This week on The Challenge, the veteran alliance held strong while a promising contestant went home, but the current and former cast’s week was just as eventful off-screen as well. Some cast members continued on-screen romances, and some struggled with the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Ida. Surprising moves were made on the show and off, and there’s a lot that fans are discussing.
In episode 5, CT Tamburello and Berna Canbeldek won the daily challenge. Although Challenge rookie Hughie Maughan popped off at the rest of the cast during deliberations, he escaped being sent into elimination this week. Because veteran Aneesa Ferreira was injured in the daily challenge, it was a men’s elimination to even out the cast.
Aneesa’s partner, Logan Sampedro, was sent into elimination as the house vote, and fellow rookie Gabo Szabó asked to go into elimination so he could select a new partner if he won. After a difficult puzzle-and-stamina- based challenge, Logan came out on top and sent Gabo home. Logan chose to partner up with veteran Nany Gonzalez, and Hughie was paired up with Gabo’s former partner, Emy Alupei, much to his frustration. But that’s not all that happened last week.
Tony Raines’ Home Destroyed & Family Threatened By Hurricane Ida
Hurricane Ida proved devastating to many families, and seven-time competitor Tony Raines’ home was destroyed and his family put in jeopardy when a tree came crashing into their living room. Tony, his fiancée Alyssa, and daughter Isla underwent a harrowing ordeal and weren’t able to get to the hospital for several hours. Many of Tony’s castmates and fans were quick to come to his aid, and a GoFundMe page raised over $13,000 in just a few days.
The Situation Shouts Out Gabo
During his elimination challenge, Gabo reached out and prayed to his most exalted deity—Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino of Jersey Shore. This week, Gabo was shocked to get a Twitter shoutout from his idol. “Oh damn,” Sorrentino commented, “The comeback is always greater than the setback.” Gabo was touched and said the tweet “made my year.”
Fessy Shafaat & Amanda Garcia Go IG Official
One of the couples teased in the trailer for The Challenge season 37 was Fessy and Amanda. Lately, however, Fessy has been rumored to be romantically entangled with his other co-stars, Michele Fitzgerald and Bettina Buchanan. However, Amanda and Fessy recently posted photos vacationing together in Mexico that make it clear the two of them are a definite thing.
Aneesa Ferreira Explains Her Injury
Aneesa was clearly devastated to be medically DQ’d from the competition, but the vet recently spoke about her injury to EW, calling it “the most painful injury I’ve ever endured in my life.” She clarified that her shoulder was indeed dislocated and she had to endure a lengthy car ride to the nearest hospital. “The pain was so bad I couldn’t even cry,” Aneesa added. The injury was even worse because Challenge legend Aneesa felt good about her position in the game. Hopefully, she has better luck next season.
Ed Eason’s Celebrity Boxing
Gregarious rookie Ed took to YouTube this week to announce he will be taking part in a reality TV celebrity boxing match in Canada on December 11. Ed teased boxers from shows like The Challenge, Love Island, and Big Brother, but wouldn’t reveal details on which contestants will be fighting. In the video, Ed commented that he doesn’t have experience boxing but comes from a background “where I know how to fight,” and expects the fight to be a “first round knockout.”
The Challenge airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.
