Contestants from all over the world return to The Challenge year after year, but so many fan favorites are deeply missed when they decide to stop competing. However, many have been known to surprise everyone by participating again after supposedly leaving the show for good.
Some competitors that have sworn off the series have more of a reason than any to return for Season 38. Whether they still need to prove themselves or would just stir the pot, some of the veterans that claim to be out of commission would make the season the most exciting yet if they decided to compete again.
Leroy Garrett
Garrett announced in 2020 that he would not be returning to the show after Double Agents. Having never been a champion before, he came very close to winning his final season but ultimately came in third overall.
If Leroy returned, it would give him a chance to redeem himself and finally get that win he spent years working towards. It seems a shame that he gave up just when he almost reached his goal. Since leaving The Challenge, he and fellow competitor Kam Williams have announced a pregnancy, suggesting that he will not be returning any time soon.
Sarah Rice
Rice is a two-time champion that last appeared on Rivals III in 2016, which she won with Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio. Rice was stabbed in the back in the final split decision when her partner decided to take the prize money all for himself.
It hasn't been very long since her last appearance on The Challenge, and the last-minute betrayal she suffered from Bananas left fans itching to see Rice take revenge. Bananas hasn't been in The Challenge lately either, but it would be epic to see them face off in Season 38 and for Sarah to finally get the payout that she deserves.
Wes Bergmann
Bergmann is of the best male players in the history of The Challenge, even if no one will it it for fear of feeding his ego. He may not be the most likable of the group, but he is certainly entertaining.
Wes is probably one of the few competitors that are more likely to successfully take out Chris "CT" Tamburello, currently on a winning streak, than to try to ride his coattails to a final. Sadly, recent social media posts have indicated that Wes has no plans to return to The Challenge or any of its spinoffs in the foreseeable future.
Theo Von
Although Theo hasn't competed in over a decade, his old reputation as a two-time Challenge champ and current career as a stand-up comedian would make him an iconic casting choice for Season 38.
It would be so fun to see Theo interact with newer challengers like Devin Walker that ed the show after his retirement. He might be a bit rusty, but his impressive competitive track record, as well as his success both on and off of the show, suggest that he might still have another win in him, even after all these years.
Jordan Wiseley
Jordan is a formidable opponent, having been a finalist in his first Challenge ever before winning three of his six seasons. He proposed to fellow competitor Tori Deal on War of the Worlds 2 but has not returned to the show since their breakup after Total Madness.
Wiseley later replied "Nope" when asked about potentially returning to the show in a now-deleted Tweet (saved for posterity on StopBeingPolite), but his return would be chaotic for both the physical competition and the emotional drama. His presence could prove to be a fatal distraction for Deal, who has been competing rather well recently, and he could also pose a threat to CT. These tensions could lead to dirty gameplay-- the best kind.
Kailah Casillas
Kailah is one of the strongest female competitors to have never won The Challenge. Although never a champion, she has racked up an impressive number of daily challenge and elimination wins and made it to the final of Vendettas.
Casillas is one of the few veterans without a championship title that truly has the potential to earn one. But after being kicked off of Final Reckoning for a physical altercation and eliminated early into Total Madness the next year, it is no wonder that she has declined to commit her time to another go at a Challenge championship.
Brad Fiorenza
Fiorenza had a ten-season run before calling it quits following 2018's Final Reckoning. But he has still shown that he has what it takes in his most recent appearances on the mainline show and All Stars.
His brief return to the show in 2017 after his divorce from fellow Challenge star Tori Hall was marked by his new vendetta with Kyle Christie. Kyle frequently appears on The Challenge now and is hungry for a win, so it would be great to see their rivalry-turned-friendship play out in the future.
Laurel Stucky
Known for some of the most memorable moments in Challenge history, good and bad, Laurel is an undisputed legend. As a champion with a staggering elimination record, she is also one of the stronger female competitors in the series.
Stucky is not afraid to be confrontational with other players, and her feud with Cara Maria Sorbello earned them a spot in Rivals where they were runners-up. She would present some healthy competition for female challengers like Tori Deal and would probably cause entertaining conflict in the house since she doesn't have as many loyalties as a lot of the newer cast.
Paulie Calafiore
In just three seasons, Paulie Calfiore managed to make it to two different finals, have an intense romantic relationship with Challenge champion Cara Maria Sorbello, and develop a bunch of feuds with fellow cast .
Love him or hate him, Calafiore is very entertaining and would be a riot to have back on the show. He has recently been on a hiatus and is focusing on a different direction for his career, but it's a shame that he is not still in the house to stir up drama. It would be interesting to see his ego matched by other cocky competitors that are newer to the show, like Fessy Shafaat.
Tula "Big T" Fazakerley
While she may not have been the strongest competitor, Big T's bubbly personality made her an instant fan favorite. She played a strong political game and seemed closer than ever to a final, but announced her retirement from the show in November 2021.
Even though it is clear that the more competitive veterans do not feel that Big T poses a threat, her sharp wit and charisma if combined with a bit of physical training would make her nearly impossible to beat. It is sad to see her abandon her progress, and the season will not be the same without her.
