MTV
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I was not expecting to talk to you so soon this season.
MARK LONG:I know.
I’m just as pissed as you.
Mark Long, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
I was off from the very first challenge.
Leave that up because I’m going to be turning around to look at this thing."
And we were laughing.
Katie Cooley and Mark Long, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
It was a mess.
This just isn’t my day.
But just getting called to be part of season 40 was a win in itself.
Mark Long, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
I’m so thankful and I love the time that I was there.
I just wasn’t that lucky in the first one.
Yeah, and guess what?
Some of those blocks didn’t have the little shapes that match up.
I let one slide.
I’m okay with it.
“Derrick, go win this thing.
Era I, let’s go!”
OGs only, baby.
Go put your diapers on, new people.
You’ve got to earn your stripes.
This is your first time back on a flagship MTVChallengein 12 years.
What expectations did you have going into this season?
I just didn’t want to seem like the old man.
“Oh look, grandpa came to aChallenge!”
I didn’t feel like that physically.
I was in shape.
But when they called me they were like, “Do you know why we’re calling you?”
And I was like, “All Stars?”
And they were like, “No,The Challenge40.”
I sat up in my chair, “Oh, okay.”
Just getting chosen to represent that Era, I felt very proud being on that team.
And I will say this: I’m just getting warmed up.
I’m even starting to notice some of these other reality competition shows.
I still feel like I have a lot in the tank to give.
So I’m shaking this off, baby.
I’m definitely not done.
What was your reaction when you learned you had to first compete against your own Era?
We all thought that was the crappiest twist ever.
Because we’ve seen that, right?
I wish we didn’t have to go against each other.
I’m always his biggest fan and vice versa, so it sucked that it played out that way.
Why did Derrick want to volunteer to go against you?
So he’s like, “I’d rather do it now than later.”
No, wrestling is entertainment.
I am currently the BRCW All-Star Champion.
If I was a division five NCAA wrestler, I’d feel very good.
No, I didn’t feel more confident at all.
I remember Jordan telling me to lay on him.
And my strategy was terrible.
We had turned to each other and we’re like, “What do you want?”
He goes, “Man, I hope we get Balls In.”
But theChallengegods picked Pole Wrestle.
And he’s like, “All right.
Don’t hurt me.”
I’m like, “Don’t hurt you?
Don’t hurtme, dude.
I’m the old guy here.”
What was it like competing against him?
It was such a cool, epic elimination.
So I did my front flip, but I think my strategy was all wrong.
Derrick’s perfect for Pole Wrestle.
He’s just so compact.
This was just wearing me out.
I mean, we all saw what he did to Joss, who’s another big young dude.
But I was happy for him.
And I’m like, “Guys, this ain’t a funeral.
I’m just leaving for now.
But I appreciated the thanks and the love.
But we laughed about it today.
He’s like, “You’re not mad, right?”
I’m like, “Quit saying I’m mad.
Dude, I love you, so who cares?
It’s all good.
Go win this thing.”
Did you walk away with any injuries?
And then literally within 30 seconds, both my forearms were cramping up.
I think I was dehydrated.
I should have probably drank more water.
No one’s beating him.
The funny thing was that wasn’t even the highlight of the night.
Holy smokes, that was insane.
I thought he knocked Paulie out.
I mean, Paulie was in another universe for a few seconds.
Kudos to both those guys and the girls as well for doing it.
It’s a competitor’s worst nightmare, going home first.
So with misery, there’s company.
We actually could lean on each other.
I remember consoling Paulie at the hotel going, “It’s going to be okay, dude.
Because he’s like, “I went home last time first on theUSA.”
I’m like, “Look, you gave it your best.
He’s a huge dude.
Just let it go.”
I would’ve rather stayed obviously, but it was fine.
I was totally fine going home.
The youngsters better look out, baby.
What happened in the house before you left that wasn’t shown in the episodes?
When I say these things were going 100 miles an hour, I’m not lying.
You guys are better.”
It was so fun.
I can’t believe it didn’t air.
It was very old school, but I guess the Horacio and Nurys smooching was better.
The Challenge: Battle of the Erasairs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
