MTV aired The Challenge 40 episode 8 on October 9, 2024. The episode titled Era of the Gladiator featured a Gladiator-themed daily challenge called Battle for Honor, where contestants used Roman shields to push opponents into the water. Era 4 won the challenge, placing Jenny and Theo in power.
The elimination round, Fate of the Gladiators, saw Rachel Robinson defeat Averey Tressler and Cory Wharton triumph over Derrick Kosinski. These results left Rachel as the sole remaining member of Era 1. The episode also showcased significant alliance shifts, with tensions rising between Eras 3 and 4.
New targets were also set for the next elimination: Ryan and Laurel for Era 2, Devin and Tori for Era 3, and Kyland and Kaycee for Era 4.
Cory defeats Derrick in close elimination on The Challenge: Battle of the Eras
Gladiator-themed daily challenge
The daily challenge, Battle for Honor, drew inspiration from the upcoming Gladiator 2 film, pitting contestants against each other in a physical battle using Roman shields. The challenge consisted of two 20-minute rounds, one for men and one for women, with the goal of pushing opponents off a platform into the water below.
In the men's round, Bananas was the first to be eliminated, followed quickly by Derek. As the clock ticked to the final five minutes, Derrick and Jordan found themselves pushed into the water. Era 2 managed to keep one contestant in play. Era 1 finished the round with no representatives left standing.
The women's round saw Nia and Averey eliminated first. Tori employed a strategic approach, hiding in a corner of the platform to avoid confrontation. This tactic proved effective, as most female contestants were still on the platform when the horn blew to signal the end of the round.
After tallying the results from both rounds, Era 4 emerged as the overall winner of the daily challenge. This victory granted Jenny and Theo the power position for the upcoming deliberations in the Chamber.
Chamber deliberations and alliance breakdown
The Chamber deliberations following the daily challenge exposed deepening rifts within and between teams in The Challenge 40. Derrick, facing elimination, confronted Cory and expressed his desire to face Era 2, believing it offered the best chance for Era 1's survival.
In Era 4's team meeting, Michele called the proceedings a "sham," accusing Jenny and Theo of favoring Era 2. However, Jenny and Theo decided to throw Cory and Averey into elimination.
Michele then informed Devin of the meeting's outcome, leading Devin to target Josh and Kaycee's games. The situation escalated when Cory confronted Josh in a heated exchange, effectively shattering the alliance between Eras 3 and 4.
Elimination arena and new targets
The elimination challenge, "Fate of the Gladiators," pit contestants against each other in a physical and strategic face-off. The challenge involved a "striker" wearing boxing gloves and a blindfold, tasked with hitting an "evader" wearing armor covered in targets.
The women's elimination round saw Rachel dominating Averey. Averey struggled to defend herself effectively, unable to avoid Rachel's precise strikes. The bout ended decisively in Rachel's favor, with TJ Lavin declaring her the winner "in a landslide."
The men's elimination featured a matchup between Cory Wharton and Derrick Kosinski. Cory, starting as the striker, landed several impactful blows on Derrick, taking full advantage of his role.
When the roles reversed, Derrick's tenacity came to the fore. Both competitors managed to hit all the targets on their opponents. The final decision came down to speed, with Cory ultimately emerging victorious.
New selected targets are:
- Era 2: Ryan Kehoe & Laurel Stucky
- Era 3: Devin Walker & Tori Deal
- Era 4: Kyland Young & Kaycee Clark
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The Challenge 40 Episode 8 delivered high-stakes competition and dramatic eliminations. Rachel Robinson now faces a unique challenge as the last remaining member of Era 1, while Cory Wharton's return promises to shake up existing alliances.
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