TJ: This season on The Challenge: USA,
18 Reality Titans from Big Brother, Survivor
- and The Amazing Race... - Hi.
TJ: ...along with six legendary Challenge vets...
(whooping)
TJ: ...competed in colossal challenges...
(groans)
TJ: ...and endured heart-pounding eliminations.
Oh! Get him! Yeah!
TJ: And now, only eight competitors remain to fight
for their share of $500,000.
But there is more than just the grand prize at stake.
Some are fighting for redemption.
Not only can I make it to a final,
but I can win a final.
I want to go from being first out
to being a Challenge champ.
TJ: Some for their legacy.
I hold the record for the most wins.
I am The Challenge.
As a Challenge champ, I wanted to come in
and prove to myself I could do it again.
TJ: Others are out to prove themselves
worthy of being a champion.
I've had to earn every minute.
It's my time now.
I want to prove to myself
I can do this.
TJ: Or looking to capture
their first championship title.
I came here to bring that money home to my family.
I know I have what it takes.
I just got to get it done this season.
TJ: They'll put it all out on the line...
...and only one man and one woman
will be crowned champions of The Challenge: USA.
- (grunts) - TJ: And it all starts right now.
♪ ♪
Congratulations to all of you.
Welcome to the final on this season
of The Challenge: USA.
- (cheering) - Yeah!
Making it to the final now, especially after
what happened to me in The Challenge: USA one...
My partner quit, and we were eliminated.
It just really feels like I'm getting a second chance,
and I kind of have a thing about an encore performance.
I won Miss Virginia the second time around, so,
I feel like my best chance is now my second time around.
For the first part of the final, it's the trial.
To become a Challenge champion,
you need to show that you excel in multiple disciplines.
That's strength, smarts,
skill and a steel stomach.
Oh, God. I know what that means.
Ugh.
There will be four trials on day one
of this final, each designed to test your specific
skill level in these four key areas
that make up a Challenge champion.
Now, each trial, if you win, you get a one-minute
time advantage on the next part of the final,
which is a ten-mile race on day two.
However, on any trial, if you get last place,
you have a one-minute penalty in the next phase.
Now, just like this whole season,
we love risks, so if you're feeling confident
on any one of the trials,
you can take a risk and double down,
which means if you say, "I'm gonna win this one,"
and you do, you get a two-minute time advantage.
However, if you lose,
- it's gonna cost you two minutes. - Ooh.
BANANAS: Couple minutes
could be the difference between
winning or losing a final.
And even though I have seven wins,
being able to win when I'm the oldest guy here,
in my 40s,
from a competitive standpoint, that means the world to me.
TJ: Now, here's the thing.
You can only double down once,
so make it count.
Now, this challenge is worth
$500,000,
so the top man and top woman to cross
that finish line will each
be receiving $250,000.
Life-changing money.
I definitely want to try to push for some bonus time.
I'm gonna give it everything I got at every trial.
I want to be minutes ahead of Cory, Faysal, Bananas.
All of them are
titans at this game,
and they're people that
have targeted me day after day.
My drive is to
not only beat them but
to completely crush them.
CHANELLE: Not only am I in the final,
but I'm in the final with my girls.
I'm with Desi, I'm with Michaela,
and we are painting a picture
for Black girls that will see this
and will think of themselves as powerful because they see us.
I just feel so happy that we were able
to do this together, but
now it's every woman for herself.
On Survivor, I was afraid
to stand in my full confidence, which cost me the game, but now
I know that I'm strong, I know that I'm hungry,
and I have the power to win it.
TJ: Welcome to your first trial of the day:
strength.
In the strength trial, you will each
drag a sled up that hill.
And as you go, you will need to load four heavy boxes
which are proportional to your individual body weight,
and they're gonna weigh down your sled.
First man and woman to get all of their boxes
up to the top will get a one-minute time advantage.
However, if you get last, it's a one-minute time penalty.
All right, does any of you want to double up
on the strength?
TJ, I'm gonna double it on this one.
TJ: (whoops) Cory's in.
Anybody else?
