The BEST episodes of American Ninja Warrior

#1 - USA vs The World 2014

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/15/2014

Five of the top competitors from “American Ninja Warrior” go head-to-head against competitors from Japan and Europe on the show's famed four-stage finals course. Team USA showcases veterans Joe Moravsky, Elet Hall, Brian Arnold, Travis Rosen, and Paul Kasemir. Team Japan includes Kazuma Asa, Hitoshi Kanno, Ryo Matachi, Shingo Yamamoto, and Yusuke Morimoto. Team Europe is represented by Stefano Ghisolfi, Vadym Kuvakin, Sean McColl, Tim Shieff, and Miska Sutela.

#2 - Midsouth Regional Qualifying Round (2)

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/17/2012

The other batch of Mid-South competitors do battle with the Mid-South qualifying course, which includes the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bridge of Blades, Jump Hang, Rope Junction, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include Colorado freerunner Jake Smith and Japan veteran Rich King, while former West Point cadet Ahmed Toure and breakdancer Lorin Ball take on the course for the first time.

#3 - Midwest Regional Qualifying Round (2)

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/27/2012

The other batch of Midwest competitors tackle the qualifying course, which includes the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bridge of Blades, Jump Hang, Curtain Slider, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include cheerleader Andrew Karsen and fan-favorite Brent Kelly, while St. Louis' Matthew Derouen and freerunning Joshua Grant take on the course for the first time.

#4 - Denver Finals (1)

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/18/2013

The top 30 competitors return to Denver to take on new obstacles The Floating Stairs and The Pole Grasper.

#5 - All Stars 2016

Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/29/2016

“American Ninja Warrior” celebrates the 7th season with the first All-Star Special, with a team and skills competition. In the team competition, hosts Matt and Akbar select teams of five to compete on Stages 2, 3, & 4. Team Matt features Joe Moravsky, Lance Pekus, JJ Woods, Grant McCartney, and Jessie Graff, while Team Akbar consists of Flip Rodriguez, Brent Steffensen, Jamie Rahn, Daniel Gil, and Meagan Martin. The second half features five supersized obstacles to test top ninjas' limits - the Giant Peg Board, Supersonic Shelf Grab, Super Salmon Ladder, Giant Jump Hang, and the Mega Wall.

#6 - Midsouth Regional Qualifying Round (1)

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/17/2012

Top Mid-South ninjas tackle a qualifying course that includes the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bridge of Blades, Jump Hang, Rope Junction, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include two-time Japan veteran Paul Kasemir and freerunner Brandon Douglass, while rock climber Brian Arnold and "Big" Bob Pondrom take on the course for the first time.

#7 - Part 9 of 10

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/22/2011

#8 - Episode 9

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/23/2010

#9 - Episode 10

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/23/2010

#10 - Miami Qualifying (1)

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/14/2013

Competitors in Miami face new obstacles in the Utility Pole Slider, Balance Bridge, Slider Jump, and Monkey Peg.

#11 - Northwest Regional Qualifying Round (1)

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/10/2012

Top contenders from the Northwest face off against the Northwest qualifying course, featuring the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Spinning Log, Jump Hang, Pipe Slider, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include "the Godfather" David Campbell and the colorful Ryoga Vee, while type-1 diabetic Kyle Cochran and top female competitor Janine Cundy take on the course for the first time.

#12 - Northwest Regional Qualifying Round (2)

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/10/2012

The other batch of Northwest competitors take on the qualifying course that features the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Spinning Log, Jump Hang, Pipe Slider, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include freerunner Brian Orosco and ice cream vendor James McGrath, while his brother Patrick McGrath and Alaskan native Gunner Bahn take on the course for the first time.

#13 - Northeast Regional Qualifying Round (2)

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/3/2012

The other batch of Northeast competitors face the Northeast qualifying course, which includes the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bungee Bridge, Jump Hang, Jumping Bars, Wall Lift, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include freerunning champion Tim Shieff and Bay Area stuntman Luis Moco, while 5'5" Michael Needham and firefighter Mike Bernardo take on the course for the first time.

#14 - USA vs The World 2017

Season 8 - Episode 15 - Aired 6/4/2017

Three separate teams of six from the US, Europe, and Latin America compete in Las Vegas on the first three stages of Mt. Midoriyama, the famed four-stage finals course featured in “American Ninja Warrior.” Team USA includes Drew Drechsel, Daniel Gil, Jake Murray, Brian Arnold, Josh Levin, and Jessie Graff. Team Europe features Sean McColl, Stefano Ghisolfi, Tim Shieff, Alexander Mars, Owen McKenzie, and Bjarke Tønnesen. The all-new Team Latin America consists of Karl Fow, Diego Gonzalez, Wid Eriksen, Santiago de Alba, David Saikin, and Danee Marmolejo. Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila host and Kristine Leahy co-hosts.

#15 - Southeast Regional Qualifying Round (1)

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 6/24/2012

Talented Southeast standouts tackle the Southeast qualifying course in Miami, FL. The course includes the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bungee Bridge, Jump Hang, Swing Circle, Wall Lift, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include car salesman Drew Drechsel and elite competitor Ryan Stratis, while former pro football star Kamerion Wimbley takes on the course for the first time.

#16 - Northeast Regional Qualifying Round (1)

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/3/2012

Elite Northeast ninjas take on the qualifying course in Miami, FL. The obstacles are the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bungee Bridge, Jump Hang, Jumping Bars, Wall Lift, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include top competitor Chris Wilczewski and Travis Graves, who has something to prove, while freerunning fisherman Jesse Villarreal and rapping Noel Reyes take on the course for the first time.

#17 - Part 6 of 10

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/14/2011

#18 - Part 8 of 10

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/21/2011

#19 - Midwest Regional Qualifying Round (1)

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/27/2012

Top Midwest competitors take on the tough Midwest qualifying course in Dallas, TX. The obstacles include the Quad Steps, Log Grip, Bridge of Blades, Jump Hang, Curtain Slider, and Warped Wall. Veteran ninjas include the unemployed Stephen Volcko and favorite James Hardin, while pastor Johnathan Morin and the quick Zach Sokoloski take on the course for the first time.

#20 - Part 3 of 10

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/7/2011

#21 - Denver Finals (2)

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/20/2013

The competitors tackle the final course; the floating stairs and the pole grasper.

#22 - USA vs The World 2016

Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/31/2016

Three separate teams from America, Europe, and Japan compete in Las Vegas on the first three stages of Mt. Midoriyama, the famed four-stage finals course featured in “American Ninja Warrior.” Team USA includes winner Isaac Caldiero and runner-up Geoff Britten, along with veteran competitors Kevin Bull, Drew Drechsel, Ian Dory, and alternate Joe Moravsky. Team Europe features Sean McColl, Stefano Ghisolfi, Tim Shieff, Tim Champion, and Alexander Mars. Team Japan consists of Yusuke Morimoto, Ryo Matachi, Kenji Takahashi, Tomohiro Kawaguchi, and Masashi Hioki. Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila host and Kristine Leahy co-hosts.

#23 - Venice Finals (1)

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/28/2013

The Venice finals see the return of The Salmon Ladder, as well as new obstacles Rope Maze, the Cliffhanger, and Spider Climb.

#24 - Miami Finals (1)

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/11/2013

A return to Miami for the finals course includes new obstacles The Ledge Jump and Rolling Steel.

#25 - Denver Qualifying (2)

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/22/2013

Competitors face four new obstacles in Denver; contestants include snowboarder Graham Watanabe and rock climber Nikole Muckelroy.