by Gina Scarpa

 

When I first heard the concept on MTV's latest challenge, Rivals, I was immediately excited. There are some seriously badass teams here... with some bad blood between them. In case you haven't been schooled on the reasons why so many of these players hate each other, MTV set up a little online tutorial to get you up to speed.

 

Because of TJ's accident a few months back, it was uncertain whether or not he'd be able to host but as he emerges from the shadows, it is most definitely amazing to see him!

 

Right off the clip, there are strong teams in the crowd including CT and Adam, Evan and Nehemiah, Wes and Kenny, Johnny and Tyler, and Laurel and Cara Maria. The other girls are gonna need to prove themselves a little bit before I can put them at the top.

 

It takes about three seconds in the house for Wes to set up a deal to keep Leroy and Adam around as long as they do whatever he says. Always wheelin' and dealin'...

 

The first challenge is pretty nuts. Standing on a platform high above a waterfall, teams must jump out as far as they can, clearing as many hash marks as possible. Don't worry - there are safety ropes to keep them from falling to their deaths. This competition, however, would be a lot more exciting if people would stop DQing.

 

The name Adam must be bringin' some luck tonight because Leroy and Adam and CT and Adam both cleared 15 hash tags. Speed ends up being the determining factor and Leroy and Adam, the newbies, take it home for the guys. Aneesa and Robin and Jonna and Jasmine both cleared 13 hash tags. Jonna and Jasmine prove that rookies are a force to be reckoned with and win it for the girls, thanks to speed. Must be youth.

 

Of the teams who DQ'd, the one definitely going into the jungle to fight to stay in the challenge is Ev and Paula. Back at the villa, it's coming down to Cara Maria and Laurel and Aneesa and Robin to go in against them. Of course, neither team wants to go in.

Laurel starts a bandwagon against Aneesa and Robin and they are thrown into the jungle by their teammates.

 

On a side note, who knew Robin had a kid now?

 

Let's name all the wild things that happened in the house this week: body shots off Mandi, Jasmine cheating on her boyfriend back home with Tyrie, and Adam punching Ty square in the face and knocking Mandi to the ground.  Mandi almost gets taken to the hospital and Adam is kicked off.  He lasted all of 20 seconds.  Congrats, bro.  At least Leroy gets to stay in the game and gains Mike as a replacement partner - yes!  They're the opposite of rivals, though.  They're BFFs!

 

What world do I live in where CT is sitting in the corner and not a part of any of this?

 

In the jungle, the girls play "Hands On".  Teams lean against each other as leverage while the platforms they're standing on move further and further away.  The first team to drop into the mud is out.  Not the most physically demanding challenge but Robin and Aneesa can't defeat Ev and Paula and they're the first to be sent home.

 

 

The Challenge: Rivals airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on MTV.

 

(Image courtesy of MTV)

 

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