The Challenge: Rivals II is the 24th season of the MTV reality game show The Challenge. The season took place in Phuket, Thailand, with former cast members from The Real World and The Challenge competing.
A launch special, "ChallengeMania: the Road to Rivals II," aired on June 26, 2013. The season premiered with a special 90 minutes episode on July 10, 2013, and concluded its run on September 25, 2013, with the live Reunion special.
This is the second of the Rivals series, with the original Rivals airing in 2011 and Rivals III following in 2016.
Format Rivals II follows the same format as the original Rivals challenge, with the following differences: After each challenge, the winning team whose gender is not designated for the Jungle is awarded $1,000. Unlike the original Rivals, the nominations process is only determined by the teams of the other gender - so only the male teams vote in for female nominations, and vice versa. The teams are not told this until after the first vote. At the end of the season, six teams compete in the final challenge — three of each gender — for a share of a $350,000 prize. The first-place male and female teams win $125,000, second-place wins $35,000 and third-place wins $15,000.
Contestants Male contestants Original season FinishChris "CT" TamburelloThe Real World: ParisWinnerWes BergmannThe Real World: AustinWinnerFrank SweeneyThe Real World: San Diego (2011)Runner-upJohnny DevenanzioThe Real World: Key WestRunner-upJordan WiseleyThe Real World: PortlandThird placeMarlon WilliamsThe Real World: PortlandThird placePreston CharlesThe Real World: New Orleans (2010)Episode 9Ryan KnightThe Real World: New Orleans (2010)Episode 9Leroy GarrettThe Real World: Las Vegas (2011)Episode 7Ty RuffThe Real World: D.C.Episode 7Trey WeatherholtzThe Real World: St. ThomasEpisode 5Zach NicholsThe Real World: San Diego (2011)Episode 5Derek ChavezThe Real World: CancunEpisode 3Robb SchreiberThe Real World: St. ThomasEpisode 3Dunbar MerrillThe Real World: SydneyEpisode 1Tyrie BallardThe Real World: DenverEpisode 1 Female contestants Original season FinishEmily SchrommThe Real World: D.C.WinnerPaula MeronekThe Real World: Key WestWinnerCara Maria SorbelloThe Challenge: Fresh Meat IIRunner-upHeather CookeThe Real World: Las Vegas (2011)Runner-upCamila NakagawaSpring Break ChallengeThird placeJemmye Carroll The Real World: New Orleans (2010)Third placeAneesa FerreiraThe Real World: ChicagoEpisode 11Diem BrownReal World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh MeatEpisode 11Jonna MannionThe Real World: CancunEpisode 8Nany GonzálezThe Real World: Las Vegas (2011)Episode 8Jasmine ReynaudThe Real World: CancunEpisode 6Theresa GonzalezThe Challenge: Fresh Meat IIEpisode 6Sarah RiceThe Real World: BrooklynEpisode 3Trishelle CannatellaThe Real World: Las Vegas (2002)Episode 3Anastasia MillerThe Real World: PortlandEpisode 2Jessica McCainThe Real World: PortlandEpisode 2Naomi DefensorThe Real World: Las Vegas (2011)Episode 1
Teams Team Partner 1 Partner 2 Anastasia & JessicaAnastasia MillerJessica McCain Aneesa & DiemAneesa FerreiraDiem Brown Camila & JemmyeCamila NakagawaJemmye Carroll Cara Maria & CookeCara Maria SorbelloHeather Cooke Cooke & NaomiHeather CookeNaomi Defensor CT & WesChris "CT" TamburelloWes Bergmann Derek & RobbDerek ChavezRobb Schreiber Dunbar & TyrieDunbar MerrillTyrie Ballard Emily & PaulaEmily SchrommPaula Meronek Frank & JohnnyFrank SweeneyJohnny Devenanzio Jasmine & TheresaJasmine ReynaudTheresa González Jonna & NanyJonna MannionNany González Jordan & MarlonJordan WiseleyMarlon Williams Knight & PrestonRyan KnightPreston Roberson-Charles Leroy & TyLeroy GarrettTy Ruff Sarah & TrishelleSarah RiceTrishelle Cannatella Trey & ZachTrey WeatherholtzZach Nichols
Pre-season rivalry backgrounds Male teams CT & Wes: Their rivalry started on The Duel, where Wes and Evan Starkman plotted to take out CT, but the plan backfired when CT defeated Evan in the elimination round. Tension continued to rise after CT was disqualified in the "Push Me" Duel against Brad Fiorenza. After CT exploded calling the decision unfair, Wes stepped in and a heated argument ensued. During the argument, CT told Wes to "tell your girlfriend [Johanna Botta] you have to put the ring on layaway" to which Wes responded, "Why don't I fake date someone just to get to the end of this shit," referring to CT's new relationship with Diem Brown. On Rivals Wes tried to start drama and CT verbally attacked Wes while Wes did not respond. While the two were not shown fighting on Battle of the Exes, CT informed Johnny that Wes was trying to bully his partner, Camila, resulting in Johnny sending Wes and Mandi into the first Dome against Nate and Priscilla. Derek & Robb: On Battle of the Seasons, Robb and his then-girlfriend Marie Roda were upset about getting sent into the Arena against Team Las Vegas. After Marie began insulting JD Ordoñez, Derek stepped up to defend him. Robb then stepped up to defend Marie and him and Derek got into a physical argument, which resulted in Derek getting shoved by Marie. Dunbar & Tyrie: The two had a one-sided beef on The Island, where Tyrie made several comments about Dunbar not being worthy of having a key after being given it by Abram Boise. Tyrie also became annoyed by Dunbar's behavior over food distribution on The Island. Upon finding out his partner, Dunbar stated that he never knew Tyrie disliked him. Frank & Johnny: While the two had never met, they exchanged several tweets to each other after Johnny ranted online about not getting cast in Battle of the Seasons. Jordan & Marlon: The two started as friends on The Real World: Portland, but Jordan's drunken antics caused Marlon to become frustrated with him and the two got into an argument after Jordan made a racist gesture towards African-American castmate Nia Moore. Knight & Preston: On The Real World: New Orleans, Knight made some homophobic remarks about Preston, which greatly offended him. The two were then teammates on Battle of the Seasons, where they both expressed their distaste for each other. Shortly after moving into the house, Knight and ex-girlfriend Jemmye Carroll began talking about getting Preston and McKenzie Coburn off of their team, feeling that the pair was holding them back. Leroy & Ty: The two ended up grappling the other during the original Rivals that led to Leroy's teammate Adam Royer being disqualified for punching Ty. In addition, Ty and his partner Emily Schromm faced-off and defeated Leroy and his partner Naomi in the Dome on Battle of the Exes. Trey & Zach: During Battle of the Seasons, Trey felt excluded by Zach's Team and their alliance. Trey did not like the fact that Marie was the "decision maker" for their team, and that he and Laura Waller were seen as the outcasts. The one time the entire Team St. Thomas spoke with Team San Diego, Zach became frustrated with Trey while discussing why they should not put them in the elimination. After Trey stated that he was playing the game his way, Zach got up and walked away.
