The Challenge Rivals III: Preseason Power Rankings

After a very short off season, The Challenge is BACK! We have some new faces, some old foes, and a lot of drama brewing! With the season set with co-ed rivals, how will these male-female pairs fair? Here are my Preseason Power Rankings with my pick to win it all! 

#1) Sarah and Bananas

Let’s face it. With their combined resume, if you don’t pick them as your winners, you’re dumb. They are a sure-fire pick simply due to the relationships they have with the other competitors. Their biggest challenge will be if Wes and Nany declare war on Bananas. Johnny should be happy Sarah is his partner because she could defuse the situation.

#2) Nany and Wes

Who’s ready for another season of Bananas vs Wes?! That will be the plot line from start to finish. But who will leave on top? Of the two, Bananas and Wes are equal. It’s Sarah that beats out Nany. I think if they both have the same goal in mind, they easily could do well. But they need to be on the same page otherwise they could find themselves victim to the wrath of Bananas. 

#3) Jessica and Johnny

Rivals? Yes. These two never saw eye to eye. But they know each other to the point where they should be a good combo. They are good players and Johnny has a connection to Bananas. Can Johnny avoid any win or go home challenges for another season? 

#4) Jenna and Vince

Just gonna say it. Vince sucks. Jenna is two for two in getting to finals. And luck probably played a huge part. Vince will be working with Johnny. Jenna is forced into that alliance. Jenna began to prove herself last season but expect these two to be carried merely for their votes. 

#5) Avery and Leroy

Rivalry? C’mon. No way. This is one of the forced pairs of the season. Both players are strong competitors. Leroy has a connection to Bananas. That alliance includes Johnny Reilly who Avery hates. How will this work? Will they be on the same page? If they vote separately that could be bad news for getting far. 

#6) Nicole and Dario

Neither can be considered veterans but they do have one challenge under their belt. Nicole has her cousin on her side which helps in numbers. Dario wants to be the top dog which may give Nany and Wes another competitor in the “Beat Bananas” campaign. They should be great competitors, though Nicole didn’t really show much skill being lucky in Bloodlines. 

#7) KellyAnne and Jamie

I’ve always been high on KellyAnne. She’s been a favorite of mine. I’m excited to see her and Sarah reunite. But after last season, neither KellyAnne or Jamie seemed to make many friends. If they can work together, they will be a force to be reckoned with. But in a game of numbers, they may see an early trip home.

#8) Ashley and Cory

Yes that’s right, Ashley is back. Do we want her back? Not really. Ashley is lethal. And she’s a drunk. Will Cory be able to reign her in? I highly doubt it. Ashley will speak her mind despite how much she claims she will stay silent. Cory has a target on his back simply due to his strength. With Ashley has his partner, having no ties can hurt him and be an easy duo to sacrifice.

#9) Camila and Tony

Camila is just not getting lucky with partners! On paper, Tony should be a great competitor but the fact that he’s a loose cannon is bad news. Camila has bonds with people but if Tony rubs people the wrong way, they will be gone super fast. Egos must be in check for these two to succeed. 

#10) Briana and Brandon 

This season will be determined by how the Are You the One? cast is integrated. Their presence this challenge is much bigger which could be to their benefit. This pair doesn’t look like they will be good players. Brandon could have potential but Briana looks like she may not have much of any skills. Together, they seem like they will clash but of the AYTO kids, they seem like they may be the best bet. 

#11) Cheyenne and Devin

Devin looks like Johnny Bananas 2.0. And if he’s anything like him, he will be bringing an ego along with him. Cheyenne looks like a princess. Not feeling good about these two. They seem like they could work fine together so falling into the background could be to their benefit. 

#12) Christina and Nate

Based on her limited time on Bloodlines, Christina is not on the right show. How she made it back is shocking. Can Nate carry the two? It’s hard to say. If Christina and Tony hook up again, there’s no way they will last. There will be way too much drama going on and no one wants that. Nate looks scrawny but scrappy. Maybe the challenges will help that. 

#13) Simone and Thomas

Thomas is a subpar performer and Simone just sucks. That is a bad combo. If they continually lose challenges, they will be out early. But if they can stay away from the elimination challenges they will be carried to the end. Sorta like how Jenna has been. They don’t seem like they’ll be successful or work well together. Poor Thomas. 

The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines Episode 7

Rule #1: Don't mess with the girl of a psycho. Abe finally found out about Thomas and Cara and the result was the demolition of Thomas and Stephen at the hand of the Brother Boise. Ain't no more twinning! And because of this personal feud, Johnny Bananas and Vince were spared again. So how do things shake up now?

#1) Johnny (5)

Johnny is the master manipulator. His social game may be a bit odd but regardless, he can make things happen. He aided in the seed being planted that fueled the fire in Abram to go after Thomas. With Abe going for blood, Johnny knew he'd have a safe week. Now that the next Pit will be a girls battle, Johnny can throw his aim toward someone not in his core alliance, like Kelly Anne.

