The Challenge: Vets & New Threats

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Vets & New Threats
Season 41
The Challenge Vets & New Threats title card.png
Presented by T. J. Lavin
No. of contestants33
Location Santiago, Chile
No. of episodes9
Release
Original network MTV
Original releaseJuly 30, 2025 (2025-07-30) 
present
Season chronology
 Previous
Battle of the Eras
List of episodes

The Challenge: Vets & New Threats is the forty-first season of the MTV reality competition series The Challenge , [1] featuring alumni from The Real World , Road Rules , The Challenge, Are You the One? , Big Brother (Australia and U.S.), Survivor (Turkey and U.S.), WWE , Love Island (UK and U.S.), Too Hot to Handle , Cheer , Married at First Sight (UK), Canada's Ultimate Challenge , and boxing competing for a monetary prize. [2] A launch special titled "Day Zero" aired on July 23, 2025, followed by the season premiere on July 30, 2025. [3] [4]

Format

Vets & New Threats features 16 "Vets" who have previously competed on The Challenge, and 16 "New Threats" making their debut on the series. The season has contestants competing in challenges as male-female pairs, each comprising one Vet and one New Threat (unless otherwise impossible due to uneven numbers or other restrictions). The initial pairs were determined by a draft after a special challenge during the "Day Zero" launch special. [5]

Each episode is designated as either a male or female elimination cycle, with the first cycle determined by a coin toss. The format from episode 1–8 is as follows:

In episode 9, contestants competed in an individual challenge for a final chance to earn Performance Points, before choosing a partner for the rest of the season. From episode 10, contestants compete in both challenges and eliminations as pairs.

Twists

Contestants

Male contestants [2] Original seasonFinish
Cedric Hodges Big Brother 26
Chris "CT" Tamburello The Real World: Paris
Derrick Kosinski Road Rules: X-Treme
Gabe Wai WWE
Jake Cornish Love Island UK 7
Justin Hinsley Cheer 1
Leonardo "Leo" Dionicio Love Island USA 5
Leroy Garrett The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)
Theo Campbell Love Island UK 3
Turabi "Turbo" Çamkıran Survivor Turkey 8
Will Gagnon Are You the One? 9
Yeremi Hykel The Amazing Race 35
Derek Chavez The Real World: Cancun Episode 8
Ben DavisBoxer and commentatorEpisode 5
Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio The Real World: Key West Episode 4
Rogan O'Connor Ex on the Beach UK 2 Episode 1
Female contestants [2] Original seasonFinish
Adrienne Naylor Married at First Sight UK 8
America Lopez Big Brother 25
Aneesa Ferreira The Real World: Chicago
Ashley Mitchell Real World: Ex-Plosion
Aviv Melmed Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat
Dee Valladares Survivor 45
Jonna Mannion [a] The Real World: Cancun
Michaela Bradshaw Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X
Nany GonzálezThe Real World: Las Vegas (2011)
Olivia Kaiser Love Island USA 3
Sydney Segal Survivor 41
Tay Wilcoxson Big Brother Australia 15
Izzy Fairthorne Too Hot to Handle 3 Episode 7
Ayoleka "Leka" Sodade Canada's Ultimate Challenge 2 Episode 6
Cara Maria Sorbello The Challenge: Fresh Meat II Episode 5 [a]
Nia Moore The Real World: Portland Episode 3 [b]
Blue KimBig Brother 25Episode 2

Gameplay

Challenge games

Arena games

Game summary

EpisodeGenderWinnersSavedHangnailWinners' pickArena contestantsArena gameArena outcome
#ChallengeLast-placeVoted inWinnerEliminated
1Mud Ball MadnessMaleBananas & DeeIzzy & TheoAdrienne & RoganJustin & NiaInertiaJustinRogan
2Side by SideFemaleLeka & TurboAdrienneDerek C. & TayBlue & Derrick K.Derek C. & TayLaser FocusTayBlue
3Water TowerFemaleJustin & OliviaIzzy & TurboGabe & Nia [b] America & Bananas [b]
4AmazedMaleBen & MichaelaGabeDerek C. & IzzyBananas & LekaGabeHold 'Em BackGabeBananas
5Dirtballer [a] MaleJake & MichaelaJonna & LeoDee & Derek C.Ben & Olivia [d] Him ColliderDerek C.Ben
6Runes My LifeFemaleLeo & SydneyOliviaAneesa & GabeCT & LekaOliviaOut of TimeOliviaLeka
7Drive Me CrazyFemaleLeo & NanyAshley & TheoTay & YeremiIzzy & WillPick It Up AgainTayIzzy
8CycloneMaleSydney & YeremiTheo [e] Aviv & Derek C.CT & MichaelaAviv & Derek C.Pole WrestleCTDerek C.
9Broken Dreams [c]

