until every ticket had been earned. [3] Players who earned their ticket to the Oasis are exempt from elimination and do not compete in challenges until the Champions enter the game. [6]

In Episode 5, eight former champions (four male, four female) enter the game, which becomes a team competition - Underdogs vs. Champions. Each challenge is designated as either an Underdog or a Champion elimination. The winning team earns money in their team bank account depending on the challenge. [7] The best performing male and female of the team designated for the challenge then choose one player of each gender to go into the elimination. The remainder of the cast vote in the players to go against the nominated players in The Fortress. The winners return to the game, and the losers are eliminated. [8]

Contestants

Male contestants [2] Original seasonFinish
Chris "CT" Tamburello [upper-alpha 1] The Real World: Paris Winner
Nelson Thomas Are You the One? 3 Runner-up
Cory Wharton Real World: Ex-Plosion Third place
Darrell Taylor [upper-alpha 2] [upper-alpha 3] [upper-alpha 4] [upper-alpha 5] Road Rules: Campus Crawl Episode 12/13
Shane LandrumRoad Rules: Campus CrawlEpisode 11/12
Hunter BarfieldAre You the One? 3Episode 11
Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio [upper-alpha 6] [upper-alpha 7] [upper-alpha 8] [upper-alpha 9] [upper-alpha 10] [upper-alpha 11] The Real World: Key West Episode 9/10
Dario Medrano Are You the One? 2 Episode 8
Zach Nichols [upper-alpha 12] The Real World: San Diego (2011) Episode 7
Tony Raines Real World: Skeletons Episode 6
Anthony BartolotteAre You the One? 2Episode 4
Theo King-Bradley Real World Seattle: Bad Blood Episode 3 [lower-alpha 1]
Bruno BettencourtReal World: SkeletonsEpisode 2
Female contestants [2] Original seasonFinish
Ashley MitchellReal World: Ex-PlosionWinner
Camila Nakagawa [upper-alpha 9] Spring Break Challenge Runner-up
Nicole ZanattaReal World: SkeletonsThird place
Laurel Stucky [upper-alpha 10] The Challenge: Fresh Meat II Episode 12
Amanda GarciaAre You the One? 3Episode 11
Jenna ComponoReal World: Ex-PlosionEpisode 11
Cara Maria Sorbello [upper-alpha 13] The Challenge: Fresh Meat IIEpisode 9/10
Sylvia ElsrodeReal World: SkeletonsEpisode 8
Ashley Kelsey [upper-alpha 12] The Real World: San Diego (2011)Episode 7
Kailah Casillas Real World: Go Big or Go Home Episode 6
LaToya Jackson The Real World: St. Thomas Episode 4
Anika RashaunReal World Seattle: Bad BloodEpisode 3
Marie RodaThe Real World: St. ThomasEpisode 2
Champion of
  1. Rivals II
  2. The Gauntlet
  3. The Inferno
  4. The Inferno II
  5. Fresh Meat
  6. The Island
  7. The Ruins
  8. Rivals
  9. 1 2 Battle of the Exes
  10. 1 2 Free Agents
  11. Rivals III
  12. 1 2 Battle of the Seasons
  13. Battle of the Bloodlines

Gameplay

Challenge games

Elimination games

Final challenge

For the final challenge both teams are dismantled and players compete as individuals. Players pair up with each of the opposite gender competitors during the different stages of the final and their final placement is determined by their total final time. In addition to their share of what is in their team bank account, first place players receive $100,000 each, second receive $15,000 each, and third receive $5,000 each. Players must stay at The Shelter for the duration of the final challenge.