#2) Abram (3)

Abram's presence on The Challenge has officially been felt. Do not mess with this man. Though it's really sad to watch a couple crumble on television when it should be saved for private. With Thomas gone, Cara's alliance numbers are dwindling, likely making her find herself in The Pit soon. 

#3) Jamie (2)

Jamie is vocal and is truly the only person Cara has left. He is a fighter and will fight for his cousin. But at what cost? Jamie's positioning is interesting as he could be a target for Johnny so he can save himself. 

#4) Cara (1)

What a rough week for Cara. She looses her cuddle buddy and is forced to look at her love life. She's also put herself in a vulnerable spot in the game. The cracks have have been exposed and Jamie will have to work to save his cousin should the Red Team lose. 

#5) Aneesa  (4)

Aneesa is smack dab in the middle of the crossfires. She is in the pocket of both Johnny and Cory because they both require her number. Where things get iffy is that Rianna is likely going to be thrown in soon because people want to battle of the weak. Aneesa may want to think about throwing the next challenge to save her cousin and her own butt from leaving. 

#6) Vince (6)

Vince is quite possibly one of the most vile people to ever appear on this show. Vince not only was the one to tell Abe about Cara but he did it in such a gross way. The difference between he and his cousin Johnny is Johnny has character when he messes with people's heads. No matter what, Vince isn't a target which is good for this game.

#7) Anthony (7)

Anthony is loved by the guys yet is somehow on the other side of the house from his cousin Kelly Anne. Kelly Anne is likely to be enemy number one for the girls meaning Anthony has a chance to see a plane ride home. Anthony isn't desired by his friends as much as he thinks.

#8) Mike (15)

Mike wanted to prove himself in this game and boy did he ever! Sure, it was against Noodle Arms. Mike surely has Boise blood in him. 

#9) Cory (11)

Cory was super lucky that Thomas got blown up because it saved him and Mitch another week. But this week is incredibly important for Cory. Cory needs to pick a girl to go into The Pit that will not hurt his place in this game. This vote is integral for him to be saved another week. 

#10) Jenna (12)

Jenna is the Queen of the Quotes this season. And that's all she's really worth in The Challenge. With the format change, she's somehow found herself saved more than she should have. Jenna needs to continue to fly under the radar so she and Brianna can stay.

#11) Brianna (13)

Brianna is like the voice of the audience. She is saying what we want. Brianna has been lucky that her team has won everything or she would be an easy target. She needs to watch her back because a Blue win will likely throw her in so they don't lose one of their stronger girls.

#12) Rianna (10)

Rianna, like Brianna, is lucky as all hell. If her team lost, she would be sent in because she is not a strong competitor. She has had a bit of an invisible edit so the first time she gets air time will likely be her boot episode.

#13) Kelly Anne (14)

The battle between Kelly Anne and Aneesa is likely to return now that Thomas is gone. Kelly Anne MUST keep her cool because she is an easy target for many. It's a shame because Kelly Anne, as cra cra as she is, is someone you want to see in the final challenge as she will bring it. 

#14) Mitch (16)

Mitch needs to pull out a victory for Blue because he is in the next time it's a guys day. Mitch is a more polarizing character than you'd ever imagine. I really like him which makes it unfortunate he's on the bottom. 

The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines Episode 2 Power Rankings

Oh man, this season of The Challenge is wild. There is no rhyme or reason given to the challengers on format and because of loosey goosey changes, the number one team of last week's power rankings went home as it was revealed to be a guy's elimination week. With the format changing again, the players will be broken into teams and play against their bloodline. So here's how things could fair with that in mind

#1) Cara Maria (2)

Cara is proving herself to be a leader and veteran despite making almost a huge blunder. She was able to recover from telling Dario and Raphy they were going into The Pit, then sending in Stephen and Thomas, and still managing to get Stephen to understand. With the players being broken up, Cara will be one of the strongest, if not the strongest, female player. Unless people target her early, she can make it to the big time.  

#2) Cory (3)

Cory is the rookie underdog. He's a strong competitor and not making any waves in the drama department. People are drawn to him and probably would not like to see him leave. If Cory remains under the radar, he could sail his way deep into this game. 

#3) Johnny (5)

Bananas must be thrilled that he will be split from Vince. It makes his target just a bit smaller. Johnny knows how to manipulate and in a team setting, he will want to take charge. The only factor that could hurt Johnny is how exactly players are selected to go into The Pit. 

#4) Jamie (2)

Jamie was sitting pretty with Cara in the top but in a game of veterans, losing her could be a good sign for him. If Jamie can break out and become his own person, he could see a clear path to victory. Like Cory, he hasn't seemed to rub anyone the wrong way and is strong in the challenges. 

