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Rivals is the 21st season of The Challenge. This season features alumni from The Real World and The Challenge teaming up with their worst enemy for a share of $300,000. This season was filmed in Costa Rica, and Argentina for the Final Challenge, from February to March 2011. It premiered on June 22nd, 2011, and concluded with the reunion special on September 11th, 2011. This season marked the first time in which there was a change of location during the competition.

Description[]

Can you trust your worst enemy? That is the question that twenty-eight vicious competitors will be asking themselves this season as they travel to the lush jungles of Costa Rica to compete in a thrilling new Challenge: Rivals. These fan favorites will receive the shock of their lives when they learn that their one and only teammate will be their biggest rival! In order to win, these arch-enemies must figure out how to overcome their rocky pasts and compete together for a jaw-dropping grand prize. Over $300,000 is at stake, and these bitter rivals will fight tooth and nail in order to get their hands on a cut of the cash!

However, not every rival pair will make it to the end to fight for a share of the wealth. Teams will live in fear of "The Jungle" -- a mentally and physically exhausting elimination round. Avoiding the dreaded "Jungle" will mean that these bitter enemies must learn to work together, despite their ugly pasts, in order to win challenges. Here's how it works: there will be male challenge days and female challenge days. After each challenge, the winning duo will be safe from "The Jungle." However, ranks will be thinned as the last place pair will automatically be sent into "The Jungle." Their opponents will be selected by their peers in a public forum. These two unlucky teams will battle it out in "The Jungle" for survival. The winning pair will stay in the game to pursue their dreams of victory. The losing pair, however, will be sent home in disgrace. Only the pairs that make it to the end will have a chance at the money.

With over $300,000 on the line, these players must quickly learn to bury the hatchet with their rival or risk losing a shot at the cash. Old tensions will arise and new feuds will form. Partnerships will be tested, romances will blossom, hearts will be broken, and punches will be thrown, as battles rage both on and off the playing field. And in a shocking, mid-season twist, players will be sent over 3,000 miles away to a new location! Those who manage to survive until the end will compete in what is undeniably the biggest, baddest, most treacherous finale in Challenge history -- where one male team and one female team will win it all and be crowned champions of Rivals.

Format[]

Each team will consist of players who will be paired with their "worst enemies," whom they have engaged in bitter feuds, fights and rivalries with in previous Real World and/or Challenge seasons.

Each team participates in numerous challenges, which are followed by an elimination round called "The Jungle." Each challenge is alternatively designated as either a male or a female challenge day. The winning team of the gender not designated for the Jungle is awarded $2,000. The winning team whose gender is designated for elimination wins immunity from the Jungle, while the team that finishes last is automatically sent to the Jungle. A public vote is cast by teams of the opposite gender to determine which team of the same gender will face the last-place finisher in the Jungle. The team who wins the elimination round returns to the game and has a shot at a $300,000 prize, while the losing team is eliminated from the game.

At the end of the season, six teams will compete in the final challenge — three of each gender.

Money for finalists is split as follows:

  • First Place: $100,000 ($50,000 each)
  • Second Place: $50,000 ($25,000 each)
  • Third Place: Walks away empty-handed

Contestants[]

