If 2 out of 3 times, players are disqualified because they rip the flag, then the game might be flawed. A flat out disqualification instead of a restart may also be questionable. Wes is thankful that this happened because he got to face Brad instead of CT in the final, and everyone was happy to have Beth out of the house. Wes and CT are probably the most important male figures in Challenge history, so the fact we didn’t get to see them go head to head in a final while both were in their prime is devastating.

(Also, here’a a Survivor article I wrote this weekend, if you’re into Survivor)

7 Water Torture Battle of the Seasons Elimination: Devyn & JD vs. Eric & Camila, Jemmye & Knight vs. Sam & Zach, and Dustin & Trishelle vs. Robb & Marie

The Water Torture elimination from Battle of the Seasons was flat out unsafe. Cast members revealed that one of the people who tested this daily challenge almost broke their neck while checking to see if it would work. I love to watch players get physically tested, but I don’t want them to be traumatized.

6 Reverse Tug of War Gauntlet 2 Elimination: Ruthie vs. Jisela, Beth vs. Ruthie, Beth vs. Montana, Timmy vs. Derrick

Reverse Tug of War is a dumb elimination because it is completely size-based. In an actual tug of war, the smaller competitor can win if they had good upper body strength, a sense of balance, and grip strength. In this version of tug of war, the bigger person will win about 90% of the time. It is inherently flawed.

5 Balls of Fire (Penalty Shootout) Vendettas Elimination: Nelson vs. Cory

Most people don’t know how to kick soccer balls. Seriously, you may think you know how to kick one, but as someone who played soccer for ten years and coached, I can tell you most people don’t truly understand how to kick a ball with power and accuracy. Second, kicking a soccer ball on sand is 50x more difficult. People who play soccer at a high-level struggle the first time they play on sand; it’s something that takes a few hours of kicking the ball around to assimilate to. Then they decided to put the ball on fire, and the two people playing, had never played soccer before. A MESS.

4 Ring My Bell (Running) Bloodlines Elimination: KellyAnne vs. Nany

Players ran back and forth between one end and another where they would push a mattress that would ring a bell. They’d do this until one player accomplished the feat 50 times. MTV just got lazy with this one.

3 I Can (Betting) Duel 1 Elimination: Tyler vs. Bananas, Big Easy vs. Nehemiah, Diem vs. Aneesa, Svetlana vs. Diem