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 - Atlanta City Finals
Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/22/2019
Competitors, including Drew Drechsel, Jessica Clayton, Travis Rosen, and more, face up to 10 challenging obstacles, including the new “Up for Grabs.”
#2 - Philadelphia City Finals
Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/13/2018
The top 30 competitors from this city’s Qualifying round face an extended, 10-obstacle course including the brand-new “Captain’s Wheel.” Ninjas include: Najee Richardson, Michelle Warnky, Allyssa Beird, Jamie Rahn, and Chris Wilczewski.
#3 - Minneapolis City Finals
Season 10 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/20/2018
The top 30 competitors from this city’s Qualifying round face an extended, 10-obstacle course, including a brand-new obstacle called “The Hinge.” Ninja veterans taking to the course include Meagan Martin, Joe Moravsky, Jake Murray, and Lance Pekus.
#4 - Las Vegas Finals Night 1
Season 10 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/27/2018
One half of the field takes on the 1st of 4 stages. Ninjas include Daniel Gil, Jesse Labreck, and rookie Mathis "Kid" Owhadi. Stage 1 consists of 8 obstacles that must be completed in under 2:25 minutes in order to advance to stage 2.
#5 - Las Vegas Finals Night 2
Season 10 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/3/2018
The other half of the field takes on the 1st of 4 stages. Ninjas include Meagan Martin, Lance Pekus, and Najee Richardson. Stage 1 consists of 8 obstacles that must be completed in under 2:25 minutes in order to advance to stage 2.
#6 - Las Vegas Season Finale
Season 10 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/10/2018
Competitors who conquered stage 1 move on to stage 2, in the hope of advancing to stages 3 and 4. Finalists vie to win a cash prize of $1 million and the title of “American Ninja Warrior.” New this year, the ninja who goes the farthest walks away with the “last ninja standing” prize of $100,000.
#7 - USA vs The World 2019
Season 10 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/27/2019
Drew Drechsel, Jesse Labreck, Mathis “The Kid” Owhadi, Najee Richardson, and Barclay Stockett represent Team USA against top athletes from Team Europe and Team Australia in a battle for worldwide ninja domination.
#8 - Los Angeles City Qualifiers
Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/29/2019
Ninjas take on 6 challenging obstacles, including 2 new ones: “Walk the Plank” and “Spring Forward.” In a new twist to the city qualifying rounds, the 2 fastest finishers take on the new Power Tower for a chance to advance straight to the National Finals in Las Vegas.
#9 - Atlanta City Qualifiers
Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/5/2019
Competitors include last season’s “Last Ninja Standing” Drew Drechsel and former New England Patriot Tyrone Poole, who each face up to 6 challenging obstacles, including the new “Off the Hook” and “Ferris Wheel.”
#10 - All-Star Skills Competition
Season 10 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/26/2019
The fastest, strongest, and most impressive athletes from the show compete head-to-head on the National Finals course in a high-octane skills competition. Competitors including Allyssa Beird, Joe “The Weatherman” Moravsky, Jesse Labreck, “Cowboy Ninja” Lance Pekus, and Flip Rodriguez. The skills competition features 5 supersized obstacles, including a Super Salmon Ladder and Wicked Wingnuts.
#11 - Oklahoma City City Qualifiers
Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/17/2019
Competitors include Barclay Stockett, Mathis Kid Owhadi, Daniel Gil, and Olympian Jonathan Horton, who each face up to 6 challenging obstacles including the new “Diving Boards” and “Coconut Climb.”
#12 - Seattle/Tacoma City Qualifiers
Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/24/2019
ANW brings the competition indoors for the first time ever in Seattle’s Tacoma Dome for the City Qualifying Round. Competitors face up to 6 challenging obstacles, including the new “Lunatic Ledges” and “Barrel Roll.”
#13 - Baltimore City Qualifiers
Season 11 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/1/2019
Competitors, including Najee Richardson, Joe Moravsky, Allyssa Beird, Captain NBC Jamie Rahn, and Chris Wilczewski, face up to 6 challenging obstacles, including the new “Dangerous Curves” and “Hazard Cones.”
#14 - Cincinnati City Qualifiers
Season 11 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/8/2019
Competitors, including Jesse Labreck, Grant McCartney, Ethan Swanson, Michelle Warnky, Mike Bernardo, and 98 Degrees band member Drew Lachey, face up to 6 challenging obstacles, including the new “Sling Shot.”
#15 - Los Angeles City Finals
Season 11 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/15/2019
Competitors, including Flip Rodriguez and Adam Rayl, face up to 10 obstacles, including the new “Leaps of Faith.” In a new twist to the City Finals, the 2 fastest finishers take on the new Power Tower for a chance to win a "safety pass" that provides a second chance on the National Finals course after a fall on stage 1 or 2.
#16 - Indianapolis City Finals
Season 10 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/6/2018
The top 30 competitors from this city’s Qualifying round face an extended, 10-obstacle course including the brand-new “Cane Lane” and the grueling 10th obstacle “Spider Trap.” Ninjas include: Brian Arnold, Jimmy Choi, Jesse “Flex” Labreck, and season 7 champion Isaac Caldiero.
#17 - Oklahoma City City Finals
Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/29/2019
Competitors including Daniel Gil, Barclay Stockett, The Kid, and more face up to 10 challenging obstacles, including the new “Snap Back.”
#18 - Seattle/Tacoma City Finals
Season 11 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/5/2019
Competitors, including Jessie Graff, Lance “The Cowboy Ninja” Pekus, Meagan Martin, Sean Bryan, and more, face up to 10 challenging obstacles, including the new “Northwest Passage.”
#19 - Baltimore City Finals
Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/12/2019
Competitors, including Joe Moravsky, Najee Richardson, Allyssa Beird, and more, face up to 10 challenging obstacles, including the new “Angry Birds.”
#20 - Cincinnati City Finals
Season 11 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/19/2019
Competitors, including Grant McCartney, Jesse “Flex” Labreck, Michelle Warnky, and more, face up to 10 challenging obstacles, including the new “Slam Dunk.”
#21 - Las Vegas National Finals Night 1
Season 11 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/26/2019
The first night of a 4-week TV event where the season’s top competitors attempt to conquer the world’s toughest obstacle course. Stage 1 features 8 obstacles that must be completed in less than 2.5 minutes, including the new “Roulette Row” and “Diving Boards.”
#22 - Las Vegas National Finals Night 2
Season 11 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/2/2019
The second half of the finalists battle stage 1, including Jessie Graff, Grant McCartney, Drew Drechsel, and Mathis “The Kid” Owhadi.
#23 - Las Vegas National Finals Night 3
Season 11 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/9/2019
The remaining 28 competitors take on stage 2 at the national finals where 6 obstacles await, including the new “Giant Walk the Plank,” “Snap Back,” and “Grim Sweeper.”
#24 - Las Vegas National Finals Night 4
Season 11 - Episode 16 - Aired 9/16/2019
This season’s best ninjas face stage 3, which features 7 daunting obstacles. Will any succeed and take on stage 4?
#25 - USA vs The World 2020
Season 11 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/26/2020
Top competitors from ANW go head to head with ninjas and skilled athletes from around the globe in a 2-hour special that features 3 teams each with 5 ninjas: Team USA, Team Europe, and (for the first time) Team Australia. The teams compete across all 4 epic stages of the show’s national finals course – 23 obstacles in all.