The WORST episodes of The Challenge

Every episode of The Challenge ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Challenge!

Reality stars compete in physical and mental challenges that will push them to their limit for their share of a $1 million prize. Age-old alliances, twists and turns from host TJ Lavin, and everyone living together under one roof only make the battle that much harder.

Last Updated: 10/3/2024Network: MTVStatus: Continuing
Share:
star
4.25
4 votes

#1 - Tough Love

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/3/2001

During the "Tough Guy" competition, Susie learns that certain things--like friendships and teamwork--are more important than money.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
4.75
4 votes

#2 - Fresh Squeezed Creative Juices

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/29/1998

The morning after, Cynthia decides that she is going to stay. The cast mates meet with actress Mindy Sterling where she teaches them how to perform improvisation. After performing their comedy routine, the cast are instructed to play parodies of their old The Real World cast members, which goes off splendidly. Other actors present in the performance include Jennifer Coolidge and Cheryl Hines. Their next clue has them recording the song they were told to write a while ago. They meet with a recording producer to record the song. Sean initially becomes embarrassed by his lack of singing talent, but manages to pull through and complete the mission. The cast go out to party where Rachel and Sean hook up. Their final clue tells them they will be taken by limo to their handsome reward. Puck arrives on the scene to drop off their handsome reward, which is a paid trip for two to San José, Costa Rica. Sean and Rachel affirm their attraction to each other. The episode ends with the cast reflecting on their adventure together and the full theme song that they wrote together.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
4.75
4 votes

#3 - Swamp Buggy Racing

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/28/2000

The teams compete in swamp-buggy races. Amaya's attitude, however, poses a problem for her teammates. Later, David swipes the "Road Rulers" horns in hopes of boosting the "Real World" camp's spirits.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
4.80
5 votes

#4 - Shear Madness

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/8/1998

The cast mates head to New Zealand for their next mission where they receive a clue that they will be going to a sheep farm. Rachel opens up about her accident as things continue to heat up between her and Sean. The cast mates stop to get breakfast and arrive at their mission an hour late. They're immediately put to work: sheep shearing. The girls are assigned to milk cows which they complete and manage to make up for the loss time. The cast mates are paid and are told they won't be getting any money for another twelve days. Sean gets annoyed when the rest of the cast go out to eat. Eric begins to gain the ire of some of his cast mates for his personality. The cast mates are given their next clue and are told to drive outside Wellington to participate in "Fly By Wire", which they complete. The episode ends with the cast reflecting on the relationships they have with each other.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Joint is Jumping
star
5.29
7 votes

#5 - The Joint is Jumping

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/30/1998

The teams go bungee jumping, and perform before a crowd.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#6 - No Laughing Matter

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/30/2001

James' relationship with Rebecca is tested when his "Road Rules" team loses for the third time in a row to her "Real World" team.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#7 - Sweet Revenge

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/6/2000

The Real Worlders create an elaborate gag mission that keeps the Road Rulers out all night and leads to dissension between Veronica and Los.

star
5.33
3 votes

#8 - Homemade Swimsuit Contest

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/13/2000

The teams make homemade bikinis for this competition, but the pairing of Piggy and Los leads to further dissension within the "Road Rules" team, with Los accusing Piggy of attacking him off-camera.

star
5.33
3 votes

#9 - Handsome Reward

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/3/2000

The teams perform accelerated - freefall parachute jumps onto a bull's eye, with the winning team receiving new cars.

star
5.33
3 votes

#10 - Blimp Water-Skiing

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/16/2001

The teams compete in a wake-boarding mission, which earns Julie MVP honors. Upon learning of her expulsion from BYU, her teammates console her and offer her advice on what she should do next.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#11 - Yes Sir...I Mean, Yes Ma'am!

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/13/2001

For the sub mission, the Real Worlders remain unified while following Kameelah ; but the Road Rulers have difficulty when James refuses to show respect to Emily, the Roadies' appointed leader.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#12 - Grudge Match

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/17/2001

Emiy's extreme dislike of Julie comes to a head when the two face off during the gravity-defying "Relay Mission".

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#13 - Downward Spiral

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/1/2001

The Road Rulers experience difficulties during the "Gross-out Games", leading James to lose his cool and engage Syrus in a fight.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#14 - True to Himself

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/8/2001

The "Road Rulers" and "Real World" veterans head to the court of Judge Mills Lane to decide who won the disastrous "Paintball Mission."

