Fantasy Cast for The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion 2

Battle for a New Champion was a great idea, but casting did not do a good job. We needed to see more vets, and this hypothetical season will have a lot of veterans. We need someone who has been on multiple seasons to finally get that win.

WOMEN

Sydney Segal

Original Show - Survivor 41

Best Finish: 2nd (Vets & New Threats)

Sydney was one of the rookies of the season on Vets & New Threats. She absolutely dominated that season and would have won if she wasn't partnered with Turbo Camkiran. That sounds weird, especially since Turbo won the hardest final of all time. She has to be a favorite to win this season.

Michele Fitzgerald

Original Show - Survivor: Kaoh Rong

Best Finish: 3rd (Battle of the Eras)

Michele was on the original Battle for a New Champion, but she still hasn't won a championship. yet. It's time to bring her back and see if she can finally cross that finish line first.

Michaela Bradshaw

Original Show - Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X

Best Finish: 3rd (USA 2)

Michaela made the final on her last 2 seasons (USA 2 and Vets & New Threats). I'd love to see her return to try and get the win. She would definitely make enemies and friends.

Amanda Garcia

Original Show - Are You The One? 3

Best Finish: 5th (Spies, Lies, & Allies)

We need more actual veterans on this type of season. Amanda would be one of the perfect people to be on this season. She is a vet and doesn't take any prisoners when she gets into arguments.

Kailah Casillas-Bird

Original Show - The Real World: Go Big or Go Home / Las Vegas III

Best Finish: Purged in Final (Vendettas)

We haven't seen Kailah since Ride or Dies, and she was the first boot on that season. I want to see an actual full season with Kailah. She was being set up to be the face of the show and then only came back twice after Final Reckoning.

Sylvia Elsrode

Original Show - The Real World: Skeletons / Back to Chicago

Best Finish: 2nd (Final Reckoning)

Sylvia is a niche casting decision, but she always provides. She was on Final Reckoning and then All-Stars 3 but really hasn't been on the show recently. She is a successful lawyer in Kansas City now, but I would love to see her return.

Taylor Hale

Original Show - Big Brother 24

ROOKIE

Taylor would be perfect for The Challenge. She won Big Brother 24 and got 2nd place on Big Brother: Reindeer Games and then made the final on The Amazing Race. I've heard she's been declining calls for The Challenge, but I'd love to see her eventually.

Dee Valladares

Original Show - Survivor 45

Best Finish: 10th (Vets & New Threats)

Dee played one of the best winning games on Survivor. She won her season by controlling almost every decision. She lost on The Challenge due to Derrick Kosinski losing a pillow fight. She will be on the 50th season of Survivor soon, called "In the Hands of the Fans."

Jenna Compono

Original Show - The Real World: Ex-Plosion / Back to San Francisco

Best Finish: 2nd (Rivals III)

It's time for the original "Barbie Beast" to return. Jenna has had a lot of kids, but I think it's time for her to step into The Challenge world again. I don't know how she would do since it's been a while, but she deserves a chance to play again.

Emily Seebohm

Original Show - Olympian

Best Finish: 5th (World Championship)

Emily was never on the flagship, but she was on The Challenge: Australia and The Challenge: World Championship. She is a former Olympian who deserves to be a mainstay on the flagship.

Imani Wheeler

Original Show - Love Island USA 5

ROOKIE

Imani would be perfect for this show. She was on Love Island USA and Love Island Games. She'd probably be targeted because she is a rookie but I still think she'd win a few eliminations.

Melissa Reeves

Original Show - Ex on the Beach UK 2

Best Finish: 4th (Total Madness)

Melissa made the final on Total Madness in 2020 but had to leave early due to her being pregnant. Her last season was actually Battle for a New Champion (Season 39). She wouldn't have that many allies on this season but it'd be interesting to see her play again.

"Ninja" Natalie Duran

Original Show - American Ninja Warrior 8

Best Finish: 2nd (War of the Worlds II)

Ninja was last on War of the Worlds II where she got 2nd place. She got 4th place on War of the Worlds. Ninja has never been eliminated before. I know this will bring anger from fans but you need someone to root against.

Nurys Mateo

Original Show - Are You The One? 6

Best Finish: 2nd (Battle for a New Champion)

There's an argument that Nurys should already be a Challenge Champion. She got 2nd place on Battle for a New Champion behind Emanuel Neagu. Emanuel was the sole winner. In my opinion there should have been a female and male winner.

Nany Gonzalez

Original Show - The Real World: Back to Las Vegas

Best Finish: 2nd (Free Agents)

Nany is a veteran, but she still qualifies for this season due to never winning a Challenge Championship. Nany might get the win this season, but she'll have some strong competitors to go against.

Kam Williams

Original Show - Are You The One? 5

Best Finish: 2nd (Double Agents)

Kam or Sydney would be my pick to win. We haven't seen Kam since All-Stars 4, where she was eliminated by Cara Maria Sorbello. Kam is a beast though and would most likely get to the final.