No, sir.
Nah, we're good.
TJ: This one's on Cory.
CORY: On The Challenge in the past,
I've done five finals, and I've never won, so,
this is the one I'm gonna bring home.
There it is, man. Ooh.
Hopefully, Daddy can get this first win on this strength one.
That's where I'm putting all my chips.
All right, get ready.
- Go! - (air horn blows)
TORI: It's kind of a rocky-ass terrain.
(grunts)
Yeah.
BANANAs: Like Santa Claus, I start
loading these boxes into my sled.
First two, not a problem.
Third one, little bit more difficult.
TJ: Yeah, Chris.
CHRIS: I'm not the strongest guy,
but I do have a strategy.
Everyone starts to try to put
the third chest on, but what I'm thinking
is knock out the first two,
knock out the second two, do it
as fast as I possibly can.
(groaning)
(grunts)
(groans)
(groaning)
TJ: Let's go, Cory. You got that double-down.
You got to go.
(groaning)
CORY: This sled is
not moving the way I thought it would.
I doubled down. That means if I lose,
I'm down two minutes.
So I'm a little worried right now.
- (grunts) - TJ: Yeah, Michaela!
Looking good.
TJ: Yeah, Faysal.
- (Chris groaning loudly) - CORY: What?
TJ: Yeah, Chris.
Chris wants that one-minute.
FAYSAL: I didn't win Big Brother, and I lost
past seasons of The Challenge, but I know
I am very capable of winning this final.
I just got to get it done 'cause
if you let Chris win, it's gonna look bad on all of us.
- Yeah! - TJ: Nice, Chris!
Well done, Chris!
Good job. You are the winner of that one.
CHRIS: A lot of people think
that I'm the most undeserving person to ever win Survivor.
This is the ultimate opportunity
to prove that I am deserving.
I've fought my way to this final.
These guys couldn't get me out, and to beat them
in a strength trial
is a great way to start.
It gives me a ton of confidence.
TJ: Cory, you got the double-down on you.
- You got to go, man. - (grunts)
TJ: You better beat Faysal.
TJ: Get up there, get up there.
Look out for that.
(Cory panting)
CORY: I needed this win.
Now I'm starting this final off
with minus two minutes.
TJ: Come on, Tor!
I want to prove to myself that even though
I just won the last season
of The Challenge: Ride or Dies,
that I can still do it.
But these are some tough competitors.
I'm not sleeping on Chanelle.
- (groans) - she has a lot of fight in her.
She only went into one elimination at the very end
and performed really well.
But I'm the last female Challenger left in the game.
I can't walk away letting a Survivor person win.
(grunts)
CHANELLE: Michaela's so impressive.
She's a powerhouse.
Her glutes are... well-developed.
- (grunts) - TJ: Yeah, Michaela!
Nice work. You win for the women.
MICHAELA: My primary concern was
not getting a time disadvantage, but the reality is
that I should have bet on myself, but at least
I didn't lose it.
Yay for a minute for me.
(panting)
(shrieks)
TJ: Yeah, Chanelle.
Desi and Tori, gonna be a race.
DESI: Whoever gets there first
doesn't get the time penalty.
It's pretty neck-and-neck, so,
I need to take whatever gas I have left in the tank
to drive it to the finish line.
- CHRIS: Uh-oh. - TJ: Oh, Desi's coming. Desi's coming.
Come on, guys.
FAYSAL: Don't get last, Tori. Come on, Des.
(air horn blows)
TJ: Good job, Desi. Well done.
Yeah. Good job, guys.
Losing the first trial
is embarrassing, but now I even have a one-minute time penalty
for my time tomorrow.
I'm not off to a great start. I mean,
this is absolutely brutal.
BANANAS: This was grueling.
If this is how this final is starting off,
it's gonna be a long day at the office.
This is the smarts trial.
CHANELLE: Do it.
BANANAS: Let's get the juices flowing.
TJ: In the smarts trial,
we will test your ability to spell.
I'll give you a word and you will all need
to spell it on your chalkboard.
If you're right, you score a point.
