‘The Challenge: Total Madness’ power rankings after ep. 8

A significant week for the most notable alliance in the game.

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: A double elimination (!!) leads to the Tribunal sending in four really good competitors, and only two emerged with Red Skulls.

1 (tied). Johnny Bananas and Wes

The Wesnanas (Banawes?) alliance makes its mark. Wes is the fastest male to complete the Decontamination challenge, and he and Mattie decided to pick Johnny as their third member of the Tribunal. The result? Jordan and Bear go home. Sure, they don’t have their Red Skulls yet. But they have their claws sunk deep into the game. That’s worth the top spot.

3. Jenny

Owns a Red Skull. You didn’t forget that, I’m sure.

4. Fessy

What have I been telling you all along? FUTURE STAR RIGHT HERE! And with his defeat of Jordan in pole wrestling, he grabs a ticket to the final and reminds everyone that voting for him to go to elimination is a bad idea.

5. Jenna

Red Skull owner as well!

6. Rogan

7. Dee

You’re starting to get the picture, right? Red Skulls are the most valuable thing right now, especially when you wonder how many more will be at stake. Also worth noting: Dee won a heat of this week’s challenge.

8. Mattie

No Red Skull yet, but coming on strong after being the best woman in this week’s challenge.

9. Nelson

Of the folks with a Red Skull, he’s the most vulnerable after the house turned on him this week, reminding him that even if he’s an amazing athlete, his politics game is awful. And you need both to make it through a season of The Challenge. We’ll see if he gets targeted again.

10. Swaggy C

11. Bayleigh

It sounds like Josh is going to go after the Wes/Bananas group, and he’ll look at the couple who are tied to them. Still, these two haven’t done anything yet to knock them from this placement on the list.

12. Kaycee

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.

13. Kailah

Losing Bear was a blow, but she still has a strong alliance with Nany and Jenna.

14. Cory

His buddy Nelson just won a Red Skull, but is still under the microscope because of his behavior, which means Cory might be targeted by association.

15. Aneesa

I’d like to see her make a move soon before the house gets pared down some more.

16. Kyle

I’m with Johnny and Wes from their interrogation chat — he doesn’t do anything politically or win challenges. So it’s time for him to do SOMETHING!

17. Nany

Her alliance helps.

18. Josh

You can see how I feel about him declaring he’s going to make some moves going forward. Until I see him play the political game well, he stays down here.

19. Melissa

Being associated with Kyle might not help much in the future.

20. Big T

The only reason she’s here is because of her injured toe that required stitches. It seems like the next episode could include her coming to the next challenge and being informed by T.J. Lavin that she can no longer compete and must go home. But we’ll see!

21. Jordan

Ugh, what a way to go out. He shoved all in after Tori left and went for the Skull … and then got injured when the larger Fessy landed on Jordan’s shoulder. As always, he showed some heart and toughness, and you have to respect that.

22. Bear

Bad news for him and Kailah, of course. Not much more to say about his season than that.

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