Teams
Partner 1 Partner 2 Finish
JohnnyRivalsIcon
Johnny Devenanzio
The Real World: Key West
TylerRivalsIcon
Tyler Duckworth
The Real World: Key West
Winners
in At the End of the World
EvelynRivalsIcon
Evelyn Smith
Fresh Meat
PaulaRivalsIcon
Paula Meronek
The Real World: Key West
Winners
in At the End of the World
KennyRivalsIcon
Kenny Santucci
Fresh Meat
WesRivalsIcon
Wes Bergmann
The Real World: Austin
Runners-Up
in At the End of the World
CaraMariaRivalsIcon
Cara Maria Sorbello
Fresh Meat II
LaurelRivalsIcon
Laurel Stucky
Fresh Meat II
Runners-Up
in At the End of the World
LeroyRivalsIcon
Leroy Garrett
The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)
MichaelRivalsIcon
Michael Ross
The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)
Third Place
in At the End of the World
JennRivalsIcon
Jenn Grijalva
The Real World: Denver
MandiRivalsIcon
Mandi Moyer
Fresh Meat II
Third Place
in At the End of the World
AdamKRivalsIcon
Adam King
The Real World: Paris
CTRivalsIcon
CT Tamburello
The Real World: Paris
Eliminated
in The Storm Before the Storm
JasmineRivalsIcon
Jasmine Reynaud
The Real World: Cancun
JonnaRivalsIcon
Jonna Mannion
The Real World: Cancun
Eliminated
in Blood on the Dance Floor
EvanRivalsIcon
Evan Starkman
Fresh Meat
NehemiahRivalsIcon
Nehemiah Clark
The Real World: Austin
Eliminated
in Blowup
KatelynnRivalsIcon
Katelynn Bald
The Real World: Brooklyn
SarahRivalsIcon
Sarah Rice
The Real World: Brooklyn
Eliminated
in Ill Communication
BrandonRivalsIcon
Brandon Nelson
Fresh Meat II
TyRivalsIcon
Ty Ruff
The Real World: D.C.
Eliminated
in D-Day
CamilaRivalsIcon
Camila Nakagawa
Spring Break Challenge
TheresaRivalsIcon
Theresa Gonzalez
Fresh Meat II
Eliminated
in Underdog Day Afternoon
DavisRivalsIcon
Davis Mallory
The Real World: Denver
TyrieRivalsIcon
Tyrie Ballard
The Real World: Denver
Eliminated
in Through the Looking Glass
AneesaRivalsIcon
Aneesa Ferreira
The Real World: Chicago
RobinRivalsIcon
Robin Hibbard
The Real World: San Diego
Eliminated
in Welcome to the Jungle
AdamRRivalsIcon
Adam Royer
The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)
N/A Disqualified
in Welcome to the Jungle

Game Summary[]

Episode Gender Challenge Winners Jungle contestants Jungle game Jungle outcome
# Challenge Won $2,000 Immune Last-place Voted In Winners Eliminated
1[1] High Dive Female Adam R. & Leroy Jasmine & Jonna Evelyn & Paula Aneesa & Robin Hands On Evelyn & Paula Aneesa & Robin
2 Car Crusher Male Evelyn & Paula Adam K. & CT Kenny & Wes Davis & Tyrie Blast Off Kenny & Wes Davis & Tyrie
3 Sync or Swim Female Adam K. & CT Evelyn & Paula Cara Maria & Laurel Camila & Theresa Door Jam Cara Maria & Laurel Camila & Theresa
4 Hammock Crawl Male
N/A[2]
Johnny & Tyler[3] Kenny & Wes Brandon & Ty Going Up Kenny & Wes Brandon & Ty
5 Against the Current Female Johnny & Tyler Jenn & Mandi Katelynn & Sarah Jasmine & Jonna Unburied Jasmine & Jonna Katelynn & Sarah
6 Catch & Release Male Cara Maria & Laurel Kenny & Wes Evan & Nehemiah Adam K. & CT Rail Slide Adam K. & CT Evan & Nehemiah
7 Sawed Off Female Johnny & Tyler Evelyn & Paula Cara Maria & Laurel Jasmine & Jonna Blast Off Cara Maria & Laurel Jasmine & Jonna
8/9 Bombs Away Male Evelyn & Paula Leroy & Michael Adam K. & CT Johnny & Tyler T-Bone Johnny & Tyler Adam K. & CT
9/10 Final Challenge Evelyn & Paula 2nd place: Cara Maria & Laurel, 3rd place: Jenn & Mandi[4]
Johnny & Tyler 2nd place: Kenny & Wes, 3rd place: Leroy & Michael[5]

Episode Progress[]