#5) Dario (7)

Dario is tricky. He was able to sway Cara into not sending him in. But he used scare tactics. While it worked, it proves that he has an ego. Dario and Raphy seem to have big heads and will want to prove their worth. Some players will stray from that. Others, like Bananas, will likely feed into it and be willing to fight. 

#6) Raphy (7)

Raphy is tricky. Because it's hard to tell him apart from Dario. With people breaking up into teams, perhaps the twins could use it to their advantage. Maybe play a little game of parent trap. Raphy is a strong player. But he's still a newbie. 

#7) Mitch (3)

Mitch is like that good kid that has no idea what he's doing at the bad kids' table. Mitch has a great smile and is loved by all. And he seems like a legit player. He will likely float so far under the radar that he will see the final challenge just because everyone forgot he was there. 

#8) Anthony (4)

So here's the thing about Anthony being ahead of his cousin Kelly Anne. Anthony is broing out and that is a good sign. Kelly Anne lost her closest pal in Cohutta and will need to find some new friends. Cara seems like the most viable option for her. But as far as Anthony goes, if he and his bros continue their game, he will carry Kelly Anne far. 

#9) Leroy (12)

Leroy takes a giant leap by cutting the cord from Candice. No offense to her but she was holding him back. Leroy must be thrilled. Leroy is a vet with some strong ties. If he can take a leadership role, Leroy could skate through for some time. Again, the struggle will be how the players are determined for The Pit. 

#10) Shane (11)

Shane is the life of the party. How can you not love him! Like Leroy, being detached from Tony will only be for the best. Shane will now have to prove he can play alone and be a dominating force in the challenge. Otherwise his slim stature will get him a place in The Pit. 

#11) Kelly Anne (4)

Kelly Anne had a great alliance going with Cara and Cohutta but losing Cohutta is bad news. While there's likely no bad blood between her and Nany, both former loves of Cohutta's, it could be an excuse to be a target. Kelly Anne has proven herself to be a fierce competitor time in and time out. But being one of the older kids this time around could backfire.

#12) Nany (6)

Nany is trying to change her ways. And so far, so good. Nany has played best when she was trying to prove herself to her partner. Going partnerless in a team setting may allow her to take a backseat. Or panic even more that she's letting more people down if she fails. Either way, her head is in the game now more than ever. 

#13) Aneesa (10)

Aneesa is an outcast. She fits in but anyway you cut it, she is the odd man out. Being the oldest person present could make her an easy target. Or it could benefit her with the young ones trying to use her for her knowledge. She needs to get with the vets and find security fast. 

#14) Camila (8)

Camila is not going to want to fight against Larissa and that will likely cause drama. Drama is usually a good sign to get yourself booted. Camila is one of the lowest ranking vets for a reason. This new format will work against her. 

#15) Thomas (9)

Thomas likes Cara and that is the only reason he forgave her. There was absolutely no strategy behind it. In fact, he should have used it to his advantage. While the fans know something is brewing, once Abram arrives, Thomas better sleep with one eye open.

#16) Stephen (9)

Being a twin must suck. It's probably that Stephen was always the cooler twin growing up but now in The Challenge world, he is the forgotten one. Stephen is literally along for the ride. And he needs to do something soon before he is completely lost in Turkey.

#17) Vince (5)

Vince is a firestarter. Being away from Johnny will work against him because he has no one to fall back on. Vince needs to prove that he is worth the headaches that he causes. Stirring drama for drama's sake is a bad strategic move. One person catches wind and he could kiss his chances goodbye. 

#18) Nicole

Nicole is full of emotions. Being separated from her cousin could prove bad for her. She has been holding onto Nany for support. Like Camila and Larissa, she won't want to battle Nany. Nicole will need to lay low from the drama and prove that she is a competitor.

#19) Larissa (6)

Here's the thing about Larissa. She's virtually a replica of Camila in animation and electricity. She does not seem to have any strength as a challenger though. Larissa must prove her worth fast or she could be seeing the Staten Island Cousin in The Pit. 

#20) Rianna (10)

Rianna has alliances with two people who just don't fit into this mix of people. And that's hilarious because now separated, she sticks out as a weak player. Rianna needs to hope and pray that Mitch is on her side so she has support otherwise she is an easy scapegoat. 

#21) Tony (11)

Tony is getting a reputation. Depending on the time of day and whether or not he has alcohol in his system displays a different side of T.Raines. Tony is an easy target for a guy's elimination because of his drama. 

#22) Candice (12)

Candice should be crying now that she's separated from Leroy. This is a worse case scenario for her. Lord help the team that is stuck with her and one of the Long Island Cousins. 

#23) Jenna (13)

Jenna wants to play. Brianna doesn't. And now that they are apart, Jenna must be thrilled. But that doesn't help the fact that she's still a super weak player. Jenna must rely on her social game to take her far. 

#24) Brianna (13)

She doesn't want to be here. It's a proven fact. Unless someone talks some sense into her, the team stuck with Brianna will throw her in the first chance they get.