The man and woman with the most points after five words
will earn a one-minute time advantage,
and the man and woman who spell the least words correctly
will get a one-minute time penalty.
Now, do any of you want to double down?
Ugh. I don't usually take risks, TJ,
but I'm working on trusting myself, so
- I'm gonna double down. - TJ: All right.
And Chris is gonna take the risk.
CHRIS: Spelling I feel pretty confident in.
I made it to my middle school spelling bee
and won, but as long as I don't get
last place, this double-down could either
give me a two-minute additional advantage or mean nothing.
CORY: Bro, who spells nowadays?
You use autocorrect.
- (laughs) - Nobody spells anything.
TJ: All right, here we go.
Spell "alliances."
On the challenge, it is important
to form alliances.
All right, everybody show me your answers.
MICHAELA: Oh, she forgot an "S."
- TORI: Did you say alliances? - He said "alliances."
- I did. - Oh, my God. I did not hear that.
- Plural. - Oh, my God.
- That's so annoying. - TJ: All right.
Everyone got it right except Tori.
Next word: schmoozing.
Schmoozing is something you might do
to keep yourself out of elimination.
CHANELLE: What does his say?
What does it say? "Small thing"?
It says "smoushing."
Everyone is correct
- except Chris... - BANANAS: You forgot the "C."
TJ: ...and Cory. (laughs)
Let's just be real. Spelling, me?
Eh. Never been my deal.
TJ: Spell "deceitful."
Let's see it.
TORI: Oh, mine's wrong.
"I" before "E" except after "C"!
TJ: Everybody got it right except Tori and Cory.
- Off to a great start, Tor. - (TJ laughs)
TJ: Spell "vengeance."
MICHAELA: "Vengeance" I should know.
One of my favorite Bible verses is,
"Vengeance is mine, says the Lord."
I had to remember that a lot in this house.
(buzzer sounding)
DESI: The words aren't super hard,
but people are, like, really bad spellers.
Like, really bad.
(buzzer sounds)
What's that say-- "vah-gee-ance"?
BANANAS: "Vinigansi. Vinigansi."
That's how you say "vengeance" in Italian.
-"Vinigansi." -"Vinigansi."
Hey, I'm gonna get my "vinigansi" on you.
TJ: Only three people got it right.
Bananas,
- Desi and Tori. - (whoops)
- Yeah! - TJ: That's right.
TJ: This is the final word.
Ascending.
Yeah.
BANANAS: Hey, Core!
TJ: Everyone got it correct.
Well done.
The results are in,
and the winners are Bananas-- you just gained one minute--
- and Desi. - All right, Desi! - Yeah, Des!
TJ: Desi happened to double down on this one.
You will be getting a two-minute advantage.
Last place was Cory and Tori.
Cory, you'll receive another minute time penalty,
which makes three in total.
Tori, you will receive another minute penalty,
which makes two for you, so you got
- some catching up to do. - (laughter)
You are welcome.
All right, this is the skills trial.
When I say go, you will drop your pieces
into the puzzle, but make sure
that you don't get four of the same color
in a row horizontally, vertically,
or diagonally, because if you have four in a row,
you'll have to empty all of your pieces out and start over.
Does anybody want to double down on this?
I desperately need to.
I'll do it, TJ!
- I'll do it, too. - TJ: All right.
We have three double-downers on this one. I like it.
TORI: I have a good strategy
in my mind for how I'm gonna go about this puzzle.
So I'm gonna risk it right now
and try to come out on top.
All right, everyone ready?
- Go! - (air horn sounds)
FAYSAL: In my Challenge career, people have said
I'm only good 'cause I'm big,
but I'm here to prove all that nonsense wrong.
I think the pattern is gonna be black, black, black,
yellow, yellow, yellow,
and then just stagger it on the second row.
Check.
- That is incorrect, Chris. - (shrieks)
- You have four black in a row diagonally. - (buzzer sounds)
- Check? - Check?
Tori, Faysal, that is correct.
Tori, well done doubling down.
- Aah! Back in the game, baby! - FAYSAL: Hey!
