The WORST episodes of American Ninja Warrior
Every episode of American Ninja Warrior ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of American Ninja Warrior!
The heart-racing obstacle-course competition of ultra-athletes questing for a shot at the fabled Mt. Midoriyama. This American version of the Japanese show Sasuke (aka Ninja Warrior) televises a series of qualification courses across the nation, with the top contenders going to Las Vegas for the finals on the 4-stage "Mt. Midoriyama" obstacle course. In earlier seasons the show was a proving ground to find (and train) American athletes to send to Japan to compete in the original Sasuke tournaments.
#1 - Couples Championship
Season 15 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/27/2024
Twelve elite ninja couples compete together on the world’s most challenging obstacle course with the winners taking home the coveted title of this year’s couple’s champion.
#2 - ANW Couple's Special
Season 15 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/18/2023
Ninja couples compete relay-style on an extreme obstacle course in teams of two with one being crowned the next American Ninja Warrior Couples Champion.
#3 - Las Vegas Finals (4)
Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 7/9/2012
Stage 1 continues in Las Vegas. Favorites include Brent Steffensen, Stephen Volcko, Kyle Cochran, Remi Bakkar, and Chris Wilczewski. The finishers move on to Stage 2.
#4 - ANW Woman's Championship
Season 14 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/29/2023
Twelve elite female competitors battle in the American Ninja Warrior Women's Championship. The competitors compete across two daunting courses, and the top four advance to race head to head on the Power Tower. The winner takes home $50,000.
#5 - Qualifiers 4
Season 15 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/19/2023
The qualifying rounds continue in L.A., with ninjas from across the country taking on the world’s most challenging obstacle course. New obstacle “The Cubes” makes its debut.
#6 - Qualifiers 3 & 4
Season 16 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/10/2024
The qualifying rounds continue in L.A. with ninjas from across the country taking on the world's most challenging obstacle course.
#7 - Semifinals 2
Season 15 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/7/2023
The semifinals continue in Los Angeles where the competing ninjas face up to 6 challenging obstacles and race head-to-head for a spot in the national finals.
#8 - Semifinals 3 & 4
Season 15 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/14/2023
The semifinals wrap up in Los Angeles where the competing ninjas face up to 6 challenging obstacles and race head-to-head for a spot in the national finals.
#9 - Qualifier 2
Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/2020
Ninjas face up to 6 challenging obstacles, including the new Ring Chaser and Rib Run, in addition to the dynamic Ferris Wheel and the iconic Warped Wall. Ninjas include Jesse "Flex" Labreck, JJ Woods, Jamie "Captain NBC" Rahn, and Daniel Gil.
#10 - Las Vegas Finals 1
Season 16 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/19/2024
The National Finals begin in Las Vegas as the remaining competitors compete in Stage 1 for their chance to win $1 million and become the next American Ninja Warrior.
#11 - Las Vegas Finals - Stage 1 (1)
Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/25/2013
Competitors try stage 1; the giant cycle, rope glider, and the timbers.
#12 - Semifinals 2
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/21/2020
Ninjas face up to 10 brutal obstacles, including the dizzying Corkscrew, the Salmon Ladder, and the iconic Warped Wall. Ninjas include Jessie Graff, Najee Richardson, Joe Moravsky, and Meagan Martin.
#14 - Episode 6
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/19/2009
#15 - Qualifier 1
Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/7/2020
Ninjas face up to 6 challenging obstacles, including the new Weight For It, Ring Chaser, and Rib Run, in addition to fan favorites Shrinking Steps, Slingshot, and the iconic Warped Wall.
#16 - Las Vegas Finals - Stage 3
Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 9/16/2013
#17 - Qualifiers 3
Season 15 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/12/2023
The qualifying rounds continue in L.A., with ninjas from across the country taking on the world's most challenging obstacle course. New obstacle Kite Surfer makes its debut.
#18 - Southeast Regional Finals
Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/25/2012
The top 30 competitors from the Southeast qualifying round tackle the finals course with a chance to move on to Las Vegas. The back obstacles featured are the Salmon Ladder, Cycle Road, and Cargo Climb. Favorites include David "Flip" Rodriguez, Drew Drechsel, Bull Bullard, Kamerion Wimbley, and Travis Rosen.
#19 - Las Vegas Finals - Stage 1 (2)
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 8/27/2013
#20 - American Ninja Warrior All Star Spectacular
Season 13 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/30/2022
Fan favorites compete in the wildest head-to-head ANW competition ever. Iconic obstacles get super-sized - some as high as 80 feet - as all-star ninjas face off.
#21 - Las Vegas Finals - Stage 2
Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 9/9/2013
#22 - Dallas Qualifying
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/2/2014
ANW travels to Dallas, Texas for the second qualifying round. The obstacles are the Quintuple Steps, Log Grip, Tilting Table, Swing Jump, Ring Toss, and Warped Wall. Veteran Ninjas include Brent Steffensen, former NCAA gymnast Kacy Catanzaro, Sam Sann, and Tremayne Dortch, while college student Dillon Gates and U.S. Olympic gymnast Jonathan Horton take on the course for the first time.
#23 - Northeast Regional Finals
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/5/2012
The top 30 competitors from the Northeast qualifying round tackle the finals course with a chance to move on to Las Vegas. The back obstacles are the Salmon Ladder, Cycle Road, and Cargo Climb. Favorites include Tim Shieff, Chris Wilczewski, Michael Needham, Jesse Villarreal, Luis Moco, and Elet Hall.
#24 - Finals 1
Season 12 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/28/2020
The 28 top ninjas face up to 10 diabolical obstacles, including the new Falling Shelves and Dragonback. Only the top 8 will advance to the final round this year.
#25 - Qualifiers 8
Season 16 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/15/2024
The qualifying rounds in L.A. conclude with ninjas from across the country taking on the world’s most challenging obstacle course. The head-to-head runoff races determine the final spot moving forward to the semifinals.