The Challenge: Vets and New Threats features a cast of returning favorites, including CT Tamburello, Johnny Bananas, Ashley Mitchell, and Cara Maria Sorbello.
All of them are multi-time champions, lending some serious experience to the cast and providing the rookies with some seasoned teammates.
However, the new threats are also realizing that eliminating the champs before they try to eliminate them could be their ideal move.
In the last few episodes, they haven’t really needed to worry about devising any major plans to do that.
Episode 4 saw seven-time champion Johnny Bananas ousted from the game via elimination after finishing in last place during the daily challenge.
Another surprising exit arrived in Episode 5, as viewers saw Cara Maria leave early during the episode.
Here’s why Cara Maria left early in The Challenge 41
Within the first 10 minutes of the August 27 episode, Cara Maria had a private outdoor chat with CT Tamburello, informing him she had to leave. CT gave her a long hug to wish her well.
An emotional Cara revealed that she’d spoken to her aunt on a video call, and things were going on outside of the game that she had to attend to. However, she didn’t provide any further details about her situation.
She then informed several other castmates she was departing, before getting into a car at night and riding away. That was the last of Cara for Season 41.
While she didn’t specify what was happening during the episode, her Instagram Story and video post provided fans with more insight.
At the time of that video call during filming, Cara’s mother had been suffering from stage 4 cancer. Cara hadn’t been able to contact her and left the show to check on the situation.
Unfortunately, her mother passed away, and it took a toll on Cara. She shared an IG video on Wednesday discussing how she processed her emotions.
TJ called in an All-Star replacement
Cara’s sudden departure meant Leo Dionicio needed a new teammate so he could compete in the daily challenge.
TJ announced that an All-Star competitor was necessary, and with that, two-time All Stars champ Jonna Mannion arrived to join the cast.
Jonna won back-to-back seasons of the All Stars spinoff, with Season 2 alongside MJ Garrett and Season 3 as the women’s solo winner.
After her surprise arrival in Vets and New Threats, she revealed in a pre-daily challenge interview that 24 hours ago, she’d been preparing a meal for her kids and received a call from TJ to participate.
Jonna previously appeared in The Challenge: Battle of the Eras as part of Era 3 along with MTV stars, including Jordan Wiseley, Devin Walker, Tori Deal, and Nia Moore.
In her first episode of Vets and New Threats, she and Leo performed well enough to finish among the first eight competitors. However, Jonna later admitted to feeling a bit lost in the game due to her late entry into the season.
The Challenge: Vets and New Threats airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on MTV.