Yeah, boyee!
My two-minute deficit is gone.
I needed that, dude.
Don't count me out yet.
(sighs) Can't be yellow.
Check?
TJ: You're good.
- Well done, Chanelle. - MICHAELA: Check?
TJ: Michaela, that is correct.
All right, all three other women have finished.
- Desi, you are out. - DESI: Okay.
TJ: That is minus one minute for you.
All right, all right.
At least I wasn't last.
TJ: This is a race not to get last place
between Cory, Bananas and Chris. And Bananas,
you can't lose this one, man.
BANANAS: Because I doubled down on this,
now I am in severe jeopardy
if I come in last.
(buzzer sounds)
Oh, my God.
Check.
TJ: That's incorrect, Cory.
You got a lot of diagonals, bro.
Oh, my God.
Check.
TJ: Well done.
It's down to Bananas and Cory.
CORY: I really need this
to stay in this final.
I'm already three minutes behind.
If I lose this one,
I'm done.
TJ: Let's go!
Check?
TJ: Good job.
(air horn blows)
(groans, sighs)
MICHAELA: Dang. Cory is just losing points.
It's just the beginning, Cory.
Keep your head up.
CHANELLE: Oh, he's sad.
CORY: You've worked so hard to get
to this moment, you want things to go your way.
When they don't, it's hard to take.
It's just a lot of negative thoughts.
How are my daughters gonna view me now?
Like, as a loser? Like,
I feel like I just lost the whole final.
BANANAS: The first three trials are over.
I have a one-minute
time advantage.
So, coming into the steel stomach challenge,
I lose my one-minute advantage if I come in last.
It's gonna be a bad day for ol' Bananas.
TORI: This looks a little gourmet.
Chanelle and I are both at zero,
and Michaela and Desi are both at plus one.
I have to somehow dig deep right now,
so it's time to have some dinner.
Welcome to steel stomach.
This is a four-course meal.
- (coughing) - The first course--
a stinky tofu and pureed sauerkraut smoothie.
- Yuck. - Yum.
Next is a slimy nim and chia stack
with mealworms and cricket drizzle.
- Yeah! - TJ: That sounds delish.
- (Tori laughing) - (Michaela humming)
MICHAELA: I have no desire
to hear TJ explain what this stuff is
because at the end of the day, my goal is just to get it down,
and the less I know, the better.
Next, a beautiful wasabi cracker stack.
TORI: I'm not eating that.
TJ (laughs) Yummy!
And for dessert, some loaded chili truffles.
- (retching) - TJ: You're welcome.
- Uh, fungus. - TJ: Whoever finishes
three of these first for the men and women
will receive a one-minute time advantage.
Whoever loses-- a one-minute time penalty.
Well, let's just push that win to the side.
TJ: Now, do any of you want to double down?
- BANANAS: Nah, we're good. - (laughs) - TJ: All right.
- Go! - (air horn blows)
(coughing, retching)
(retching)
They're so dry.
BANANAS: Just based on eating challenges in the past,
dry food is the worst thing to try and eat
in an eating challenge.
So, the wasabi crackers--
that's a no-go.
Anyone that has tried to pound crackers--
it's absolutely impossible.
TJ: Well done, Bananas.
There it is, Bananas.
This is so bad. (belches)
I feel like I can
get this down
until I start hearing gagging and puking.
(retching)
Stop throwing up, Cory. You made me throw...
- (laughing) - You're making me throw up. - I can't help it.
Mm. Mm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm!
- (retching) - Mmm, mmm, mmm. - TJ: Tori absolutely killing it.
- Look at her, loving this. - (coughing)
MICHAELA: Tori over here acting like
she's eating the best meal of her life.
Mm-mmm. This is hard for me. I got standards.
I don't have a gas-station palate. I'm a high society lady.
So good. Love it.
Who knows who's puking at this point?
DESI: There is, like, a constant
symphony of gags happening around me.
♪ ♪
- Mmm, it's so good. - TJ: Well done. Tori killing it.
- Tori's in charge. Bananas is done. - Done! Done.
