"He takes breaks too" — The Challenge 40 star Derrick Kosinski claims Jordan Wiseley is returning to the show to revive "his career"

Part 2 of The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras reunion aired on January 22, 2025, bringing intense drama, shocking revelations, and fiery confrontations. Among the standout moments was Derrick Kosinski accusing Jordan Wiseley of returning to the show solely to "revive his career." During a heated discussion, Derrick implied that Jordan strategically uses his appearances to reignite public interest.

“He takes breaks too and revives his career the same way and makes f**king money,” Derrick said.

Jordan clapped back, sparking one of the night's most talked-about exchanges.

“No-no, I don’t take ten seasons off, my boy… and I always get a call,” he said.

The reunion offered plenty for fans, from unaired hookups and emotional confrontations to humorous moments involving TJ Lavin.

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Recap of The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras reunion part 2

The Challenge 40 episode began with Devin Walker addressing the status of the infamous "Vacation Alliance," which he revealed is:

"under review for several breached clauses."

This sparked debates over who was actually in the alliance and who remained part of it after The Challenge 40. Josh Martinez became emotional, claiming he was unfairly scapegoated for Devin and Kaycee's eliminations. Rachel Robinson labeled the group "elitists," adding to the criticism. Meanwhile, others argued that alliances are nothing new, comparing the Vacation Alliance to Bananas' Angels.

The discussion shifted to Bananas' Angels, with members appearing on stage wearing angel wings and halos—except for Laurel Stucky, who jokingly complained about being left out. However, Laurel found herself at the center of drama when a deleted scene confirmed her unaired hookup with Josh Martinez.

Footage showed the two cuddling and holding hands in the pool, with Laurel admitting they "made out." While Josh had previously denied the rumors, Laurel laughed about it, calling the moment a result of his drunken confession. Despite this, the two clarified they are now just friends.

Emily Schromm reignited her feud with Laurel over a thrown challenge that led to her elimination. The latter mockingly fake-cried in response, which prompted Ryan Kehoe to label her a "grimy human being."

Laurel dismissed the criticism with sarcasm and proceeded to mock both Emily and Ryan. Meanwhile, Johnny Bananas called Ryan the "weakest link" of Era 2, while Cara Maria Sorbello defended him by pointing out Laurel's own failures in challenges.

One of the lighter moments of the reunion came with a surprise video call from host TJ Lavin. Bananas used the opportunity to throw a pillow at TJ's on-screen face, referencing his earlier roast about Bananas' failed face puzzle during the season. Before sharing a laugh with The Challenge 40 cast, TJ hilariously responded:

“Who’s sucking whose a** now, buddy?!”

The comedic relief stood out amid the otherwise tense discussions. The debate over The Challenge's "GOAT" status also took center stage. The cast voted Rachel Robinson and Jordan Wiseley as the top female and male players, respectively.

However, Tori Deal argued that Jordan's dominance in finals makes him the true GOAT, while Bananas is the GOAT of being a showman. Bananas reignited the ongoing debate by sarcastically responding:

“So that’s what it’s based on, finals?”

The episode also explored unexpected friendships, particularly between Tori and Cara Maria. The two revealed that a vulnerable conversation during filming helped repair their strained relationship, which dates back to Dirty XXX. Cara surprised Tori with a personalized pillow, symbolizing her decision to unblock her on social media, marking a milestone in their reconciliation.

Jonna Mannion shared her struggles during The Challenge 40, apologizing for not living up to her two-time champion status. She admitted that self-nominating for eliminations was a difficult decision and lamented being placed in an era where she lacked support.

Amanda Garcia criticized Era 3's casting, claiming that Averey Tressler's inclusion was undeserved and that Ashley Mitchell would have been a better fit. Before The Challenge 40 episode concluded, host Maria Menounos pranked Johnny Bananas by pretending to give him time for a final toast, only to cut him off because of time constraints.

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The Challenge season 40 is available to stream on Philo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu.