The Challenge All Stars: Rivals episode 3 recap: house virus leads to a dramatic elimination 

The third episode of The Challenge All Stars: Rivals delivered intense drama as a spreading flu virus became a pivotal factor in the game's outcome. The episode, titled, 'Rivals in the Ruff,' saw Star-holder, Adam Larson, battling illness while still having to compete to keep his position in the game.

The season brings together 26 veteran competitors paired with their biggest rivals to compete for a $300,000 grand prize, testing whether they can put aside their differences to survive the competition.

Rivals KellyAnne Judd and Sylvia Elsrode eventually faced Adam and his partner Steve Meinke in the elimination arena when their tension reached a breaking point. Adam and Steve outlasted their opponents in a taxing elimination battle dubbed "Pile it On," sending KellyAnne and Sylvia home despite Adam's frail state.

The status quo among the Star holders from the start of the season was maintained thanks to the victory, which allowed Adam and Steve to keep their desired Star status.

---

House drama and rising tensions on The Challenge All Stars: Rivals Episode 3

As Sylvia found it difficult to collaborate with her competition partner KellyAnne, the episode brought to light the developing discord within the "Lavender Ladies" alliance. It all came to a head when KellyAnne was seen outside comparing Sylvia to a "mean Doberman." Seeing an opening in their argument, Frank Fox pretended to comfort KellyAnne by the pool while secretly revealing his plan to eliminate them.

Meanwhile, Adam's illness added another layer of complexity to the house dynamics. His condition put him and his partner Steve's Star position at risk, making them vulnerable despite their previous strong performance in the game.

The day's challenge tested both physical endurance and mental capability. Competitors had to retrieve color-coded balls from a giant pit, navigate them through an obstacle course, and solve a puzzle after collecting ten balls. Leroy Garrett and Devin Walker emerged victorious, earning them the power to choose their opponents for elimination.

---

The elimination arena showdown

Despite Adam's plea for mercy due to his illness, the house voted to send him and Steve into an elimination for the second consecutive week. Using their power as Daily Challenge winners, Leroy and Devin chose KellyAnne and Sylvia as their opponents.

The elimination challenge "Pile it On" combined puzzle-solving skills with physical endurance. Competitors on The Challenge All Stars: Rivals had to solve a puzzle while spools unraveled heavy rope, then hold their unraveled rope up for five minutes without letting it touch the ground. Despite Adam's illness, he and Steve demonstrated remarkable resilience, securing their victory and their continued presence in the game.

The episode ended with the same Star holders maintaining their positions: Adam and Steve, Leroy and Devin, Dario Medrano and Ashley Kelsey, and Turbo and Nany Gonzalez. This consistency in power has not gone unnoticed by the other competitors, setting up potential conflicts in future episodes.

Next week's episode of The Challenge All Stars: Rivals promises to address the growing concern about the unchanged Star holder positions.

The preview suggests that competitors might finally be ready to shake up the game's power structure by targeting Star-holding teams against each other in elimination. This potential strategy shift could dramatically alter the competition's dynamics and test the strength of existing alliances.

With tensions rising and power positions becoming more precarious, the season continues to deliver on its promise of testing whether rivals can truly work together under pressure. The combination of physical challenges, strategic gameplay, and personal conflicts ensures that each episode brings new drama to this already intense season of The Challenge All Stars: Rivals.

---

The Challenge All Stars: Rivals airs Wednesdays on MTV and Paramount+.