Fantasy Cast for The Challenge: MTV vs CBS

The Challenge has aired 41 seasons of the flagship and is currently airing it's 42nd right now on Paramount +. This is the first season that is not on MTV. The last few seasons have become MTV vs CBS though with other networks having some talent join. This hypothetical season will be formatted like War of the Worlds II but with MTV vs CBS cast.

MTV

Johnny Bananas

Original Show - The Real World: Key West

Championships: 7 (The Island, The Ruins, Rivals, Exes, Free Agents, Rivals III, & Total Madness)

Bananas is The Challenge's poster boy. They market him for every season he's on. Bananas would, of course, be on the MTV team. I wouldn't be surprised if the other networks try to take him out first.

Ashley Mitchell

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

Championships: 2 (Invasion of the Champions & Final Reckoning)

Ashley is the highest-grossing female challenger of all time. She was actually only on The Real World for 3-4 episodes before she left the house. She has been on a lot of seasons of The Challenge, though, so that'll get her a spot.

Wes Bergmann

Original Show - The Real World: Austin

Championships: 3 (The Duel, Rivals II, All-Stars 3)

Wes needs to return this season and play with Bananas and CT. This MTV team would be stacked. I wonder if they would work together or crack under the pressure.

Kam Williams

Original Show -Are You The One? 5

Championships: 0

Kam is the best female challenger to never win the show. She would be the perfect addition for the MTV team. Hypothetically this could be a season where she wins.

Jordan Wiseley

Original Show - The Real World: Portland

Championships: 5 (Exes II, Dirty 30, War of the Worlds II, World Championship, Battle of the Eras)

Jordan is arguably the best to ever do it. The last time we saw him was season 40 (Battle of the Eras) where he won the season. He has said on my podcast that he would never play the game again. Jordan would be a favorite to win this season as well, but I think he would work well with the MTV teammembers.

Laurel Stucky

Original Show - The Challenge: Fresh Meat II

Challenge Championships: 2 (Free Agents & All-Stars 4)

We need someone from Fresh Meat, and why not Laurel? Laurel and Cara are the 2 biggest names from Fresh Meat, and I want to see how Laurel would work with this team.

Cory Wharton

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

Challenge Championships: 0

Cory is the best male challenger to never win the game. He is currently on season 42 so I guess we'll see how that goes. Cory should be one of the first calls for this season since he has an MTV tattoo. He has been on The Real World, The Challenge, Ex on the Beach, & Teen Mom. That's 4 different MTV shows.

Nany Gonzalez

Original Show - The Real World: Back to Las Vegas

Challenge Championships: 0

Nany has never won the season, and to be honest I don't think she ever will. I love Nany and really enjoyed her on Vets & New Threats. She deserves a call for this season since it's about MTV talent.

Devin Walker

Original Show - Are You The One? 3

Challenge Championships: 1 (Ride or Dies)

Devin has earned a call for this type of season. He came back on Double Agents and has proved himself time and time again. Devin ended up getting a win on season 38 (Ride or Dies) and is well known for The Challenge.

Kailah Casillas-Bird

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

Challenge Championships: 0

Kailah was on the way to becoming the female face of the show. She had quite a run from Invasion of the Champions to Dirty 30 to Vendettas to Final Reckoning. Since then we've only seen her twice on the flagship and once on All-Stars. It's time for Kailah to make her return.

Javi Marroquin

Original Show - Teen Mom 2

ROOKIE

We need some rookies this season, right? The MTV team is going to be harder to get rookies from since MTV doesn't create new content anymore. Javi is perfect, as we don't have any Teen Mom people on the show (besides Cory) and is super fit.

Nurys Mateo

Original Show - Are You The One? 6

Challenge Championships: 0

Nurys dominated Battle for a New Champion. She should have received a Challenge Championship for it but they only had 1 winner. Nurys did not perform well on Battle of the Eras, and we'll see how she does on Cutthroat (2026).

Darrell Taylor

Original Show - Road Rules: Campus Crawl

Challenge Championships: 4 (The Gauntlet, The Inferno, The Inferno II, Fresh Meat)

We need a Road Rulers on this season, and Darrell fits perfectly. Darrell is a 4-time Challenge Champion who hasn't won in around 20 years. He plays a strategic game but has been losing to younger, more talented challengers.

Amanda Garcia

Original Show - Are You The One? 3

Challenge Championships: 0

Amanda is an icon. She knows how to get people riled up and knows how to make people talk about the show. That is what is needed. I don't know how she would do it in the game but she'd make some moves.

Frank Sweeney Fox

Original Show - The Real World: Back to San Diego

Challenge Championships: 1 (Battle of the Seasons - 2012)

In my opinion, Frank could have gone down as the Greatest Challenger of All Time. He won his rookie season, got 2nd place his 2nd season, and then was medically disqualified from Free Agents after winning 2 eliminations. He came back years later on All-Stars: Rivals and got 3rd place with Sam McGinn. Frank needs to return to the flagship.

