5 Challengers we’re excited to see return on The Challenge 34

MTV’s The Challenge has already delivered 33 seasons of madness, so the newest season is sure to entertain. With a few top-notch veterans making a comeback, we’ve decided to rank our top five favorite returning players for War of the Worlds 2.

When originally conceived, The Challenge brought MTV stars from series like Road Rules and Real World together for a chance to compete for a hefty cash prize, but has recently opened up their casting pool to a much wider group with reality stars from other US series, as well as all over the world. Though the merge began a few seasons ago, last season titled War of the Worlds was the official turning point where casting players from other countries and series became essential.

Now, MTV is launching the second installment of the War of the Worlds series, bringing back many from last season as well as new faces to keep things fresh. With a cast of 32 people, there may be a lot to take in so we’ve decided to list a few faces that we think are Challenge royalty, competitors to watch, or just people who make The Challenge more enjoyable. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

5. Nany

When she first appeared, Nany wasn’t necessarily a favorite competitor, but the Real World star came back after a lengthy break and this new Nany is just the player we needed. In her first season back, she almost went to the final and showed promising loyalty while becoming a great source of entertainment.

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Nany isn’t afraid to voice her opinion or stand up for her allies, showing the new generation of Challengers that even with time off, she has a social game that makes her one to watch out for.

4. Johnny Bananas

What’s a season of the Challenge without Bananas? Whether you love him or hate him, Johnny is one of the first faces people think about from the MTV franchise. He’s played a villain in seasons and has his fair share of jerk-ish ways, but more recently has been someone who people can root for because of constantly being targeted for his competitive nature.

There’s certainly an element of ego at play with Bananas, but his is way more tolerable than some of the other returning players (looking at you Wes, no offense intended) and will most likely continue to be asked back for seasons to come.

3. CT

CT is another Challenge vet that we love seeing return to the network that launched his presence as a reality television persona. CT has had his fair share of days labeled a hothead, but has since been tamed and enjoys life as a family man. CT has become the father figure of The Challenge, showing that the sometimes unpleasant actions of our youth can help us evolve into a much more mature and grounded person.

CT is a force to be reckoned with, giving us some of the most shocking physical eliminations and has since proved that he even excels in the more mentally challenging aspects of the game. More than anything, CT is proof that with age comes experience, something that can continue to dominate the rookies season after season.

2. Laurel

When it comes to female competitors on The Challenge, there are a few elite names that come to mind and one is none other than Laurel Stucky. When Laurel was brought on during Fresh Meat 2, she already appeared to be a natural athlete and every appearance since has reassured us of that reputation.

Laurel is arguably the most feared female challenger in eliminations and is known to take long breaks in between challenges which certainly puts her fellow competitors at ease. With Laurel coming back for WOTW 2, many contestants were probably given a reality check about the nature of The Challenge and we can only imagine that this will make floating by slightly more difficult. Did we mention it’s great to have Laurel back?

1. Turbo

All hail the new king of The Challenge, Turbo. Turbo is a two-time Survivor winner from Turkey who took The Challenge by storm last season, making his mark on the series as a quiet, powerful, and entirely lovable personality. Many underestimated the physical and mental strength that Turbo brought to MTV, and everything about the super-powered man has been a pleasant refreshing addition to the series.

After winning last season and giving us the most deserving winner in several years, Turbo has become royalty to the franchise and we can see ourselves rooting for him with every season he agrees to compete in. Turbo is just one of those rare individuals that you want to see compete, win, be friends with, or just about anything potentially positive, so we’ll take all the Turbo time MTV is ready to dish out.

The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2 debuts Wednesday August 28 on MTV, so make sure to check it out and let us know who you’re excited to see in the comments below!