10 Best Males To Never Win The Challenge
Some of the best challengers ever.
The Challenge has been on MTV for 40 seasons and we have had plenty of spin-offs. We have seen some fantastic winners from Jordan Wiseely to Chris "CT" Tamburello to Landon Lueck. We have also had some people get so close but couldn't get the win. This will be a list of the 10 best challengers to never win.
8. Tony Raines
Original Show - The Real World: Skeletons / Back to Chicago
Daily Wins: 14 (Flagship) 1 (All-Stars)
Elimination Record: 4-5 (Flagship) 0-0 (All-Stars)
Flagship Seasons: 7
- Bloodlines
- Rivals III (DQ - Fighting with Partner)
- Invasion of the Champions
- Dirty 30
- Vendettas (Purged in Final)
- Final Reckoning
- Battle of the Eras
Spin-Offs
- All-Stars 4 (Left)
Tony is on this list because he usually gets to the end. He has only been to 1 final and didn't perform well. The running rumor is that he left All-Stars 4 and Battle of the Eras early just so he can get his appearance check. I don't know if that's true but I would love an actual season with Tony again.
7. Nelson Thomas
Original Show - Are You The One? 3
Daily Wins: 12 (Flagship) 0 (World Tournament)
Elimination Record: 9-6-1 (Flagship) 0-1 (World Tournament)
Flagship Seasons: 9
- Rivals III
- Invasion of the Champions (2nd)
- Dirty 30 (DQ - Fighting)
- Vendettas
- Final Reckoning
- Total Madness
- Double Agents
- Spies, Lies, & Allies (4th)
- Ride or Dies
Spin-Offs
- World Championship
Nelson was so close to winning Invasion of the Champions. He only lost by 2 minutes. He constantly gets far but can't get across that finish line first. Nelson recently amputated his leg due to a car accident so I'm not sure if we'll ever see him again.
6. Theo Campbell
Original Show - Love Island UK 3
Daily Wins: 10 (Flagship) 1 (World Tournament)
Elimination Record: 5-2 (Flagship) 0-0 (World Tournament)
Flagship Seasons: 3
- War of the Worlds (2nd)
- War of the Worlds II
- Battle of the Eras
Spin-Offs
- World Championship (4th)
Theo was close to winning the hardest final ever and then lost to two of the best challengers of all-time in Jordan Wiseley on War of the Worlds II and Johnny Bananas on Battle of the Eras. If he is back for more seasons he will definitely get a win eventually.
5. Joss Mooney
Original Show - Ex on the Beach UK 1
Daily Wins: 5 (Flagship)
Elimination Record: 3-1 (Flagship)
Flagship Seasons: 3
- Vendettas
- Final Reckoning (2nd)
- War of the Worlds II
Joss was eliminated by a mercenary on Vendettas in Derrick Kosinski. It was a faulty ended when Joss thought it was over. He got 2nd place with Sylvia Elsrode on Final Reckoning and then was purged out of War of the Worlds II because Kayleigh Morris can't swim. If he did more seasons he would already be a Challenge Champion.
4. Faysal Shafaat
Original Show - Big Brother 20
Daily Wins: 12 (Flagship) 2 (All-Stars) 6 (World Tournament)
Elimination Record: 5-1 (Flagship) 0-1 (All-Stars) 1-0 (World Tournament)
Flagship Seasons: 4
- Total Madness (4th)
- Double Agents (4th)
- Spies, Lies, & Allies (DQ - Fighting)
- Ride or Dies
- USA 2 (4th)
- All-Stars: Rivals
Spin-Offs
Faysal came onto The Challenge and instantly dominated. He made it to 3 finals but got 4th place in all 3. His daily wins and elimination record is also impressive. I'm not the biggest fan but you can't doubt how good he is.
3. Leroy Garrett
Original Show - The Real World: Back to Las Vegas
Daily Wins: 25 (Flagship) 2 (All-Stars)
Elimination Record: 9-6 (Flagship) 1-1 (All-Stars)
Flagship Seasons: 12
- Rivals (3rd)
- Exes
- Rivals II
- Free Agents
- Exes II (2nd)
- Bloodlines (Partner - Medical)
- Rivals III (Medical)
- Dirty 30
- Vendettas (Purge in Final)
- War of the Worlds
- War of the Worlds II (Purge in Final)
- Double Agents (3rd)
- Battle of the Eras
- All-Star 4 (7th)
- All-Stars: Rivals
Spin-Offs
Some people have Leroy as #1. Leroy is probably the most well known challenger to never win but his stats just don't back it. He has only made 4 finals and one of those was on All-Stars. Double Agents was his season but let Chris "CT" Tamburello get to the end and he stood no chance against CT.
2. Kyle Christie
Original Show - Geordie Shore 8
Daily Wins: 11 (Flagship)
Elimination Record: 7-6 (Flagship)
Flagship Seasons: 7
- Vendettas (3rd)
- Final Reckoning
- War of the Worlds
- War of the Worlds II
- Total Madness (2nd)
- Double Agents
- Spies, Lies, & Allies (2nd)
Kyle has the same amount of finals in flagship season as Leroy and he's only done 7 seasons. Kyle and Tori should have won Spies, Lies, & Allies. They were so close but again letting Chris "CT" Tamburello into a final is never a good decision.
1. Cory Wharton
Original Show - The Real World: Ex-Plosion / Back to San Francisco
Daily Wins: 22 (Flagship) 4 (World Tournament)
Elimination Record: 11-5 (Flagship) 0-0 (World Tournament)
Flagship Seasons: 10
- Bloodlines (2nd)
- Rivals III
- Invasion of the Champions (3rd)
- Dirty 30
- Vendettas
- Final Reckoning (DQ - Fighting)
- Total Madness (3rd)
- Double Agents (2nd)
- Spies, Lies, & Allies
- Battle of the Eras
Spin-Offs: 1
- USA 2 (2nd)
Cory is the best challenger to never win the show. He has made it to 5 finals and been so close many times. He also would have had a good chance on Final Reckoning if he didn't get disqualified for body slamming Tony Raines on Final Reckoning. He should get 1 championship eventually.
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Dylan Deckard is a content creator, podcast host, and blogger. He talks about reality TV, Grey's Anatomy and more. Please click the links below...
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Comments (1)
Tony Raines seems like a solid competitor who just couldn't seal the deal. It's too bad about the rumors around him. Nelson getting so close in Invasion of the Champions is tough luck. And Theo coming close in a super hard final is impressive. Do you think any of them could still pull off a win if they got another chance? I'd love to see Tony in a new season to prove those rumors wrong. Nelson's accident is a bummer. Theo showed he has what it takes. Who else do you think should be on this list of best challengers who never won?