Elimination progress

ContestantsEpisodes
12345 [a] 6789
AdrienneSAFERISKSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
AmericaSAFESAFENOMSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
AneesaSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFERISKSAFESAFESAFE
AshleySAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAVESAFESAFE
AvivSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
CedricSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
CTSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEELIMSAFE
DeeWINSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
Derrick K.SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
GabeSAFESAFESAFEELIMSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
JakeSAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFE
JonnaSAVESAFESAFESAFESAFE
JustinELIMSAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
LeoSAFESAFESAFESAFESAVEWINWINSAFESAFE
LeroySAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
MichaelaSAFESAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFESAFESAFE
NanySAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFE
OliviaSAFESAFEWINSAFESAFEELIMSAFESAFESAFE
SydneySAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFEWINSAFE
TaySAFEELIMSAFESAFESAFESAFEELIMSAFESAFE
TheoSAVESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAVERISKSAFE
TurboSAFEWINSAVESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
WillSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFE
YeremiSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFE
Derek C.SAFESAFESAFERISKELIMSAFESAFEOUT
IzzySAVESAFESAVESAFESAFESAFEOUT
LekaSAFEWINSAFESAFESAFEOUT
BenSAFESAFESAFEWINOUT
Cara MariaSAFESAFESAFESAFEQUIT
BananasWINSAFESAFEOUT
NiaSAFESAFEMED
BlueSAFEOUT
RoganOUT
Color key
  The contestant won the daily challenge and was immune from elimination
  The contestant was saved from elimination by the daily challenge winners
  The contestant was not selected for the Arena
  The contestant was either the Hangnail or was selected for the Arena by the daily challenge winners, but was ultimately not voted in
  The contestant was nominated for the Arena, but did not have to compete
  The contestant won the elimination round
  The contestant lost the elimination round and was eliminated
  The contestant was medically removed from the competition
  The contestant withdrew from the competition

Performance points progress

ContestantEpisodesTotal
12345678
Adrienne0007770728
America0650326022
Aneesa0553407630
Ashley3311210213
Aviv7000663022
Cedric5370461430
CT0607107223
Dee8000030314
Derrick K.0020022713
Gabe3002503013
Jake0010800615
Jonna00112
Justin3580034225
Leo0201088524
Leroy200430009
Michaela4278854038
Nany0040008416
Olivia5786020533
Sydney2065182832
Tay0224042014
Theo600000006
Turbo0805740125
Will4743615333
Yeremi7056250833
Derek C.0062276023
Izzy640200517
Leka08005013
Ben010809
Cara Maria00000
Bananas843015
Nia1102
Blue000
Rogan00

Team progress

After each elimination, contestants selected a new partner for the next episode. Each team had to comprise one Vet and one New Threat and contestants could not select a teammate they already partnered with, unless otherwise impossible due to uneven numbers or other restrictions.

ContestantsEpisodes
12345678910
AdrienneRoganTheoCTTurboDerek C.LeroyDerrick K.IndividualTheo
AmericaTurboCTBananasTheoLeroyDerrick K.Derek C.GabeLeroy
AneesaLeoJustinYeremiWillCedricGabeCTJakeJake
AshleyGabeCedricJakeLeoYeremiWillTheoJustinLeo
AvivYeremiJakeLeoJustinWillCedricGabeDerek C.Yeremi
CedricOliviaAshleyMichaelaCara MariaAneesaAvivJonnaNanyMichaela
CTTayAmericaDeeAdrienneSydneyLekaAneesaMichaelaTay
DeeBananasLeroyCTDerrick K.Derek C.JustinTurboWill [e] Derrick K.
Derrick K.LekaBlueTayDeeIzzyAmericaSydneyAdrienneDee
GabeAshleyCara MariaNiaLekaAneesaAvivAmericaJonna
JakeCara MariaAvivAshleyNanyMichaelaJonnaOliviaAneesaAneesa
JonnaLeo [a] JakeCedricTurboGabe
JustinNiaAneesaOliviaAvivNanyDeeMichaelaAshleyNany
LeoAneesaMichaelaAvivAshleyJonna [a] SydneyNanyOliviaAshley
LeroySydneyDeeLekaTayAmericaIzzyAdrienneTayAmerica
MichaelaWillLeoCedricBenJakeYeremiJustinCTCedric
NanyBenYeremiWillJakeJustinTheoLeoCedricJustin
OliviaCedricWillJustinYeremiBenJakeLeoWill
SydneyLeroyTheoDerek C.TurboCTLeoDerrick K.YeremiTurbo
TayCTDerek C.Derrick K.LeroyTheoTurboYeremiLeroyCT
TheoIzzySydneyAdrienneAmericaTayNanyAshleyDee [e] Adrienne
TurboAmericaLekaIzzySydneyAdrienneTayDeeJonnaSydney
WillMichaelaOliviaNanyAneesaAvivAshleyIzzyDee [e] Olivia
YeremiAvivNanyAneesaOliviaAshleyMichaelaTaySydneyAviv
Derek C.BlueTaySydneyIzzyDeeAdrienneAmericaAviv
IzzyTheoBananasTurboDerek C.Derrick K.LeroyWill
LekaDerrick K.TurboLeroyBananasGabeCT
BenNanyNiaCara MariaMichaelaOlivia
Cara MariaJakeGabeBenCedricLeo [a]
BananasDeeIzzyAmericaLeka
NiaJustinBenGabe
BlueDerek C.Derrick K.
RoganAdrienne

