The Challenge seasons are unpredictable. We always know about contenders, but how it takes shape is never figured out right away. It is very rare in a Challenge season that we figure out how this will all break down by the end. Sometimes, the contenders do not take shape until the final mission. Those are the best seasons. As we predicted last week, things got difficult for Ashley. This is the second straight week, we’ve seen a contender go down. While that’s fun, we need to filter out some of the non-contenders in the coming weeks or this thing will get boring quickly.

TOP CONTENDERS

1. Jordan (LW: 1)
2. Rogan (LW: 4)
3. Jenny (LW 5)
4. Wes (LW: 4)
5. Johnny Bananas (LW:5)

Thoughts: I thought long and hard about if Tori or Johnny Bananas got the final spot in the contender section. The reason I went with Bananas is rather simple. Johnny won his Challenge last week with a good group of people. Bananas appeared to be forming an alliance with Big T which helps in the long run. To me, Tori seems obsessed with getting the red skull versus playing the game. That might cost her in the long run. Only Jenny has a red skull out of this group.

CONTENDERS WITH A FLAW

6. Tori (LW:7)
7. Nany (LW:9)
8. Cory (LW 8)
9. Fessy (LW 10)
10: Mattie (LW 13)
11. Jay (LW: 11)
12. Kaliah (LW 14)
13. Dee (LW 15)
14. Jenna (LW 12)

Thoughts: I’m still putting Jenna in this group, but almost against my will. I don’t see it with her this season. There is little drama plus she doesn’t appear to be fully into it without Zach. Nany continues to push her way up with his alliance plus control of this game. Mattie is a firecracker but she can contend if her head is on straight.

COULD CONTEND IF THINGS GO PERFECTLY

15. Bear (LW 18)
16. Kaycee (LW: 19)
17. Kyle (LW 15)
18. Swaggy C (LW: 18)
19. Bayleigh (LW: 21)
20. Aneesa (LW 23)

Thoughts: Bear should be in the second group if we’re talking pure drama and shaking up the house. He can contend for the whole thing with his physical abilities. But he blows things up more often and not for himself. Kaycee and Aneesa see movement upwards after being a part of the group that won last week. The Bayleigh-Swaggy C power couple is again in the same rankings category.

NOT A THREAT TO CONTEND

21. Nelson (LW 20)
22. Josh (LW 22)
23. Big T (LW: 25)
24. Melissa (LW: 24)

Thoughts: Prediction time for all you cool cats and kittens. Either Nelson or Josh is headed home tonight. At the very least, they will put in. This is why both are at the bottom of the power rankings with the assumption they’ll be gone next week. Big T is not at the bottom anymore after getting a win plus forming an alliance with Bananas. it will take you far.

Charlie.