Plus one-minute advantage on that one.
Nice work, Bananas.
- Well done. - I'm done.
Tori is done.
- Made up that one minute. - So good.
- TJ: Nice job. - Girl, something wrong with you.
TORI: These girls are
looking at me like I'm a psychopath.
Growing up, as a snack,
my dad used to give me American cheese dipped in ketchup,
and I thought that was, like, a normal snack for kids to eat,
so my standards for food are pretty low.
TJ: Wow, Faysal, I'm impressed
with the improvement.
MICHAELA: How did you drink that?
TJ: Desi, you're done.
Oh, this shit is hot.
- (groans) - TJ: We got to go. We're going for last place.
- Oh, my God. - TJ: Let's go!
TJ: All right, Chris, you're done. Michaela is done.
(air horn sounds)
- It's all I had left. - TORI: Good job, guys.
CHANELLE: I'm disappointed in my performance
because now I'm at a deficit,
and so it feels like
I'm just starting from, like, digging out of a hole.
Congratulations, Bananas and Tori.
You each receive a one-minute time advantage.
- (coughing) - TJ: Well done.
Cory, Chanelle, unfortunately, you lost this one, so,
you two receive a one-minute penalty.
Your opportunity to win the time advantage is over.
Some of you have gained crucial head starts,
and some of you will be starting
in the back of the pack tomorrow.
So now I need all of you
to head up to your camp and get some rest.
Believe me, you'll need it.
Final's not over.
Far from it.
♪ ♪
MICHAELA: Oh, we have a whole tent.
- BANANAS: Aah! Is that a snake? - Oh! (chuckles)
CHANELLE: I'm starting to feel the fatigue
in my body. My toes are numb. My hands are cold.
My feet hurt.
There are no layups here.
Early in this game, we realized
that the vets would be really tough
to beat at the end, but we still let three of them
slither and slide to the final,
so it is not going to be easy.
Wow, it's getting bright.
BANANAS: Now, Johnny, get on the guitar.
(Tori laughs)
The skill sets that have been required
to make it to this point once again reinforce the fact
that I am good at a lot of stupid shit.
If this is how this final is starting off,
I'm feeling good about where I'm at.
Fessy came back today for a little "vinigansi!"
(laughing)
CORY: It's hard for me to laugh and joke.
Tomorrow, I'm already gonna start
with a five-minute penalty.
I don't know how I'm ever gonna come back from this,
but I'm not gonna quit.
All right, everyone, how're you feeling?
Ready to get this over with.
- TJ: Get some sleep or what? - Mm.
All right. Well, welcome to day two of the final
of The Challenge: USA.
Yeah, boy.
All that stands between you and your share
of a half a million dollars
is ten miles of sweat,
grit and determination.
When I say go, you will race all the way
to the top of that mountain.
- CHRIS: Yeah. - CORY: Whew.
TJ: Yeah, all the way.
And along the way, you'll come across risk stations.
There are three of them.
You may pass the first two risk stations if you want.
However, if you complete the first two correctly,
you'll get a very significant advantage.
But if you get it wrong, there will be consequences.
Another thing: the last man and last woman
to get to the second risk station--
you're eliminated.
♪ ♪
The third one is mandatory,
and it is the only thing separating you
from that finish line.
Bananas, you are starting us off.
You have a two-minute head start,
then everyone with a one-minute head start.
Then Chanelle-- you have a one-minute penalty.
And then we have Cory.
You have a five-minute time penalty.
- But you can do it. All right? - Yep. I'm not gonna quit.
Who will be crowned the season two champion
of The Challenge: USA?
- We shall see. - (whoops)
FAYSAL: It's a ten-mile run
up to the top of the mountain.
I'm a big dude,
got some skinny-ass legs and
a big-ass upper body.
I'm just not built for this shit.
It's all gonna come down to these checkpoints.
CHANELLE: We are racing to the top of a mountain.
I'm already starting off
two minutes behind every other woman in this final,
and I know that I'm
going to have to take risks.
TJ: Ready to get started?
All right, Bananas.