Voting progress

Winners' voteDerek C. & Tay
2 of 2 votes
Derek C. & Izzy
2 of 2 votes
Aneesa & Gabe
2 of 2 votes
Aviv & Derek C.
2 of 2 votes
House voteJustin
8 of 14 votes
Tay
11 of 12 votes
America
9 of 13 votes
Gabe
11 of 11 votes
TieBen
Stalemate [d]
Olivia
6 of 10 votes
Izzy
4 of 11 votes
Derek C.
8 of 9 votes
VoterEpisodes
12345678
AdrienneAmericaGabeYeremiYeremiAneesaJonnaDerek C.
AmericaJustinAdrienneTayGabeBenBenOliviaDeeDerek C.
AneesaJustinTayTayGabeJustinYeremiDeeDerek C.
AshleyJakeTayAmericaGabeBenBenOliviaAneesaDerek C.
AvivJakeTayAmericaGabeBenBenOliviaJonna
CedricJustinTayTayGabeJustinYeremiOliviaIzzyDerek C.
CTJustinAdrienneAmericaGabeBenBenDee
DeeTayAmericaGabeOliviaIzzyDerek C.
Derrick K.JustinAmericaGabeYeremiYeremiOliviaIzzyDerek C.
GabeJakeTayGabeBenJonnaDerek C.
JakeJustinTayAmericaGabeAneesaSydneyDerek C.
JonnaYeremiYeremiAneesaIzzyTheo
JustinJakeTayGabeBenBenOliviaIzzyDerek C.
LeoJustinTayAmericaGabeYeremiYeremiAneesa & GabeDerek C.
LeroyJakeTayTayGabeBenBenOliviaJonnaDerek C.
MichaelaJakeTayTayDerek C. & IzzyOliviaIzzy
NanyJakeTayAmericaGabeBenBenAneesaDerek C.
OliviaJustinTayGabeYeremiYeremiSydneyDerek C.
SydneyJakeTayAmericaGabeBenBenAneesa & GabeIzzyAviv & Derek C.
TayJustinAmericaGabeYeremiYeremiAneesaDerek C.
TheoJustinTayAmericaGabeYeremiYeremiAneesaAneesa
TurboJustinDerek C. & TayAmericaGabeYeremiYeremiAneesaIzzyTheo
WillJakeTayAmericaGabeBenBenOliviaJonnaDerek C.
YeremiJakeTayTayGabeBenBenOliviaAviv & Derek C.
Derek C.JustinAmericaAneesaDee
IzzyJustinTayAmericaYeremiYeremiOliviaJonna
LekaJustinDerek C. & TayTayGabeBen
BenJakeTayAmericaDerek C. & IzzyYeremiYeremi
Cara MariaJustinTayAmericaGabe
BananasTayTay
NiaJakeTay
BlueJustin
Rogan

