MTV
Warning: This article contains spoilers forThe Challenge: Battle of the Erasfinale.
For the first time in all 40 seasons ofThe Challenge, the show ended in a tie.
And the two women who tied for the win couldn’t be happier about it.
‘The Challenge’ season 40 finalists.Credit:MTV
Battle of the Eraswas meant to have only one female winner and one male winner.
“It’s really a feel-good ending,” Rachel tellsEntertainment Weeklyof the tie.
Jenny adds, “And one I don’t think anyone would’ve seen coming, either.
Rachel Robinson, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
You couldn’t have written it.”
JENNY WEST:No tiebreaker for me, Rach.
It was written in the stars for me.
Jenny West, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
RACHEL ROBINSON:I agree.
The second the game went individual, Jenny and I played it 100 percent as a team.
I mean, Aviv was part of that, butonce Aviv left,it was the two of us.
Johnny Bananas Devenanzio, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
It made total sense for the season for us [to win].
We both took the people out we needed to in the exact way we needed to.
Us winning together, it’s somebody that you love, why would you not want that?
RACHEL:I remember you said it the night before the final.
She’s like, “It sucks that we can’t both win.”
And I would say, “Not in a million years.”
I think I would’ve visibly been not happy and I would’ve won!
So this was just the perfect outcome.
And it’s still a substantial amount of money.
We both can just enjoy it so much more now, because we can enjoy it together.
JENNY:Can you imagine for me?
There’s no way.
She deserved that too.
It wouldn’t have felt right just to be by myself and that’s how Rachel feels.
RACHEL:Really, we’re each other’s biggest fans.
We’re so happy."
And to be honest, there’s actually a third winner.
His name is Johnny Bananas.
JENNY:He thinks he won.
RACHEL:Because we did.
JENNY:He was like, “Guys, we won!”
RACHEL:We all walked away feeling like we won.
I think he was smiling just as big had they said he won.
JENNY:It was emotional.
It’s never happened before.
I knew the second that they said it that I was probably going to have the best Karma points.
You knew Derek was going to have the best on the guy’s side.
You know what I mean?
This isn’t questionable.
I’m very happy they show you a quantitative number where everyone can see exactly how it was done.
Let me know the names and that’s it.
I don’t care.
F— it.
Since the Karma vote impacted you both in totally different ways, how do you feel about it now?
Jenny just does not give a f—.
And I like that.
I love a person who can be in theChallengehouse and not fall into the trap of being fake.
Jenny was such a breath of fresh air.
I just struggle in a room full of people with a lot of conversations going on.
My brain gets extremely overwhelmed and tired and start to switch off, and I struggle to concentrate.
We guessed something like [the Karma vote] was going on.
I just hoped those points don’t count for much.
Weve never seen a final like this before where its all swimming to the checkpoints.
What did you both think about this format?
JENNY:It was savage.
Obviously I can swim.
I don’t swim ever, though.
Michele had been some kind of swim instructor.
Rachel, it didn’t really matter because I wasn’t seeing her as competition in a way.
If she won, great.
If I won, great.
JENNY:I had no idea.
RACHEL:She’d come back to the boat, and she was obviously going through it.
And me and Johnny would be like, “Jenny, what place did you come in?”
And she’d be like, “First.”
And Michele’s just so impressive.
I really couldn’t say enough amazing things about Michele after the final because she showed so much heart.
She really truly never, ever gave up in the water.
It was quite amazing to watch.
Michele and I, it just evened the playing field, is what I’m trying to say.
JENNY:And Kyland as well.
RACHEL:Everyone getting ready for 41 is doing nothing but swimming right now.
Was there any portion of the final that we didnt see in the episodes?
JENNY:It was all in there.
There was nothing that the viewers missed.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
The Challenge: Battle of the Erasreunion airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