- Go. - (timer beeps) - Run.
Quicker
BANANAS: Today's challenge is going to be
an absolute beast.
It's gonna be a ten-plus mile
slog through every type of terrain imaginable.
Generally, my strategy
in finals is to not
absolutely book it out of the gate.
This is gonna be a marathon, not a sprint.
Everyone with a one-minute time advantage,
- go. - (timer beeps)
DESI: Sorry, TJ.
All right, Chanelle, with the one-minute time penalty.
- You ready? Go. - (timer beeps)
CORY: Get it, girl.
You want to take a nap?
- (laughs) - Nah, I mean, I-I got time.
Got a couple minutes to spare.
I slept off that
little funk that I had day one.
I'm done being a loser.
It's time to get some winning in my system.
Cory, with a five-minute time penalty.
- You ready? Go. - (timer beeps)
- Get it done, man. - (whoops)
You could be an all-star on day one
but if you don't perform day two,
you're not gonna get the results you want.
FAYSAL: Even though Bananas
has a one-minute time advantage,
pretty sure I'm hawking Bananas down in a footrace.
So, my biggest concern is Chris
because he keeps proving himself and proving himself
every chance he gets.
CHRIS: "Untie axes. Throw them one at a time.
"Get one axe to stick to the target
you can take the shortcut."
Risk Station 1--
it's axe throwing.
You get five attempts
to throw the axe and make it stick.
BANANAS: Then you have to pick up a rock
and run with it to Risk Station 2.
However, if you complete it,
you're able to take a shortcut,
which cuts 1.2 miles off of a ten-mile run.
1.2 miles is a lot.
I have never thrown an axe before,
but it sticks in the first time.
I'm just hoping that
Chris and Fessy are not able
to complete this because having
a 1.2 mile advantage on them would be huge.
- Shortcut this way? - (grunts)
FAYSAL: All my throws are going good,
except they're bouncing off.
It's not like I'm missing the target.
And all of a sudden, I have one axe left.
Either I hit it and
I'm right back in the race
with Bananas and Chris,
or I miss it, and I have to go the long way.
(grunts)
FAYSAL: Damn. I knew this was gonna happen.
I was just hoping and praying
that it didn't.
But when it comes to running,
I know I can catch up to them.
But I didn't want to be down 1.2 miles.
Goddamn it.
Bloop! On to my next station.
- (buzzer sounds) - (cat yowls)
Somehow I make it on my first try,
and I've never even touched an axe before.
But now Michaela and me are both
neck-and-neck in first place.
(grunts) Fuck my life.
Damn it. I go that way?
(panting)
(grunts)
That's it.
CORY: I'm gassed from this run,
but it's good to see Chanelle.
It gives you that burst of energy.
They are right in front of me.
Let's catch up.
(whooping)
Yeah.
(panting)
CHRIS: Doesn't sound like a lot,
but when you're carrying a 20 to 30-pound rock
through the mountains of Croatia,
it is grueling.
This is one of
the hardest things I've ever had to do.
TORI: Did you not see
my neck, dude?
- MAN: Holy shit. - Yeah.
TORI: It's ten miles
with a rock on your shoulder.
- TJ: Yeah, Chris. Love it. - Fucking right.
Well done.
Wow. Okay.
Risk station number two--
measuring rocks.
You measure it out.
If you get the weight correct,
once you release the handle,
if the scale is balanced,
you get to take an ATV
instead of having to run the distance of the next mile.
But you only get one chance.
Yeah.
I count that there's ten rocks in there.
There's three really big ones, there's seven
kind of medium-sized ones. I get to the last rock.
I go with my gut,
pull the lever.
- Let's fucking go! - Wow, Chris!
CHRIS: I'm so stoked.
I'm leaving risk station number two in first place
in an ATV.
It feels really good.
Life couldn't be any better.
But I really have to continue to stay super locked in,
super focused,
because with these finals,
you never know what's gonna happen.
Faysal, you got to go back a half mile.
You took a shortcut that you didn't earn.
It's a one-mile penalty.