Tori Deal

Original Show - Are You The One? 4

Challenge Championships: 1 (Ride or Dies)

Tori has become the female face of this show. She won Ride or Dies and then made the final on Battle of the Eras. Tori is currently on season 42 (Cutthroat 2026) and we'll see how she does.

CBS

Paulie Calafiore

Original Show - Big Brother 18

Challenge Championships: 0

I'm surprised Paulie has been cast on season 41 or season 42. He definitely comes into each season he plays with big moves and is a big personality. The CBS team would be star studded with Paulie.

Da'Vonne Rogers

Original Show - Big Brother 17

Challenge Championships: 0

Da'Vonne needs to come back. She is a fan favorite who played on 3 seasons of Big Brother and 2 seasons of the flagship Challenge and 1 All-Star season. I'd love to see how she'd play with other CBS talent against MTV.

Yeremi Hykel

Original Show - The Amazing Race 35

Challenge Championships: 1 (Vets & New Threats)

Yeremi dominated the final of Vets & New Threats, winning his first Challenge Champion. I don't know how he would play on a second season, but I'd love to see it happen. This CBS team is loaded, and he might be brought to the end or thrown in early.

Michaela Bradshaw

Original Show - Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X

Challenge Championships: 0

Michaela ran the game, politically, in The Challenge: Vets & New Threats. She got 3rd place just like she did on USA 2. Michaela has been great since her inaugural season of Spies, Lies, & Allies. A team with all CBS talent would probably bring her back to the final.

Tucker Des Lauriers

Original Show - Big Brother 26

ROOKIE

We need some rookies on the CBS side of things, and Tucker has the potential to be the face of The Challenge. He has the ability and the charisma to win the show and be the face of it.

Michele Fitzgerald

Original Show - Survivor: Kaoh Rong (Winner)

Michele should have gotten 2nd place in the Battle of the Eras. Rachel Robinson passed her due to karma votes (Basic - Jury Vote). Michele is a CBS face and deserves a spot on this season.

Josh Martinez

Original Show - Big Brother 19 (Winner)

Challenge Championships: 0

Josh hasn't been seen since Battle of the Eras and before that was Spies, Lies, & Allies. Josh was on many seasons and then has been taking off recently. He is a winner of CBS' Big Brother and has been on many seasons of The Challenge.

Taylor Hale

Original Show - Big Brother 24

ROOKIE

Taylor has been Miss CBS for years, and I know she has gone back and forth between wanting to be on The Challenge or not. Taylor did pretty well at Big Brother: Reindeer Games which is similar but not the same thing.

Kyland Young

Original Show - Big Brother 23

Challenge Championships: 0

Kyland got 4th place in the final on Battle of the Eras. He is a future Challenge Champ, but we haven't seen him since 40. I'm honestly surprised he wasn't on 41 or 42. Kyland knows how to get to the end with a team. He was a part of the legendary "Cookout" alliance on Big Brother 23.

Amber Borzotra

Original Show - Big Brother 16

Challenge Championships: 1 (Double Agents)

We need at least 1 CBS Challenge Champion. Amber dominated the final on Double Agents and then came back and showed some drama on her next couple of seasons. It's a shame we haven't seen her since All-Stars: Rivals but this would be the perfect time to bring her back.

Keanu Soto

Original Show - Big Brother 27

Challenge Championships: TBD

Keanu has already won 1 elimination on Cutthroat (2026). He was a challenge beast on Big Brother 27, even though it's a little bit different type of competition. I would not be surprised if he becomes a mainstay of the show.

Sarah Lacina

Original Show - Survivor: Game Changers*

Challenge Championships: 1 (USA 1)

Sarah won The Challenge: USA 1 and made the final on the World Championship. Sarah should've been on the flagship already, but hopefully with this season's theme, she'd return.

• Sarah was originally on Survivor: Cagayan but won Survivor: Game Changers.

Tyson Apostol

Original Show - Survivor: Blood vs Water*

Challenge Championships: 0

Tyson has technically only been on a spin-off of The Challenge. However, what we saw on USA 1 was enough to be cast on this season. Tyson would either run this team to the final or be the first one eliminated.

• Tyson was originally on Survivor: Tocantins but won Survivor: Blood vs Water.

Angela Rummans

Original Show - Big Brother 20

Challenge Championships: 0

Angela was fantastic on The Challenge: USA 1 but never came back. After Big Brother 20, I thought she'd be perfect for future seasons of The Challenge, but I don't think she has had that much interest. She would be great for this season, though, and I'd love to see it happen.

Chris Underwood

Original Show - Survivor: Edge of Extinction (Winner)

Challenge Championships: 1 (USA 2)

Chris is built for this show. We saw it on USA 2 where he won 4 eliminations to get to the final and dominated the final. I'm so happy he's back on the show, and this time on the flagship on Cutthroat (2026).

Sydney Segal

Original Show - Survivor 41

Challenge Championships: 0

Sydney was so close to winning Vets & New Threats. Turbo (who is a former Challenge Champion) ruined it for her. She has shown that she does not care who she offends. She is on these shows to perform and perform well.