The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras Episode 9 aired on October 16, 2024. Rachel Robinson, the sole remaining Era 1 contestant, clinched victory in the "Bottoms Out" challenge by hanging on for 14 minutes and 23 seconds. This win granted her the power to select elimination opponents for Era 3's Tori Deal and Devin Walker.
Rachel pitted Kyland Young and Kaycee Clark against them in the "Cable Connection Showdown." The elimination resulted in Tori and Kyland's survival, while Devin and Kaycee exited the game. The Challenge 40 host TJ Lavin then announced a shift to individual gameplay, abandoning the era-based structure.
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Tori and Kyland, as elimination victors, selected new targets: Derek Chavez, Ryan Kehoe, and Johnny Bananas for the men, and Rachel Robinson, Aviv Melmed, and Jenny West for the women.
Rachel Robinson secures solo victory in The Challenge 40 Episode 9
As the episode began, the targets for potential elimination were clearly defined across all eras:
- Era 1: Rachel Robinson
- Era 2: Ryan Kehoe and Laurel Stucky
- Era 3: Devin Walker and Tori Deal
- Era 4: Kyland Young and Kaycee Clark
The Vacation Alliance, consisting of Tori, Devin, Josh, and Kaycee, remained a significant force in The Challenge 40. However, cracks in team loyalties began to show as Cory Wharton expressed a stronger allegiance to Nehemiah Clark from Era 2 rather than his own Era 3 teammates.
Tensions rose as Devin Walker openly declared his opposition to Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio, citing interference with Devin's showmance with Michele Fitzgerald. This conflict added a layer of personal drama to the existing game strategies.
Daily challenge results
The daily challenge, named "Bottoms Out," required contestants to solve mathematical equations to earn handholds and footholds in a container suspended over water. The number of correct answers determined the number of holds each team received.
The challenge results were as follows:
- Era 1 (Rachel alone): 6 holds
- Era 2: 17 holds
- Era 3: 14 holds
- Era 4: 14 holds
Rachel Robinson, despite having the fewest holds, emerged victorious by hanging on for over 14 minutes. This win marked the first victory for Era 1 in the season. Era 3's performance landed them in last place, automatically sending Tori Deal and Devin Walker to the elimination round.
Pre-elimination politics
Rachel's win placed her in a powerful position to influence the upcoming elimination. Various players approached her with strategic offers:
After considering her options, Rachel chose to send Kyland Young and Kaycee Clark into elimination against Tori and Devin. This decision had the potential to weaken multiple alliances simultaneously in The Challenge 40.
Elimination: "Cable Connection Showdown"
The elimination round, titled "Cable Connection Showdown," required contestants to untangle a series of cables and connect them correctly to light up logos representing all 40 seasons of The Challenge.
In the men's face-off, Kyland Young demonstrated superior speed and problem-solving skills, ultimately defeating Devin Walker.
The women's competition was closely matched, but Tori Deal managed to edge out Kaycee Clark in a nail-biting finish.
Post-elimination twist
Following the elimination, host TJ Lavin revealed a twist: The Challenge 40 would now transition to an individual format, abandoning the era-based team structure.
Despite the shift to individual gameplay, a targeting system remained in place. The winners of the elimination were tasked with selecting new targets:
- Tori's male targets: Derek Chavez, Ryan Kehoe, Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio
- Kyland's female targets: Rachel Robinson, Aviv Melmed, Jenny West
The elimination of Devin Walker and Kaycee Clark has significantly weakened the Vacation Alliance in The Challenge 40. Remaining members Tori Deal and Josh Martinez will likely need to forge new partnerships to maintain their position in the game.
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