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.33
3 votes

#15 - Race to the Finish

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/15/2001

The teams compete in a race-car competition, the final event before the "handsome reward" is doled out.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Diving In
star
5.54
13 votes

#16 - Diving In

Season 12 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/14/2006

Diem admits to having a crush on Derrick, but she tries to ignore it because she needs to keep her head in the game. Tina is feeling sick, but Kenny tells her that the mission won't wait for her. And it won't--the message comes that they need to be ready by 5am. The next morning, they are informed of their challenge--Deep Blue. Four nautical miles off the coast of Australia, the teams have to dive 30 feet into the ocean to capture their team flag and hold their breath for as long as possible. The teams are getting nervous and Wes even tells Casey he doesn't mind if she is terrified and they are disqualified. Theo doesn't feel as if he has anything to worry about because he has made an alliance with Derrick, but Chanda is of the opinion that nothing short of first place will keep them out of Exile. Tina and Kenny can only make it for a few seconds before heading to the surface. Darrell bails on Aviv, but Aviv is able to capture the flag. Theo and Chanda do well by floating to the top where there's more oxygen in the water. But nobody is able to beat the new "dream team" of Derrick and Diem, who must now decide who to send into Exile. Though Derrick has aligned with Theo, Diem wants to put Theo and Chanda into Exile since they came in second place and could eventually beat Derrick and Diem. Derrick tries to convince Diem to put in Tina and Kenny, but in the end, Derrick allows Diem to choose and Diem chooses Theo and Chanda. After the vote, Darrell and Aviv are placed in Exile as well. This hurts Derrick since Darrell and Theo were his best friends in the competition. Derrick is feeling terrible about the decision, but Wes tells him that he shouldn't because there have been "shadier" things happening. Later that evening, to Wes's excitement, Derrick decides to align with Wes. Wes has been angling to become allies with the strongest team, to no avail--until now. Diem finds herself getting closer and closer to Derrick. She isn't sure what their relationsh

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.60
5 votes

#17 - How to Eat Fried Worms

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/22/1998

The cast arrive into town where they are told that they will be jumping off the side of a building. Cynthia is terrified to jump, but does it anyway for the bragging rights. The cast are given their next clue and are told they will be going to Los Angeles next. They head over to The Real World: Los Angeles alum Beth Stolarczyk's house to rest before receiving their next clue which is working at "Hot Dog on a Stick". Rachel initially refuses to wear the uniform because she finds it embarrassing, but agrees to do it for the good of the team. The breeze through the mission and get paid. Their next clue tells them they will have a cook off. That night at Beth's place, Beth begins making advances at Sean, but he doesn't give in. The men face off against the women in the cook off. The guys cook up insects in their meal, which they serve to the girls and when they reveal the ingredients, Cynthia gets really upset. The episode ends with Cynthia wanting to leave the show.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.67
3 votes

#18 - Leader of the Pack

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/20/2001

During the Extreme Cheer-Off, Dan's Challenge-mates respond poorly to his coaching techniques, forcing them to confront him about his leadership skills.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.67
3 votes

#19 - Demolition Derby

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/24/2000

The cast are greeted by boxer Roy Jones Jr. and are told they would be given their next clue if they defeat him in the boxing ring. As it turns out, the "boxing" game is actually a toy game and despite losing, they still got their clue and are told to go to Tennessee. The teams are told that their next mission would be competing in a demolition derby. During the mission, a determined "Real World" team easily defeated the "Road Rules" team.

star
5.67
3 votes

#20 - Redneck Games

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/14/2000

Amaya's obnoxious personality begins to annoy some of her castmates. The teams are given their next clue and are informed that they would be competing in the Redneck Games.

star
5.67
3 votes

#21 - A Challenging Decision

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/9/2001

Cast members from previous seasons of Real World and Road Rules compete for prizes. This year's Real World team features Julie and Jamie from New Orleans; Kameela and Syrus from Boston; Rebecca from Seattle; and Dan from Miami. The Road Rules team consists of Laterrian and Jim from the “Maximum Velocity” season; Michelle from the European excursion; and Christian and Emily from the show's second season.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.67
3 votes

#22 - Budding Romance

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/23/2001

The Roadies hit the wall during the Fisherman Games and fall into a full-fledged losing streak. Also, Roadie James strikes up a relationship with the "Real Worlder" Rebecca.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.67
3 votes

#23 - Wrestling with the Past

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/27/2001

Julie struggles to accept Ayanna's dismissal. The "Road Rules" team is down to five members and fights to win the the next challenge.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.67
3 votes

#24 - Love and Foosball

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/6/2001

Rebecca is unsure about starting a relationship with James because his competitive streak turns her off. Meanwhile, James makes his first gay friend--Dan.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
5.67
6 votes

#25 - Blockhead

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/6/2002

The teams face the "blockhead" challenge, which requires them to build a structure from blocks for one of the teammates to stand on. Also: Sean develops a plan for every contestant to leave with part of the "handsome reward," but not everyone goes for it.

Watch Now:Apple TV