A new season of MTV’s “The Challenge” is set to begin tonight and it’s all about vendettas. Well, to think of it, isn’t it always about vendettas?
The theme of this season brings together players who are looking to exact revenge on someone who wronged them and the show will bring in some fresh blood. Cast members from MTV UK’s “Geordie Shore” and “Ex on the Beach” as well as CBS’ “Big Brother” will be making their debuts and they better watch out. We all know how these MTV vets love to oust the fresh blood first.
Season 31 will bring together 28 players who will be competing for a prize that could exceed $500,000 and for the first time there will be only one winner. That’s right, no teams and no more female and male winner which means the stakes are even higher. The contestants will travel to Spain and try their best to win challenges to put money in their individual bank account. If they’re eliminated, their money goes into the final prize pot. In another major game twist, “Grenades” will be awarded to players surviving grueling elimination rounds, giving them a chance to get back at anyone else in the house they may have a vendetta against. Sounds like it’s going to be a good time and from looking at the first challenge, everything is stepped up a notch.
Now lets take a look at the players who will be facing off for the grand prize, including the return of a few old faces. MTV’s The Challenge: Vendettas premieres January 2 at 9pm.
1. Brad
Twitter: @BradFiorenza
Vendetta: The Real World San Diego and former “The Challenge: Cutthroat” champ is making his long awaited return to the show. Now a single man, he’s looking to win another championship and prove he’s still got it. He’s also got a vendetta against Tony after some fights on social media.
2. Cory
Twitter: @MTVCoryWharton
Vendetta: Who doesn’t Cory have a vendetta against? You can bet he’ll be gunning for vets again, especially Bananas in order to try snag his first win.
3. Devin
Twitter: @MTVDevinWalker
Vendetta: The “Are You the One?” alum is once again most likely gunning for Bananas and Cory but really he’s just trying to not go home first this season.
4. Eddie
Twitter: @mr_ewilliams23
Vendetta: On “Are You the One?” Eddie found himself in a love triangle with Alicia and Kam and now both ladies are also on the show. Will he be able to avoid the rookie curse and take home a win?
5. Johnny Bananas
Twitter: @MTVBananas
Vendetta: Bananas probably has the most vendettas in the house mainly because everyone is gunning for the all-time Challenge champ. Bananas himself will most likely go after Cory and that alliance again.
6. Joss Mooney
Twitter: @joss_mooney
Vendetta: The “Ex on the Beach” star may have the muscles to compete on the challenge but we all know it takes more than that to win. The rookie may have survived living in a house with 5 exes but he will have his work cut out for him as he goes after the whole house.
7. Kyle
Twitter: @KyleCGShore
Vendetta: The “Geordie Shore” alum is a rookie on the challenge and he has some history with fellow rookie Rogan.
8. Leroy
Twitter: @Bruce_Lee85
Vendetta: Leroy is one of the most beloved challengers so it’s hard to think anyone would have a vendetta against him. He will be gunning for Veronica and maybe Britni who ended up throwing him into elimination on the Dirty 30 when they couldn’t agree on who to send in to elimination.
9. Nelson
Twitter: @MTV_NellyT
Vendetta: If Nelson doesn’t get himself kicked off again, he may be able to get the revenge he wants against Shane from “The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions.”
10. Rogan
Twitter: @Rogan_OConner
Vendetta: The rookie from “Ex on the Beach” slept with Kyle’s ex-girlfriend so tensions may be high between these two MTV UK stars.
11. Shane
Twitter: @shannanity
Vendetta: Shane is one of our all-time fave Challenge vets and we’re so glad he’s back for another season. He usually plays fair but since Nelson thinks he’s a snake and vice-versa, these two may be gunning for each other.
12. Tony
Twitter: @t_raines33
Vendetta: Tony has not had that great of luck with the challenges. If he’s not getting kicked off for fighting, he’s usually in some kind of love trouble. Fans noticed he was absent from the group and individual promo photos for this season so they wondered if he got kicked off right at the start. From what we’ve read, Tony was just sick on the photoshoot day so we’ll get to see him try to exact his revenge on Bananas and Brad.
13. Victor
Twitter: @elfitvic
Vendetta: The “Big Brother 18” alum is taking on a new house of challenges on “Vendettas” but he’ll also be facing off with his old housemate Natalie. Will their drama carry over?
14. Zach
Twitter: @ZNichols15
Vendetta: After an appearance on Invasion of the Champions and Champs vs Stars, Zach is back competing for the big money. Who will he be gunning for?
15. Alicia
Twitter: @Lavida.Alicia
Vendetta: The rookie has some past drama to settle with “Are You the One?” castmates Eddie and Kam.
16. Britni
Twitter: @BritniNicol
Vendetta: Lets face it, Britni is pretty forgettable on the challenges she’s done so far. We’re guessing she’ll try to go after Cara Maria but from the trailer she may also find some love on this challenge or will it just be more drama?
17. Cara Maria
Twitter: @CaraMariaMTV
Vendetta: It should be no surprise that most of the women will be gunning for Cara Maria this season. She’s made plenty of enemies but her biggest foe will most likely be Kailah so buckle up for what may be another epic confrontation/battle.
18. Jemmye
Twitter: @JustJem24
Vendetta: Jemmye usually doesn’t have too many enemies but she pulled some big moves on “Dirty 30” that may have some challengers seeking revenge.
19. Kailah
Twitter: @kailah_casillas
Vendetta: From the minute Kailah stepped foot on to the challenge, she made enemies especially Cara Maria. Now with her bff Jenna MIA due to her injury from Champs vs Stars, Kailah will have to try to survive as a lone wolf or make some new allies.
20. Kam
Twitter: @iamkamiam_
Vendetta: The “Are You the One?” alum has beef with Eddie and Alicia. Will that interfere with her game?
21. Kayleigh
Twitter: @Kmorrisx
Vendetta: The “Ex on the Beach” star will not only be facing the rookie challenges of the season but she’ll also be living in the house with her best-friend-turned-worst-enemy Melissa. We can expect lots of drama from those two.
22. Marie
Twitter: @MarieeTBD
Vendetta: Just like Britni, Marie is pretty forgettable on the challenges and has yet to make a real name for herself. Will she make any big moves this season? She may be seeking revenge on that giant water rat she refused to eat last season.
23. Melissa
Twitter: @DJMelReeves
Vendetta: The “Ex on the Beach” star will be stuck in a house with her worst enemy Kayleigh, but we have a feeling she’ll be stirring up trouble with other housemates too.
24. Natalie
Twitter: @NataliaNegrotti
Vendetta: The “Big Brother” alum may have drama with former housemate Victor, but she may find love with newly single Bananas. Could that relationship work in her favor to keep the rookie around longer?
25. Nicole R
Twitter: @NicolexoRamos
Vendetta: Nicole is often underestimated by the other women in the house so she’s set on proving just how much of a threat she can be.
26. Nicole Z
Twitter: @n_zanattaMTV
Vendetta: Nicole is back for another challenge and will she see revenge against her “Real World” housemate Sylvia after she turned on their alliance on “Invasion of the Champions”?
27. Sylvia
Twitter: @SylviaMTV
Vendetta: Sylvia is back for her second challenge but will her past drama with Tony and Nicole Z mess up her chances?
28. Veronica
Twitter: @v_cakes
Vendetta: This challenge vet will finally be reunited on the show with Shane and we cannot wait to see these two “Road Rules” alums together again. Veronica has a vendetta against Cara Maria but Veronica will have to watch her own back because Leroy will be trying to seek revenge on her as well.
29. Previews
MTV’s The Challenge: Vendettas premieres January 2 at 9pm.
