The Challenge War of the Worlds 2 Player Previews: Team USA !! 🇺🇸🗽⭐

NovaRogue
6 min readAug 21, 2019

The Challenge 34: War of the Worlds II premieres in only ONE WEEK! Werk!

I know many (older) users here have read and enjoyed Allan Aguirre’s player previews before a season starts, and I was also looking forward to them this year. However, I just had a chat with the lovely 22-year-old author (we’re buds) and he doesn’t have the time to do them this year! Gasp!

SO, I decided to take a stab at them 🗡️

They won’t be anywhere near the quality of Allan’s — so lower your expectations — but hopefully they’ll be edifying for y’all, especially the newer viewers.

I’ll start with Team USA today, then post Team UK on Friday and finish with the Reinforcements + a TL;DR on Monday.

K let’s get to it!

🇺🇸 TEAM USA 🇺🇸

1) Ashley “Smashley” Mitchell (RW Ex-Plosion, debuted on Rivals III) — champion

- 5 previous seasons + 3 spin-offs

- 2 season wins (1 paired; 1 individual)

- 2–2 elimination record + 1 loss as a Mercenary + 2–2 in spin-offs

- Fortes: endurance, politics, puzzles, dailies

- Faiblesses: keeping a cool head, lack of allies, brute strength, target on back

- Distinction: most money won by a Challenger ($1,121,250). Only person to win a season and lose the first elimination in the immediately following season.

2) Zach Nichols (RW San Diego 2, debuted on Battle of the Seasons 2) — champion

- 8 previous seasons + 1 spin-off

- 1 season win (small-team format) + 1st place for men on Vendettas + 2 other finals

- 4–5 elimination record + 0–1 in Ex-iled + 1 win as a Mercenary

- Fortes: brute strength, speed, endurance, dailies, reputation of being a snake

- Faiblesses: keeping a cool head, social game, eliminations

3) Cara Maria Sorbello (debuted on Fresh Meat 2) — champion

- 13 previous seasons + 1 spin-off

- 2 season wins (1 paired; 1 individual) + 1 spin-off win + 6 other finals

- 12–6 elimination record + 1–0 in FR Redemptions

- Fortes: physical strength, endurance, finals, eliminations, puzzles, intimidation

- Faiblesses: swimming, target on back

- Distinction: considered by some be the Greatest of All Time, most season appearances by a woman, most final appearances by a woman (8), tied for most consecutive finals by a woman (4), and most elimination wins by a woman (13)

4) Wes Bergmann (RW Austin, debuted on Fresh Meat 1) — champion

- 11 previous seasons + 4 spin-offs

- 2 season wins (1 individual; 1 paired) + 3 other finals + 2 spin-off finals

- 14–6 elimination record + 5–0 in spin-offs

- Fortes: politics, eliminations, dailies, swimming

- Faiblesses: lack of allies, reputation of being a snake, target on back

- Distinction: most elimination wins by a man (14)

5) Faith Stowers (Vanderpump Rules and Ex on the Beach US 1, debuted on Final Reckoning) — rookie

- 1 previous season

- Best finish: 12th place

- 0–1 elimination record

- Fortes: physical strength

- Faiblesses: lack of allies and experience

- Distinction: actually a US veteran

6) Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio (RW Key West, debuted on Duel 1) — champion

- 17 previous seasons + 2 spin-offs

- 6 season wins (small team; large team; paired; individual) + 1 spin-off win + 2 other finals

- 7–12 elimination record + 4 wins in Battle of the Ex-iled + 1–1 in Island Face-Offs

- Fortes: endurance, speed, puzzles, dailies, finals

- Faiblesses: brute strength, eliminations, target on back

- Distinction: considered by some be the Greatest of All Time, most finals for a man (8), most elimination losses for a man (12), hasn’t won an elimination since stealing Sarah’s money (“Jemmye’s Curse”)

7) Tori Deal (Are You the One 4, debuted on XXX) — veteran and finalist

- 2 previous seasons + 2 spin-offs

- 1 final (3rd place)

- 1–1 elimination record + 1 loss as a Mercenary

- Fortes: social game

- Faiblesses: brute strength

- Distinction: currently the only alum from Are You the One 4 to be on the show

8) Jordan Wisely (RW Portland, debuted on Rivals II) — champion

- 4 previous seasons + 1 spin-off

- 2 season wins (1 paired; 1 individual) + 1 other final

- 5–1 elimination record + 1 win as a Mercenary

- Fortes: dailies, finals, speed, endurance

- Faiblesses: hubris, and he only has one full hand (but this has never stopped him)

- Distinction: considered by some be the Greatest of All Time

9) Kam Williams (AYTO5, debuted on Vendettas) — veteran and finalist

- 3 previous seasons + 1 spin-off

- 1 final (3rd place)

- 6–1 elimination record + 1–1 in Redemptions + 0–1 in spin-offs

- Fortes: eliminations, keeping a cool head, politics

- Faiblesses: eating, High-Low game strategy

10) Leroy “RoyLee” Garrett (RW Las Vegas 2, debuted on Rivals 1) — veteran and finalist

- 10 previous seasons

- 3 finals (Best finish: 2nd)

- 8–5 elimination record

- Fortes: eliminations, brute strength

- Faiblesses: swimming, puzzles, politics, strategy

- Distinction: 1 of only 6 people to win 4+ eliminations in a single season, the most seasons without winning by a man

11) Nany González (RW Las Vegas 2, debuted on Seasons 2) — veteran and finalist

- 7 previous seasons

- 1 finals (2nd place)

- 3–7 elimination record + 4 wins in Ex-iled

- Fortes: lots of allies

- Faiblesses: keeping a cool head in eliminations

12) Josh Martinez (Big Brother 19, debuted on War of the Worlds 1) — rookie

- 1 previous season

- Best finish: 16th place (but won BB19)

- 1–0 elimination record

- Fortes: he’s tall

- Faiblesses: avoiding confrontation, keeping a cool head

13) Laurel Stucky (debuted on Fresh Meat 2) — champion

- 5 previous seasons

- 1 season win (individual) + 3 other finals

- 9–1 elimination record

- Fortes: dailies, eliminations, puzzles, she’s tall

- Faiblesses: social game

- Distinction: considered by some be the Greatest of All Time, longest streak until losing an elimination (9 consecutive wins), tied for most consecutive finals by a woman (4), and 1 of only 6 people to win 4+ eliminations in a single season

14) Paulie Calafiore (BB18, debuted on Final Reckoning) — veteran and finalist

- 2 previous seasons

- 1 final (3rd place)

- 2–2 elimination record + 1–2 in FR Redemptions

- Fortes: dailies, finals, endurance, eliminations, puzzles

- Faiblesses: social game

- Distinction: lost 3 elimination-like rounds in a single season, and 1 of 2 men to make a final after losing an elimination (along with Devin)

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NovaRogue

I write about MTV’s The Challenge, with a queer / social justice / critical analysis bent. #UnspoiledGang