Teams Episodes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8/9 Finale
Johnny & Tyler SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN SAFE WIN ELIM WINNERS
Evelyn & Paula ELIM WIN WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN WINNERS
Kenny & Wes SAFE ELIM SAFE ELIM SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SECOND
Cara Maria & Laurel SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE WIN ELIM SAFE SECOND
Leroy & Michael N/A SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN THIRD
Jenn & Mandi SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE THIRD
Adam K. & CT SAFE WIN WIN SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE OUT
Jasmine & Jonna WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE OUT
Evan & Nehemiah SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT
Katelynn & Sarah SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT
Brandon & Ty SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT
Camila & Theresa SAFE SAFE OUT
Davis & Tyrie SAFE OUT
Aneesa & Robin OUT
Adam R. & Leroy DQ
Competition
     The team won the competition.
     The team did not win the final challenge.
     The team could not complete the final challenge and was disqualified.
     The team won the mission and was safe from the Jungle.
     The team won the mission and $2,000.
     The team was not selected for the Jungle.
     The team won in the Jungle.
     The team lost in the Jungle and was eliminated.
     The contestant/team was disqualified from the competition.
     The team withdrew from the competition.

Notes[]

  1. Leroy's original partner, Adam R., was sent home prior to the first Jungle for punching Ty. His RW: Las Vegas roommate, Michael Ross, was brought in as Leroy's replacement partner. Ironically, due to the theme of Rivals, Leroy & Michael were very good friends on their original season. The "High Dive" challenge was won by the team of Adam R. & Leroy, prior to Adam's disqualification.
  2. Cara Maria & Laurel were the women's team to complete the "Hammock Crawl" challenge but were disqualified for going over the 15-minute time limit. Therefore, no female team won any money.
  3. Evan & Nehemiah completed the "Hammock Crawl" challenge in the fastest time. However, they were disqualified for touching more than two hammocks at a time, after host T.J. Lavin explained to each team that doing so would result in a DQ. Therefore, the male team with the next fastest time — Johnny & Tyler — was declared the winner by default.
  4. Jenn & Mandi and Leroy & Michael were both disqualified during the final challenge and finished in third by default. Jenn & Mandi were disqualified on day 1, after taking too long to complete the "Pile Up" and "Re-creation Campsite" checkpoints. When daylight ran out, producers informed Jenn & Mandi that advancing to the "Final Feast" checkpoint would be too dangerous to attempt in the dark. (It has been implied, though, at the reunion, that Jenn & Mandi were actually incapable of completing the tent puzzle and were told to move on simply for footage purposes.)
  5. Leroy & Michael were disqualified on day 2, after they decided that Michael was too worn out to climb the mountain without injuring himself.

Episodes[]

Episode Air date Viewers (in millions)
1 "Welcome to the Jungle" June 22, 2011 1.88
2 "Through the Looking Glass" June 29, 2011 1.36
3 "Underdog Day Afternoon" July 6, 2011 1.66
4 "D-Day" July 13, 2011 1.62
5 "Ill Communication" July 20, 2011 1.66
6 "Blowup" July 27, 2011 1.99
7 "Blood on the Dance Floor" August 3, 2011 1.59
8 "Cry for Me, Argentina" August 10, 2011 2.06
9 "The Storm Before the Storm" August 17, 2011 1.99
10 "At the End of the World" August 24, 2011 2.37

Reunion[]

The reunion was filmed in New York City, New York, and was hosted by entertainment personality Maria Menounos. The contestants who attended the reunion were: Adam K., Cara Maria, CT, Evelyn, Jenn, Johnny, Kenny, Laurel, Leroy, Mandi, Michael, Paula, Tyler, and Wes.

Trivia[]

  • Rivals marks the first season to not feature any alumni from Road Rules.
The Challenge Series

Road Rules: All StarsReal World vs. Road RulesChallenge 2000Extreme ChallengeBattle of the Seasons (2002)Battle of the SexesThe GauntletThe InfernoBattle of the Sexes 2The Inferno IIThe Gauntlet 2Fresh MeatThe DuelThe Inferno 3The Gauntlet IIIThe IslandThe Duel IIThe RuinsFresh Meat IICutthroatRivalsBattle of the ExesBattle of the Seasons (2012)Rivals IIFree AgentsBattle of the Exes IIBattle of the BloodlinesRivals IIIInvasion of the ChampionsDirty 30VendettasFinal ReckoningWar of the WorldsWar of the Worlds 2Total MadnessDouble AgentsSpies, Lies & AlliesRide or DiesBattle for a New Champion

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