Female teams Anastasia & Jessica: On The Real World: Portland the two started out friendly with each other, but then eventually began to become annoyed with each other after Jessica felt excluded by Anastasia and their fellow castmate Averey Tressler, as well as Anastasia becoming annoyed with what she felt was Jessica's need to constantly draw attention to herself. Anastasia admitted in a confessional that she was extremely annoyed with Jessica's controlling behavior and wanted to get away from her, and later sat down with Jessica to express her dislike of her. However, during a physical altercation between roommates Averey Tressler, Johnny Reilly and Nia Moore, Anastasia and Jessica squashed their differences. Aneesa & Diem: During the second to last challenge on The Duel, Aneesa told Diem that she would not call her into the Duel (under the false assumption that Diem would win that day's safety). After Jodi Weatherton won the challenge, Aneesa was left to decide between Diem, and her friend Svetlana Shusterman. Aneesa chose Diem and the pair would face off in the elimination round, where Diem was eliminated in tears. Camila & Jemmye: Following the altercations between Ryan Knight and Nany González on Battle of the Seasons, Camila got into an argument with Knight for defending Nany. Jemmye quickly came to his aid and excoriated Camila to the point where the two almost got physical with one another. Cooke & Naomi: Following Adam Royer's eviction form the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on The Real World: Las Vegas, Cooke filled his spot in the cast. Naomi was the main cast member trying to band everyone against Cooke, leading to the latter to becoming an outcast for the majority of her stay in Las Vegas. Eventually Cooke had set her sights on Naomi's on-off bedmate Leroy Garrett, leading to an argument where Naomi got in Cooke's face. Cara Maria & Cooke: Cara Maria replaces Naomi in episode 2. Although they have never appeared on a season together, Cooke mentioned Cara Maria tweeting "not-so-nice" things to Cooke. Emily & Paula: The two faced off against each other in an elimination round on Cutthroat, where Emily defeated Paula, preventing her from making it to the finale. On Battle of the Exes, Emily held a grudge against Paula for sending her into the Dome against Leroy Garrett & Naomi Defensor. Following the revelation that they would be going into the Dome, Emily claimed that Paula was only sending her in because she was afraid of her. Emily also became discontent with Paula's flirtation with Ty, which Emily felt was interfering with her relationship with Ty. Later, Emily and Camila mocked Paula and Ty with an unintentionally racist practical joke, in which Emily appeared in blackface by smearing Nutella on her face, and Camila mocked Paula. Eventually, they faced off in an elimination round, with their partners Dunbar Merrill and Ty Ruff, where Emily and Ty won. Jasmine & Theresa: The two got into an argument during Rivals, after their respective partners, Jonna Mannion and Camila Nakagawa, got into an argument. Both Jasmine and Theresa came to their partners' defense and eventually got into each other's faces. Ironically enough, Jasmine made a comment after their altercation, that if there was another rivals season, she knew Theresa would be her partner. Jonna & Nany: During the Battle of the Seasons reunion, Jonna stated that she felt Nany was not very nice to her. The two had bonded before the season, but Jonna did not stick up for Nany and prioritized her relationship with Zach Nichols. In addition, Nany felt she could not trust the alliance with Jonna's team over the course of the season and departed it. Nany told castmates Sarah and Trishelle that Jonna was "sleeping her way to the top" (in reference to her relationship/alliance with Zach). Sarah & Trishelle: On Battle of the Seasons, Trishelle was suspicious of Sarah's intentions when Sarah was flirting with Trishelle's teammate Alton Williams. After Team Las Vegas won a daily challenge, they selected Team Brooklyn to go into the Arena. This would later lead to a confrontation between Sarah and Trishelle, in which Trishelle told Sarah that, prior to her return to the series, she was warned of Sarah's untrustworthiness.
Gameplay Challenge games Game of Inches: Much like Catch and Release from the original Rivals, one partner stands on a platform suspended 30 feet above the water, while the other dangles over the water. The player on the platform must run and jump into the arms of the dangling partner, and hold onto them for 15 seconds. Those that fall are disqualified. This is performed in heats, and in each successive heat, the platform is pulled back by one foot. The last male and female teams to remain win the challenge, while the first male team to have one partner fall in the water goes straight to the Jungle. Winners: Zach & Trey and Emily & Paula