The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras Ends with the Closest Finish in the Show's History Thanks to Karma Points

Some of Challenge 40 contestants found themselves in their winning era after Battle era Final.

The Jan. 8 finale kicked off with finalists Derek Chavez, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, Michele Fitzgerald, Tori Deal, Rachel Robinson, Jenny West, Jordan Wiseley and Kyland Young participating in a nightly checkpoint, which required them to count coins in 30-minute intervals punctuated by “Show Me the Way to Go Home” before the final tally is reached.

While almost everyone was done by 4 a.m. and gone to bed — which meant sleeping on the SS Sinister’s steel floor — Tori, who was in last place at the night checkpoint, was still counting. Around 4:30 a.m., Tori, 31, curled up and got some sleep.

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The next morning, host TJ Lavin revealed that Tori was in last place with Bananas, 42.

“I didn’t want Day 2 to start like this,” Bananas said in a confessional interview.

Derek and Rachel placed first, Jordan and Michele placed second, and Kyland and Jenny placed third.

‘Challenge 40: Battle of the Epochs’, contestant Tori Deal.

MTV

With that said, Tori considered giving up. “I’m going home,” she said. “Honestly, I quit.”

But TJ convinced her to stay. “Nobody’s going home,” he said. “You can and will get through this.”

To find out what they needed to do for the fifth checkpoint, the Challengers had to swim from the SS Sinister to the wooden raft. Once there, the reality stars learned that they would need to swim through a cave to a hidden beach to retrieve one oar, then swim back to the raft and find a key in a cage under the raft that would unlock the boat. They had to row back in the boat to Sinister as part of the Submerging Terror challenge.

Kyland Young, ‘Challenge 40: Battle of the Epochs’ contestant.

MTV

“I know it’s going to be another tough day,” Kyland, 33, told the cameras.

Tori was in first place after reaching her boat first, but Jordan, 34, was unable to row because he was born with symbrachydactyly, a rare congenital hand condition that left the fingers on his left hand misshapen and missing.

‘The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras’ contestant Jordan Wiseley.

MTV

“I can’t row like them,” Jordan said in a confessional interview. “I can paddle nice and easy on both sides, ‘This is great!’ It’s hard for me to row on the left side.”

But Jordan was still first at the Submerging Terror checkpoint, with Jenny, 38, joining him for the women. Tori and Derek were second, Bananas and Rachel, 41, took third and Michele, 34, and Kyland finished fourth.

Michele Fitzgerald, ‘Challenge 40: Battle of the Ages’ contestant.

MTV

For the sixth checkpoint, the finalists had to swim across to a sandbar where TJ, 48, informed the contestants that they would be participating in Mathematical Leasure, a speed math competition, and then swim back to Sinister. TJ also offered the Challengers coconut water, which they were surprised to learn wasn’t something disgusting they’d have to drink as part of the finals.

“What’s wrong with TJ?” Jordan remarked.

Jenny and Jordan won first again, followed by Michele and Derek, then Rachel and Kyland and finally Tori and Bananas.

‘The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras’ contestant Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio.

MTV

The seventh and final checkpoint required the finalists to swim to the barge and then go to the cathedral to retrieve the underwater scooter. Using an underwater scooter they had to follow buoys and collect tokens.

Michele, followed by Rachel, returned to Sinister before all the men. In the end, Michele and Jordan finished first, meaning he was first at all seven checkpoints on both days of the final. Rachel and Bananas won second place, Tori and Derek won third place, and Jenny and Kyland won fourth.

‘Challenge 40; Jenny West, Battle of the Eras contestant.

MTV

“You have just completed one of the most difficult finals in history Challenge“, TJ informed the finalists. “You’re all murderers, man.”

The BMX rider then informed the finishers that the Karma Vote was worth two checkpoints in the end, and for the men it resulted in zero movement in the standings. TJ announced Jordan as the men’s first place winner, earning him $200,000. Second place and $75,000 went to Derek, and Bananas won $25,000 in third. “I’m the girl on the side all season,” Bananas joked.

‘The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras’ contestant Derek Chavez.

MTV

Unfortunately, Kyland didn’t get anything for his last place finish.

For the women, the Karama Vote played a bigger factor, resulting in Tori taking last place and Michele moving from second to third place and walking away with $25,000.

“This was the closest goal in Challenge history,” said TJ Michele. “You were one point away from going home with the big bucks.”

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Afterwards, TJ revealed that the Karma Vote had moved Rachel from third place to first – tied with Jenny. As a result, Rachel and Jenny will both receive the title Challenge champions and shared $475,000.

“Being crowned champions together is like a dream come true,” said Jenny in a confessional interview.

‘The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras’ winner Rachel Robinson.

MTV

Rachel agreed. “We’re so happy to share the money, to share the title,” she said.

And Bananas appreciated that both of his Bananas’ Angels allies won, calling Jenny and Rachel “two of the meanest chicks that ever graced Challenge screen.”

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“This completely, completely unpredictable fairytale season that the three of us have had, and then looking at Michele and Tori, I mean, if this isn’t fucking poetic justice, I don’t know what is,” the seven-time champion said in an on-camera interview.

The finalists hugged each other before parting ways, with Jordan assuring fans they would see him on the show again, telling cameras: “You can call me for Challenge 50!”

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part 1 Challenge 40: Battle of the Epochs The reunion will air on Wednesday, January 15, at 8:00 PM ET on MTV.

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