Game summary

Elimination chart

EpisodeWinnersElimination contestantsElimination gameElimination outcome
#ChallengeLast-placeVoted InWinnerEliminated
1/2The Over UnderNicoleMarieKailahIn The TrenchesKailahMarie
DarioBrunoTonyTonyBruno
ChallengeWinnersWinner's pickVoted InElimination gameWinnerEliminated
3Shell ShockedHunterTheoCoryWho's Got Balls?CoryTheo [lower-alpha 1]
Ashley M.JennaAnikaJennaAnika
ChallengeWinnersLast-placeElimination gameWinnerEliminated
4Caged and ConfusedAmandaLaToyaSylviaThai RiseSylviaLaToya
ShaneAnthonyNelsonNelsonAnthony
ChallengeFortress TeamWinnersPlayer's PickVoted InFortress GameWinnerEliminated
5/6KnockoutUnderdogsUnderdogsSylviaKailahTuk Tuk Bang BangSylviaKailah
TonyShaneShaneTony
7Roll With The PunchesChampionsChampionsCara MariaAshley K.Pole WrestleCara MariaAshley K.
ZachDarrellDarrellZach
8Curry UpUnderdogsChampionsNelsonDarioBell RingerNelsonDario
JennaSylviaJennaSylvia
9/10FalloutChampionsUnderdogsBananas vs. DarrellBalls InDarrellBananas
Cara Maria vs. LaurelLaurelCara Maria
10CrossoverUnderdogs
ChallengeBloodbath TeamWinnersFortress contestantsFortress gameWinnerEliminated
11/12X-ItUnderdogsHunter
Jenna
Amanda vs. Ashley M. vs. NicoleInside OutAshley M.Amanda
Nicole
Cory vs. Nelson vs. ShaneNelsonShane
Cory
ChallengeFortress TeamWinnersFortress contestantsFortress GameWinnerEliminated
12/13Caved InChampionsUnderdogsCamila vs. LaurelKnot So FastCamilaLaurel
CT vs. DarrellCTDarrell
13/14/15Final ChallengeCT2nd place: Nelson; 3rd place: Cory
Ashley M.2nd place: Camila; 3rd place: Nicole

Episode progress

ContestantsEpisodes
1/23 [lower-alpha 1] 45/6 [lower-alpha 2] 789/101011/1212/13Finale
Ashley M.SAFEWINEXMWONEXMSAFEEXMSAFEELIMEXMWINNER
CT [lower-alpha 2] EXMSAFEEXMWINSAFEEXMELIMWINNER
Camila [lower-alpha 2] EXMSAFEEXMWINSAFEEXMELIMSECOND
NelsonSAFESAFEELIMSAFEEXMELIMEXMSAFEELIMEXMSECOND
CorySAFEELIMEXMSAFEEXMSAFEEXMSAFEELIMEXMTHIRD
NicoleWINEXMEXMSAFEEXMWINEXMSAFEELIMEXMTHIRD
Darrell [lower-alpha 2] EXMELIMEXMELIMSAFEEXMOUT
Laurel [lower-alpha 2] EXMWINEXMELIMSAFEEXMOUT
ShaneSAFESAFEWINELIMEXMSAFEEXMSAFEOUT
AmandaSAFESAFEWINSAFEEXMSAFEEXMSAFEOUT
JennaSAFEELIMEXMSAFEEXMELIMEXMSAFELAST
HunterSAFEWINEXMSAFEEXMWINEXMSAFELAST
Cara Maria [lower-alpha 2] EXMELIMEXMOUT
Bananas [lower-alpha 2] EXMWINEXMOUT
SylviaSAFESAFEELIMELIMEXMOUT
DarioWINEXMEXMWONEXMOUT
Zach [lower-alpha 2] EXMOUT
Ashley K. [lower-alpha 2] EXMOUT
TonyELIMEXMEXMOUT
KailahELIMEXMEXMOUT
AnthonySAFESAFEOUT
LaToyaSAFESAFEOUT
AnikaSAFEOUT
Theo SAFEQUIT
BrunoOUT
MarieOUT
Competition
  The contestant won the final challenge
  The contestant did not win the final challenge
  The contestant won the challenge and won safety from the elimination round
  The contestant won the challenge, but was subject to the elimination round
  The contestant was exempt from participating in the elimination round
  The contestant was not selected for the elimination round
  The contestant won in the elimination round
  The contestant lost in the elimination round and was eliminated
  The contestant came in last in the daily challenge and was eliminated
  The contestant withdrew from the elimination round