Bold indicates the winning team's vote

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [16] Original release dateUS viewers
(millions)
5651"Welcome to The Challenge"July 30, 2025 (2025-07-30)0.24 [17]
5662"We Used to Hook Up"August 6, 2025 (2025-08-06)0.25 [18]
5673"I Am The Challenge"August 13, 2025 (2025-08-13)0.32 [19]
5684"Wish I'd Been Practicing"August 20, 2025 (2025-08-20)0.59 [20]
5695"Pride Comes Before the Fall"August 27, 2025 (2025-08-27)0.30 [21]
5706"Is He Throwing It?"September 3, 2025 (2025-09-03)0.36 [22]
5717"At Least Someone's Getting Laid!"September 10, 2025 (2025-09-10)0.41 [23]
5728"Justice for Leka"September 17, 2025 (2025-09-17)0.21 [24]
5739"Does Anyone Want to Confess?"September 24, 2025 (2025-09-24)TBD
57410"A War Brewing"October 1, 2025 (2025-10-01)TBD
57511"A King of Kamikaze"October 8, 2025 (2025-10-08)TBD

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prior to the "Dirtballer" challenge in episode 5, Cara Maria withdrew from the competition due to a family emergency. Jonna entered the competition as a replacement for Cara Maria. [7]
  2. 1 2 3 4 In episode 3, because Nia had not yet received the results for an MRI scan for a knee injury, Gabe & Nia did not participate in the "Water Tower" challenge and were automatically declared the last-place team. Ahead of the Arena, Nia was medically removed from the competition. [8] As a result, no Arena was held in this episode and America was declared the winner by default.
  3. 1 2 In episode 9, the results of the "Broken Dreams" challenge were annulled and no Performance Points were awarded, as a result of several contestants cheating by discarding uneaten food during the second checkpoint.
  4. 1 2 The episode 5 nominations ended in a "stalemate" as Ben and Yeremi remained tied after a revote. As a result, a coin toss was held to determine which contestant would compete in the Arena.
  5. 1 2 3 4 In episode 8, because Theo had not completed an MRI scan for a knee injury, he could not compete in the "Cyclone" challenge and was made the Hangnail by default. As a result, Will (the initial Hangnail for the episode) replaced Theo as Dee's partner.

References

  1. Nelson, Elise (May 9, 2025). "'The Challenge' Is Officially Coming Back for Season 41! Cast and Everything Else We Know". In Touch Weekly . Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Bucksbaum, Sydney (June 18, 2025). "The Challenge season 41 reveals cast full of heavy-hitters, theme, and premiere date". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  3. Longeretta, Emily (June 18, 2025). "'The Challenge' 41 Cast Includes a Boxer, 'Big Brother' Favorites and One 'Survivor 50' Player: Meet the 'Vets and New Threats'". Variety . Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  4. Esquibias, Liza (July 1, 2025). "The Challenge Teases a Cheater in the Group in Season 41 First Look: 'The One Thing That I Hate Worse Than Quitters'". People . Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  5. Bucksbaum, Sydney (July 29, 2025). "Johnny Bananas talks The Challenge showmance with Survivor winner Dee: 'Right person, wrong environment'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Bell, Amanda (September 13, 2025). "'The Challenge': T.J. Lavin Finally Explains the Points Twist in Season 41". TV Insider. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  7. Bloom, Mike (August 27, 2025). "A Champ Arrives! Who Went Home on 'The Challenge: Vets and New Threats' Season 41 Tonight?". Parade. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  8. Bloom, Mike (August 13, 2025). "Johnny Bananas Crashes Out! Who Went Home on 'The Challenge: Vets and New Threats' Season 41 Tonight?". Parade. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. Bucksbaum, Sydney (July 30, 2025). "The Challenge season 41 exclusive sneak peek reveals CT struggling immediately: 'I'm out of shape'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Maheshwari, Gouri (August 7, 2025). "The Challenge Season 41 Episode 2 recap: Johnny Bananas and Dee turn up the heat". Soap Central. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Bucksbaum, Sydney (August 20, 2025). "Johnny Bananas reveals what they didn't show in that shocking elimination upset on The Challenge". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Zaveri, Shweta (August 27, 2025). "Who went home in The Challenge season 41 episode 5? Details explored". Primetimer. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Bloom, Mike (September 3, 2025). "Who Went Home on 'The Challenge: Vets and New Threats' Season 41 Tonight?". Parade. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Bell, Amanda (September 17, 2025). "'The Challenge': CT Bakes His Own Humble Pie". TV Insider. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
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  20. Pucci, Douglas (August 21, 2025). "Wednesday Ratings: 'America's Got Talent' First Results Show of Season on NBC is Most-Watched Prime Time Telecast". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  21. Pucci, Douglas (August 28, 2025). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN Continues to Top Key Demos Among Cable Networks in Prime Time with U.S. Open Tennis Tournament". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  22. Pucci, Douglas (September 5, 2025). "Wednesday Ratings: 'Beavis & Butt-Head' Makes Comedy Central Debut with its 11th Season Premiere". Programming Insider. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
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