Invasion of the Champions

The 29th Season of MTV’s the Challenge begins this evening. As with most seasons of The Challenge, this is a brand new take on the reality adventure/game show’s format. Eight former champions will stand to guard the throne of former titles against 18 hopefuls who’ve yet to touched the greatness that is winning a Challenge. Some of the names are new and some of them are familiar old faces, but don’t worry, there also names no season of the show should be without, including the first in our list of Champions.

Champions

John “Johnny Bananas” Devenanzio

First Appearance: The Duel

First of Six Wins: The Island

Chris “CT” Tamburello

First Appearance: The Inferno

Only Win: Rivals II

Laurel Stucky

First Appearance: Fresh Meat II

Only Win: Free Agents

Cara Maria Sorbello

First Appearance: Fresh Meat II

Only Win: Battle of the Bloodlines

Darrell Taylor

First Appearance: Road Rules — Campus Crawl

First of Four Wins: The Gauntlet

Camila Nakagawa

First Appearance: Spring Break Challenge

Only Win: Battle of the Exes

Ashley Kelsey

First Appearance: The Real World — San Diego (2011)

Only Win: Battle of the Seasons

Zach Nichols

First Appearance: The Real World — San Diego (2011)

Only Win: Battle of the Seasons

Underdogs

Amanda Garcia (Are You the One? III)

Anika Rashaun (Real World Seattle: Bad Blood)

Anthony Bartolette (Are You the One? II)

Ashley Mitchell a.k.a. “Crazy” (Real World: Ex-Plosion)

Bruno Bettencourt (Real World: Skeletons)

Cory Wharton (Real World: Ex-Plosion)

Dario Medrano (Are You the One? II)

Hunter Barfield (Are You the One? III)

Jenna Compono (Real World: Ex-Plosion)

Kailah Casillas (Real World: Go Big or Go Home)

LaToya Jackson (Real World: St. Thomas)

Marie Roda (Real World: St. Thomas)

Nelson Thomas (Are You the One? III)

Nicole Zanatta (Real World: Skeletons)

Shane Landrum (Road Rules: Campus Crawl)

Sylvia Elsrode (Real World: Skeletons)

Theo Bradley (Real World Seattle: Bad Blood)

Tony Raines (Real World: Skeletons)

Bananas has won the most out of any Challenge contestant; however, his luck may change with last years shocking ending and win. With the choice to split or keep the winnings with his Rivals III partner, Sarah, now former buddy, he chose to keep it all due to holding a grudge from a previous season (Battle of the Exes II) when Sarah threw him into the dome. In the end you may feel that karma was in play with Bananas decision against Sarah; however, though it’s just a game, when the winning prize is within grasp, his retaliation is that much bitter and that much sweeter. It should be fun to see how it all pans out especially with Zach, Darell, and CT [finally] back the game this go around.