FAYSAL: Damn. I didn't hit my axe.
I was supposed to go the long way.
I'm thinking I'm about to knock this risk station out
and be right behind Chris,
but nope.
To be honest, I was so
frazzled in the moment,
and now I have to play catch-up.
BANANAS: Where you going?
FAYSAL: They made me go back.
BANANAS: What?
his is huge because now all I have to do
is just catch up to Chris and I'm golden.
- Come on, Bananas. -"Place rocks...
- empty side." -"And then pull the lever."
DESI: Michaela and I have essentially trekked
this whole part together.
We've gone up hills carrying our rocks.
We've stopped to breathe carrying our rocks.
But I can see there's only two scales.
And although Michaela's my girl and I want her to succeed,
I want me to succeed more.
(panting)
I decide, instead of waiting, I'm gonna risk
that Desi's gonna get this one wrong
and I'm gonna get ahead of her.
So I take off running down the path.
Pull it?
TJ: One lever only.
BANANAS: Ugh.
I way miscalculated on this one.
TJ: Start running.
BANANAS: I'm screwed, because
this is arguably the most important advantage you can get.
And unless there is some other risk station
that is potentially gonna be like, "You have
"to break both legs and climb up the rest of the mountain
if you don't finish it,"
I'm going to have to make up a lot of ground.
TJ: Keep going, Johnny.
TJ: Wow!
- Wow! - Is that right, TJ?
TJ: You just earned yourself an ATV.
DESI: Sweet.
This is going to make the biggest difference.
I know that Michaela is now in front,
but she's on foot.
So it's a nice break from running, and also gives me
the confidence and rest I need
to continue the rest of the way in this final.
Well, if one thing I know how to do, I know how to use a scale.
TJ: Attaboy.
Wow!
That's what I'm talking about, Chanelle.
CORY: Things are looking good.
Fessy made a mistake.
And this is why
you don't quit.
You always keep going because you don't know
what's gonna happen.
Yesterday, nothing went right for me.
Today,
I'm knocking out everything at a good pace
and I'm still in the game, baby.
Oh!
- This guy! - I did it?
- This guy. You did it. - Let's go!
- You did it. - Let's go!
TJ: Yes, Cory!
Oh...
- good! - Yeah?
- Good, get your ATV, go! - Yeah!
Hurry up, Chanelle. Don't hurt yourself.
CHANELLE: Yes, Chanelle!
I feel like I could
be in the running
to make up a lot
of ground, and I could still win this thing.
"You are the last woman to arrive.
You have been eliminated from the final."
All right, well.
Oh, man.
Wow. Damn.
Everything came up to this point,
and because I couldn't throw a stupid axe, I'm going home.
Aw. Fuck me.
Another final loss. It definitely sucks
and it's a hard pill to swallow.
I'm proud of us. I'm proud of us.
- Thanks for the help this season. - Yeah, same. Same.
If you don't think I'll win The Challenge one day,
then you're just crazy.
How in the hell did I fuck that up?
(horn toots)
♪ ♪
(horn toots)
Want to give me a ride?!
DESI: Having this four-wheeler makes a world of a difference.
First, I'm able to get ahead of Michaela pretty easily
while giving my legs a rest.
So if there's another portion of a run involved,
Michaela's gonna be pretty tired
and I'm gonna have the endurance to keep going.
CORY: I'm cruising,
and sure enough, I see Bananas,
and I'm just thinking, "Yeah,
"he doesn't have an ATV himself.
Peace."
(mutters)
"Carry these blocks one at a time.
"Stack them in the order players eliminated,
"with the first player out at the bottom.
The right answers grants you access to the summit."
Stack 'em. Okay.
If I can get through this one, I have gained access
to the summit, and the end is near.
I have to remember the elimination placement
of everyone who's come before me in this game.
I definitely have a good lock
on all of the people that I sent home...
...but it's the middle that scares me.
Was it Dusty or Alyssa L.?
"Carry these blocks one at a time.
"Stack them in the order
- players were eliminated." - CORY: Okay.
DESI: All right, Ameerah was first.
