The Challenge Season 40 Finale: Eight Finalists Battle for $1 Million

The epic two-part finale of MTV‘s ‘The Challenge: Battle of the Eras‘ concluded with eight finalists battling for a share of $1 million. Hosted by TJ Lavin, the grueling competition tested the physical and mental limits of the remaining contestants, who faced a series of intense checkpoints, including swimming, puzzle-solving, and an overnight challenge involving coin counting and sea-shanty singing.

The finalists, divided into four groups based on their original seasons, included fan favorites like Jordan, Bananas, Jenny, and Michele. The competition kicked off with the ‘Sandblast‘ checkpoint, where contestants swam to an island, ran laps to collect puzzle pieces, and swam back to complete the puzzle. Jordan and Michele emerged as early leaders, securing first-place finishes.

The second checkpoint, ‘Ghost Ship,’ required contestants to dive under an abandoned ship, memorize a symbol board, and replicate it on their solving station. Michele’s lead slipped after a puzzle error, while Jordan and Jenny claimed the top spots. The final checkpoint of the day, ‘A Thousand Steps,’ involved climbing 1,000 stone steps, swimming 500 meters, and solving a coconut tree puzzle. Jordan and Jenny maintained their dominance, while Kyland struggled with swimming and suffered a quad cramp.

As darkness fell, the finalists faced the infamous overnight challenge, alternating between counting a massive bag of coins and singing a sea shanty non-stop. Jenny, who had been a strong contender, experienced a meltdown, disrupting the concentration of others. Jordan, visibly frustrated, screamed at her to stop complaining. The challenge concluded with a coin count accuracy test, determining the final standings before the ultimate winner is revealed.

The finale also introduced a ‘Karma Vote‘ twist, where eliminated contestants awarded points to finalists based on their performance and likability. This added an unpredictable element to the competition, as the votes could significantly impact the final results. TJ Lavin emphasized that this season was the ‘most cutthroat ever,’ with contestants pushing themselves to their limits for a chance at the grand prize.

Fans can catch the final results of ‘The Challenge: Battle of the Eras’ on MTV or stream the series for free with a trial from select platforms. The show, which has been a staple of reality TV since 1998, continues to deliver high-stakes drama and unforgettable moments.