‘The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2’ power rankings after ep. 13

An episode full of big surprises.

When we last left MTV’s reality competition show The Challenge, rookie Turbo ended up winning $1 million after a brutal final.

This season? It’s the sequel: War of the Worlds 2, which pits a British team against a squad from the United States, although there are some twists that involve some “free agents” joining both sides.

As always, we task our resident Challenge expert Charles Curtis to power rank each of the competitors after each week. Here’s his take after the 13th episode.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

This week: Some HUGE surprises from competitors, including an all-time classic of an elimination and two people going home in the middle of the episode.

1. JORDAN

Cara Maria and Paulie have held on to the top spot long enough. It’s time for Jordan to take it back for this week, one in which he once again proved that he’s an all-time Challenge legend. There he was, in an elimination in which he was clearly an underdog, and all he did was calmly out-smart the larger Josh, sweeping “End of the Rope” seemingly with ease. And when you look at who’s left on his side, you have to wonder if they have an advantage with fewer team members, all of whom are pretty strong. Hmmm.

2. PAULIE

The cracks showed here a little bit with Cara Maria, who struggled in the Puzzling Swim challenge. His side also lost Josh, one of the best swimmers left in the competition.

3. CARA MARIA

I’m pretty sure the final will have some kind of swimming component … and that could be trouble. Still, she’s up near the top again.

4. TORI

This is my spot to talk about how Joss and Kayleigh went home, and Tori mentioned the karma that came back to bite them for sending in Georgia. And guess what? I AGREE! Georgia should still be here, competing. Instead, Joss and Kayleigh sent home one of the better competitors … and they ended up leaving because the worst swimmers on the day got the boot. Oof.

5. LEROY

I have no good reason to put him up here given that he was nearly eliminated because he and Kam were the second-slowest swimmers. Here’s my take, though: seeing him sob like that is a reminder that we need to see him win a championship, and that this is how seriously he and others take The Challenge, once again proof that it’s a major sport.

6. ROGAN

Joss and Kayleigh are gone, but he’s still here … and he might have the team to win a final.

7. DEE

YES DEE YES! Way to prove Rogan and all her doubters wrong by swimming better than some others there.

8. KAM

The swim was a concern, but whatever, overall, she’s headed for a final.

9. CT

Man, amazing how he avoided going home by getting to swim alone and not with Kayleigh.

10. ASHLEY

She swam with the dude below and, in the words of TJ Lavin, they killed it. And she helped figure out the puzzle that won the Americans the challenge.

11. ZACH

I would just love for him to stop calling out Natalie. Other than that, no criticisms.

12. NINJA NATALIE

Only down here because she didn’t even have to compete this week.

13. NANY

She’s got the heart and the athleticism … but now that Josh is gone, does she have numbers stacked against her with alliances?

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