The Challenge season 40 reunion part 2 recap: Laurel reveals she made out with Josh while TJ Lavin makes a cameo

The reunion part 2 of The Challenge season 40 came out on January 22. The episode saw all the contestants gathered once again to discuss their experiences of the season. At the reunion part 2, the participants discussed the members in various alliances and the roles they unanimously played to manipulate the game in their favor.

Laurel had a verbal tiff with Cara Maria and Emily, with the former for calling her friend, Ryan, the weakest link, and the latter because she was upset with Laurel sending her for elimination. In the episode, the cast also voted for the male and the female GOAT of the season.

Rachel and Jordan, the winners of the season were also crowned GOATs of the season. In the reunion part 2, unseen footage of Laurel and Josh hanging out and holding hands was shown, in which Laurel was seen revealing that she made out with her co-star, verifying the rumors that surrounded the two. TJ Lavin made a surprise video call cameo appearance, where he bantered with Bananas.

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The Challenge star Laurel reveals her kiss with Josh at the season 40 reunion part 2

In an unseen clip from season 40 that was shown at the reunion part 2, Laurel and Josh were seen in a pool, hand in hand, enjoying their drinks. In it, Laurel was seen giggling as she told her fellow cast mates that it was established that their relationship was just a friendship, while they joked that it did look like one.

The clip documented them enjoying some alone time, after which, Laurel met with Nia to tell her that she made out with Josh by the pool and that it felt good. Saying this, she confirmed the rumors of there being something between the two, which Josh had previously denied in an interview with EW. Giving her details on the kiss, Laurel told Nia:

"He got really drunk and said some things... and he gave me a smoochy-smooch."

Laurel also revealed that the pool kiss wasn't the only time something happened between them, because Josh had asked her if she wanted to make out many times after getting drunk. At the reunion stage, Josh clarified that they weren't anything more than friends.

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The video call from TJ Lavin on The Challenge season 40 reunion part 2

When TJ Lavin video called at the reunion part 2 of The Challenge, his call was relayed on the big screen for everyone to interact. The Challenge reunion host, Maria Menounos, asked TJ Lavin how it was for him to celebrate 40 seasons. TJ responded:

"It's pretty crazy... I've seen every one of those people in that studio right now, from the very beginning of their television start to now. And they shine. It's amazing."

Johnny Bananas acknowledged the fact that TJ had multiple other shows and that he was the OG because he had been there and done that. He called him the "ultimate bad*ss," and said the compliments coming from him meant a lot. He added that TJ being proud of a contestant for doing something was the best validation they could get. The other contestants on the stage agreed with him.

Maria then showed them a clip of Bananas doing a puzzle where he had to assemble the face of TJ Lavin. While doing the puzzle, he said he wanted to punch the person whose face it was, not knowing it was TJ.

In the clip, TJ was seen standing right behind Bananas, laughing at his rage. Back at The Challenge reunion, Bananas threw a pillow at TJ on the screen jokingly, acknowledging the moment.

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The Challenge season 40 can be streamed on Philo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu.