The Challenge Season 40 Episode 15 recap: Birthday celebration, broken alliances, and more

Jenny West dominated the December 4 elimination round on MTV's The Challenge 40 with a 2-0 victory over Aviv Melmed in "Iron Triangle." Earlier, the "Tight Quarters" daily challenge in Vietnam's Cu Chi Tunnels saw Tori Deal and Kyland Young secure wins while Aviv faced disqualification after breaking tunnel barriers. Michele Fitzgerald celebrated her birthday with Derek Chavez, Cara Maria Sorbello, and Tori Deal in a private party, deepening house divisions.

The Challenge 40’s remaining roster includes Rachel Robinson from Era 1, Derek Chavez, Cara Maria Sorbello, and Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio from Era 2. From Era 3, there are Cory Wharton, Jordan Wiseley, and Tori Deal plus Jenny West, Kyland Young, and Michele Fitzgerald representing Era 4.

The Challenge 40: Tunnel challenge leads to Aviv's departure in episode 15

Daily challenge & results

The "Tight Quarters" challenge dropped contestants into Vietnam's Cu Chi Tunnel network. Remaining The Challenge 40 Players faced pitch-black conditions while maneuvering through spaces containing bats, rats, and fire ants.

The course required completing a slider puzzle, collecting block pieces, then racing through a second tunnel stretch measuring a few football fields. At the finish line, players assembled a T.J. Lavin portrait using collected blocks.

Tori led the pack with a strong performance, maintaining calm despite wildlife encounters. Her efficient puzzle-solving and smooth tunnel navigation established the time to beat.

Bananas spent eight minutes in the tunnels but hit major obstacles at the T.J. portrait stage. His repeated attempts with the double-sided pieces proved unsuccessful, leading to a timeout. The frustration culminated in Bananas knocking over the puzzle stand after T.J.'s time limit announcement.

Aviv moved quickly through the tunnels but made a critical error by pushing through marked barrier sticks forming an "X" pattern.

She emerged far from the designated exit point, resulting in immediate disqualification and placement in elimination. Despite the physical advantage of her smaller frame in the tight spaces, the boundary violation nullified her effort.

Alliances in trouble

The critical Chamber meeting of The Challenge 40 Episode 15 brought tensions between alliance members. Tori questioned Jenny and Aviv about Bananas' potential decisions. She asked which team member Bananas might protect in a crisis moment. Jenny stood firm in defending the alliance structure, stating they operated as a unified team. The meeting remained brief but highlighted fractured relationships.

Kyland's power position after the daily win led to significant decisions. His strong performance through multiple challenges gave him control over the elimination matchup.

His connection with Michele throughout the season influenced the outcome. Michele's safety stemmed from her consistent support of Kyland during previous game situations of The Challenge 40.

Michele's birthday celebration

The episode also saw Michele's birthday festivities. Derek, Cara Maria, and Tori organized a separate celebration, highlighting the deepening divide among contestants.

The party moved to an upstairs bedroom decorated with pink balloons and unicorn themes. Cara Maria transformed into drag persona Karl, performing a private show for the group.

Tori added to the entertainment by mimicking Michele's boyfriend Devin, including specific gestures and catch phrases. The private nature of the celebration emphasized existing social rifts, as Bananas' alliance members remained excluded from the festivities.

Elimination round

The "Iron Triangle" elimination match pitted Jenny against Aviv in a head-to-head battle in The Challenge 40 Episode 15. The setup placed competitors in a triangular cage with a 10-pound ball at center position.

Players started from opposite ends, racing to gain ball control. The objective required throwing the ball outside the cage to land within a marked rope circle. A throw landing outside this target zone resulted in a reset.

Jenny's physical advantages became apparent immediately. She maintained ball control through both rounds, preventing Aviv from establishing any offensive momentum. The matchup ended in a clear 2-0 victory for Jenny, who dominated both scoring attempts.

Following her win, Jenny announced three male competitors as potential targets. She named Cory, Derek, and Jordan, notably excluding Bananas from consideration. This selection maintained her established alliance while creating pressure on opposing male players.

Aviv's departure marked the end of an 18-year Challenge career span. Her elimination followed a strong run despite the extended competition absence.