Bank accounts

Updated after Episode 12

Champions
$25,000
Underdogs
$85,000

Voting progress

Voted into
Elimination
Tony
5 of 8 votes
Theo
1 of 1 vote
Cory
7 of 7 votes
No
vote
Tony
1 of 1 vote
Shane
3 of 5 votes
Zach
1 of 1 vote
Darrell
2 of 3 votes
Nelson
1 of 1 votes
Dario
3 of 4 votes
No vote
Kailah
7 of 8 votes
Jenna
1 of 1 vote
Anika
7 of 7 votes
Sylvia
1 of 1 vote
Kailah
3 of 5 votes
Cara Maria
1 of 1 vote
Ashley K.
2 of 3 votes
Jenna
1 of 1 votes
Sylvia
4 of 4 votes
VoterEpisode
1/2345/6789101112
Ashley M.TonyTheoTonyDario
CT [lower-alpha 2] Camila
Camila [lower-alpha 2] CT
NelsonKailahAnikaKailahSylvia
CoryKailahAnikaAshley M.Sylvia
NicoleTheoCoryShaneNelson
Darrell [lower-alpha 2] Ashley K.
Laurel [lower-alpha 2] Zach
ShaneKailahAnikaKailahSylvia
AmandaTonyCoryCoryDario
JennaTheoCoryShaneShane
HunterKailahJennaKailahJenna
Cara Maria [lower-alpha 2] Darrell
Bananas [lower-alpha 2] Cara Maria
SylviaTonyCoryCoryDario
DarioKailahAnikaSylviaSylvia
Zach [lower-alpha 2] Ashley K.
Ashley K. [lower-alpha 2] Darrell
TonySylviaAnikaAshley M.
KailahTheoCoryShane
AnthonyKailahAnika
LaToyaTonyCory
AnikaTonyCory
TheoKailahAnika
Bruno
Marie

Teams

Shell Shocked (Ep. 3)
Nelson & Amanda
Theo & Anika
Hunter & Ashley M.
Cory & Jenna
Shane & LaToya
Anthony & Sylvia
Roll With The Punches (Ep. 7)
Nelson & Amanda
Bananas & Laurel
Shane & Sylvia
CT & Cara Maria
Hunter & Ashley M.
Darrell & Ashley K.
Dario & Nicole
Zach & Camila
Cory & Jenna
Bananas & Laurel [lower-alpha 3]
Crossover (Ep. 10)
Shane & Nicole
Darrell & Laurel
Nelson & Amanda
Hunter & Ashley M.
CT & Camila
Cory & Jenna
Final Challenge (Ep. 13/14/15)
Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3
CT & CamilaCT & Ashley M.CT & Nicole
Cory & NicoleCory & CamilaCory & Ashley M.
Nelson & Ashley M.Nelson & NicoleNelson & Camila

Episodes

"The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions".
  • 1 2 3 4 Donnelly, Matthew Scott (January 11, 2017). "Underdogs Will Have Their Day When The Challenge Returns For Season 29". MTV. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  • 1 2 3 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 1 "Gimme Shelter" – Video at MTV.com". February 8, 2017.
  • 1 2 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 2 "Skeletal Fracture" – Video at MTV.com". February 8, 2017.
  • 1 2 3 4 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 3 "Helter Shelter" – Video at MTV.com". February 15, 2017.
  • 1 2 3 4 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 4 "Four Tickets To Paradise" – Video at MTV.com". February 22, 2017.
  • 1 2 3 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 8 "A Low Down Dirty Shane" – Video at MTV.com". March 22, 2017.
  • 1 2 3 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 5 "Underdog Eat Underdog World" – Video at MTV.com". March 2017.
  • 1 2 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 7 "Achy Breaky Heart" – Video at MTV.com". March 15, 2017.
  • 1 2 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 8 "An Officer and a Gentlewoman" – Video at MTV.com". March 29, 2017.
  • "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 10 "Go Your Own Way" – Video at MTV.com". April 5, 2017.
  • 1 2 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 11 "The Bloodbath" – Video at MTV.com". April 12, 2017.
  • 1 2 "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 12 "Caged" – Video at MTV.com". April 19, 2017.
  • "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 6 "The Mile-High Club" – Video at MTV.com". March 8, 2017.
  • "The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions Episode 13 "A River of Endless Light" – Video at MTV.com". April 26, 2017.
  • 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (February 8, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.7.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (February 15, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.14.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (February 22, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.21.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (March 1, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.28.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (March 8, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.7.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (March 16, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.14.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (March 22, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.21.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (March 29, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.28.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (April 5, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.4.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (April 12, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.11.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (April 19, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.18.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (April 26, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.25.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (May 3, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.2.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (May 10, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.9.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • Metcalf, Mitch (May 17, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.16.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  • No.
    overall
    No. in
    season
    TitleOriginal air dateUS viewers
    (millions)
    3571"Gimmie Shelter"February 7, 2017 (2017-02-07)0.69 [16]
    3582"Skeletal Fracture"February 7, 2017 (2017-02-07)0.65 [16]