Da'Vonne Rogers

Original Show - Big Brother 17

Best Finish: 2nd (All-Stars: Rivals)

Da'Vonne needs to come back. I know she said she is retiring after All-Stars: Rivals, but this season would be perfect for her to return.

MEN

Paulie Calafiore

Original Show - Big Brother 18

Best Finish: 2nd (War of the Worlds II)

Paulie should have been on the first Battle for a New Champion. He ran the game politically on War of the Worlds and War of the Worlds II. Since then he was the first boot on USA 2 and Battle of the Eras. We need to see Paulie back.

Faysal Shafaat

Original Show - Big Brother 20

Best Finish: 4th (Total Madness, Double Agents, & USA 2)

Faysal, formerly known as Fessy, has made 3 finals and got last place in all 3 finals. He is a great competitor who has beaten Jordan Wiseley in an elimination before.

Theo Campbell

Original Show - Love Island UK 3

Best Finish: 2nd (War of the Worlds)

This is the time of season that fits Theo perfectly. He was so close to winning on War of the Worlds but hasn't gotten that close since. I would also love to see him play with Faysal.

Will Gagnon

Original Show - Are You The One? 9

Best Finish: 6th (Vets & New Threats)

Will was one of the breakout stars of Vets & New Threats. He hooked up with Nany Gonzalez, did well in the dailies and was involved in a lot of drama. I could see him getting calls back for years.

Leo Dionicio

Original Show - Love Island USA 5

Best Finish: 8th (Vets & New Threats)

Leo was really trying to lead the rookies to the promised land. The issue is a lot of them didn't listen. It's always refreshing seeing a new competitor come in and want to take out the vets.

Tyson Apostol

Original Show - Survivor: Blood vs Water*

Best Finish: 3rd (USA 1)

Tyson was a beast on The Challenge: USA and is a former winner of Survivor. He knows how to play games like this, and I'd love to see how he would play on the flagship.

Josh Martinez

Original Show - Big Brother 19

Best Finish: 7th (Spies, Lies, & Allies)

Josh should have been on the first version of this theme. Battle for a New Champion was set up for players like Josh who can't quite cross the hurdle. I don't know how he would do this season, but I'd love to see it.

Cedric Hodges

Original Show - Big Brother 26

Best Finish: 3rd (Vets & New Threats)

Cedric is a finalist in his rookie season. He played a pretty good game with Michaela Bradshaw as his partner to get to the final. There's an argument to be made that if Michaela had never twisted her ankle, they might have won, but who knows?

Marlon Williams

Original Show - The Real World: Portland

Best Finish: 3rd (Rivals II)

It's time for Marlon to return. Marlon is a former D1 football player at Texas Tech. The fact that he was only on 1 season of The Challenge is insane. He came back to MTV in 2019 for Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love but that was 7 years ago now.

Tucker Des Lauriers

Original Show - Big Brother 26

ROOKIE

Whoever found Tucker deserves an Emmy. He is one of the best casting decisions I've seen. He's been on Big Brother 26 and The Amazing Race 38. I'd love to see him on The Challenge.

Johnny Middlebrooks

Original Show - Love Island USA 2

Best Finish: 14th (Ride or Dies)

Johnny is a mess but in the best way. He's gotten 2nd place on Love Island USA 2 and Love Island Games 1. He played a big game really quick on The Challenge: Ride or Dies but was taken out early because of it.

Jay Starrett

Original Show - Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X

Best Finish: 7th (Battle for a New Champion)

Jay ran the game politically on the first Battle for a New Champion, but he didn't get the win. Maybe this time he'll learn to take people he can beat in the elimination.

Nathan Henry

Original Show - Geordie Shore 10

Best Finish: 2nd (UK)

Nathan Henry got 2nd place on The Challenge: UK and almost won. He went on The Challenge: World Championship but had to leave. The rumor is he got Covid and had to leave. He is a mess if you watched him on Geordie Shore and would be perfect for this show.

Kyle Christie

Original Show - Geordie Shore 8

Best Finish: 2nd (Total Madness & Spies, Lies, & Allies)

Kyle got 2nd place on two seasons of The Challenge. He hasn't been seen since Spies, Lies & Allies, though. This would be a great season for him to return. There are no champions this season, so Kyle might have the most experience in a final.

Keanu Soto

Original Show - Big Brother 27

ROOKIE

Keanu would be a rookie, but he would also be a threat. He is a big guy who could battle Faysal and Theo in a physical elimination. Keanu won a lot of competitions on Big Brother. I know they're carnival games, but he still won. Keanu also won America's Favorite Player, so the fans do like him.

Cory Wharton

Original Show - The Real World: Ex-Plosion / Back to San Francisco

Best Finish: 2nd (Bloodlines & Double Agents)

The final would probably be some combination of Cory, Kyle, Faysal, Paulie, and Theo. One of those 5 would finally become a Challenge Champion and there is an argument that it would be Cory.