‘The Challenge: Total Madness’ power rankings after ep. 9

Another week, another double elimination.

When we last left MTV’s reality competition show The Challenge, a team made up of CT, Dee, Jordan and Rogan claimed victory after a wild season.

This time? It’s every competitor for his and herself in Total Madness, as 28 of the best vets and some very talented rookies compete for a million dollar prize while living in an underground bunker.

As always, we task our resident Challenge expert Charles Curtis to power rank each of the competitors after each week.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

This week: It’s double elimination time for the women, and an injury sends home a third competitor.

1. Jenny

Yes, Dee has her eye on trying to eliminate her ahead of the final, where the owner of the Red Skull could dominate everyone for the million-dollar prize. But even if she went into Purgatory, she’d probably be the favorite over everyone anyway.

2. Rogan

Going behind Dee’s back and telling Jenny about Dee’s “diabolical” plan was equally diabolical, and considering he tried to pull off a move last season to double-cross Dee, this is some backhanded stuff right here.

But! He’s aligning himself with one of the game’s most powerful players. As far as politics go, that’s smart. And he’s got a Red Skull.

3. Fessy

Red Skull owner, still elite.

4. Dee

I mean, it’s smart to try to get rid of your biggest competition in the final. But you’ve got to make it to the final, first. Will Jenny try to throw her in first?

5. Kaycee

Here’s what I wrote last week when she was No. 12:

This is more of a prediction than an actual ranking — I think she’s gotten a hang of the house and the game and might make a run for a Red Skull in the next couple of episodes.

BOOM. Nailed it. But also she proved she’s GOOD after winning the “Bombs Away” Purgatory.

6 (tied). Johnny Bananas and Wes

Moving them down for now simply because they don’t have Red Skulls and time is running out.

8. Nelson

I still have my doubts about how far he goes, but as of now, he has a ticket to the final.

9. Aneesa

GREAT win there over Jenna in elimination. She’s punched her ticket to the final.

10. Mattie

Still one of the stronger competitors there. She just needs to go into an elimination soon or she’ll be out anyway — she even said so at the end of the ep.

11. Cory

Of the men left without a Red Skull, I think he’s the best of the lot.

12. Bayleigh

I thought she was going to go OFF on Josh after Swaggy got a drink thrown at him!

13. Swaggy C

Oof. Not the best ep for him. I’ve never seen someone removed from a challenge due to safety concerns.

14. Kyle

This is where I predict he’ll volunteer to go into Purgatory next week.

15. Nany

She declined to go in this week, which probably turned out to be the right move. But when will be the right time to attempt to get an elimination win??

16. Melissa

Not confident she can get a Red Skull given the talent left in the bunker.

17. Josh

I didn’t like anything that happened with him this week, from Wes knowing that Josh is talking about his alliance to Josh throwing a drink at Swaggy. Given his history in The Challenge, I think he’s talking himself into an elimination that he’ll end up losing.

18. Jenna

Ugh. UGHHHHH. I’m so sad she’s out after what happened this season. How many times did Jenna have to say she still wanted to compete while things back home with Zach were blowing up? She had a Red Skull, and now she’s out.

19. Kailah

A season that will be more remembered for what happened in the bunker than on the field comes to an end.

20. Big T

It’s a bummer that her injured foot cost her the rest of her season.

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