Check.
Let's go.
You got it.
(grunts)
Check.
BANANAS: Corey, Chris, and Desi
are finishing and running up the mountain.
But I'm not gonna give up.
I'm gonna do whatever I can to push through this thing
and make it to the top.
(grunting)
CHANELLE: I'm really starting to get energized.
I don't know how far ahead Desi is at this point,
but I realize that it's me, Michaela and Desi
all at the final portion of this final.
We really played this game together, and now it's real.
One of us is going to be $250,000 richer.
Check.
(grunts)
CHANELLE: Check.
(moans)
Check.
CORY: Don't stop.
Keep going.
DESI: The final climb to the top of the mountain.
The way TJ described this course,
I sort of expected that after Risk Station 3,
the flags would just be,
like, around the corner,
but unfortunately, that's not the case.
This is still a footrace.
CHRIS: My legs are numb.
I cannot feel them, but I'm thinking to myself,
"You're gonna freakin' keep pushing.
- You're not gonna stop." - CHANELLE: "Just one more step further.
Just one more step further."
CORY: I'm gassed, but I've always told myself,
"Don't let your legs stop."
I'm a little dizzy.
My body is saying no.
That second Risk Station
was a $250,000 decision,
and I made the wrong one.
- MEDIC: Feel a bit light-headed? - MICHAELA: Yeah.
MEDIC: Bit confused.
MICHAELA: Uh...
Okay, she can't go on.
MEDIC 2: I'm gonna check your blood pressure, okay?
MICHAELA: Rocks. I should have did the rocks.
♪ ♪
("Ordinary World" by Adam Lambert playing)
TJ: Yeah, Chris! That's what's up!
$250,000!
My man.
Zero to hero. Well done.
- Love it. Love it! - Yes!
♪ Rainy Thursday on the avenue... ♪
TJ: Got it done, brother.
(Chris whoops)
TJ: Got it done!
I... I win.
♪ I turned on the lights... ♪
Everything that it took to get me to this point,
the pressure that I had to go through,
the struggles, the blindsides,
the crosses, the eliminations, the wins.
You still got more left in there, right?
Everything that I went through makes this
one of the sweetest victories of my entire life.
I did it for me, I did it for my family.
I did it for everyone
that has ever had obstacles in their path
and they had to find a way to go
over, above and beyond and push to the end.
I'm a true Challenger, I'm a Survivor,
and I freakin' did it.
(whoops)
TJ: Well-deserved, Chris.
I love it, Cory.
Not gonna stop.
- A five-minute deficit. - Come on, baby.
- TJ: I am so proud of you, man. - Thank you.
- Well done, brother. - Thank you.
CORY: After the first day that I had,
I can't be anything but proud of me
for coming in second place.
And I didn't stop. I kept pushing, I kept fighting.
And in the grand scheme of things,
I think my daughters will be proud of me.
I think my family will be proud of me.
And that's what it's about.
TJ: There it is, Desi!
(laughs, crying)
Second time's the charm!
Well done! You are now the champion
- of The Challenge: USA. - (screams)
Touch it!
- (whoops) - Oh...
(laughing)
♪ Ordinary world somehow I... ♪
I-I don't even know if I can describe the feeling.
CHRIS: Yes! Desi!
Not bad for an old guy.
TJ: Well done, Bananas.
BANANAS: The best man won today.
I have this profound sense of accomplishment,
and, um, even though I did not come out victorious,
just making it through this season
and completing this final is a win in my book.
- Redemption. - Redemption.
DESI: I have won The Challenge: USA,
and I have fought this entire season through highs and lows
and self-doubt and trusting myself.
And in this moment, all those things culminate
into the perfect moment where not only
have I won, but I've got people at the end
cheering for me, excited for me.
TJ: Well done, Chanelle. Well done!
DESI: You made it!
(laughing, crying)
DESI: I'm speechless.
I have no words to describe the moment.
I've made it to the top of the mountain, like,
literally and figuratively, I'm here.
We are The Challenge: USA champions!
(whooping)
Captioning sponsored by CBS
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org