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After winning The Challenge: All Stars 2, MJ Garrett returned for season 3, hoping to protect his title. Due to the controversial final, some fans and other players thought he didn’t deserve his win. MJ hinted at this during a recent cast interview in which he admitted he thinks he has “more to prove” in the upcoming season.

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‘The Challenge: All Stars 2’ final was shrouded in controversy

After MJ Garrett and Jonna Mannion won The Challenge: All Stars 2, the pair talked to Entertainment Weekly about the final.

They acknowledged not having to complete the first checkpoint due to Teck Holmes and Ayanna Mackins quitting but claimed they intended to before producers stopped them.

Additionally, the two insisted they previously lost time due to an “error” outside their control. MJ also claimed they had a 10-minute lead on the other players when they ran to their lockboxes after finishing the puzzle.

However, runner-up Janelle Casaneve refuted this during a January 2022 episode of The Challenge Mania podcast, claiming she and Darrell Taylor were only “50 yards” behind the winners.

He thinks he has ‘more to prove’ in ‘All Stars 3’

Finally, MJ, Jonna, Darrell, and Janelle have maintained that the safes containing the grand prize money didn’t work properly. MJ claimed producers told them to run to the jet anyways, even though they hadn’t opened the lockbox.

According to the champ, a truck picked them up halfway, and a producer informed them of a fourth step to open the safe. However, Janelle believed MJ wasn’t telling the truth, and he later backtracked, revealing the extra measure as “slowing down and taking your time.”

MJ has returned for The Challenge: All Stars 3 and called his victory “amazing” in an April 2022 cast interview shortly before the season premiere.

Even though MJ believes he and Jonna “played the perfect game,” he also knows some people don’t think he deserved it. The returning champ subtly acknowledged the previous controversy, admitting he believes he still has “more to prove” despite a recent win.

Season 2 winners Jonna Mannion and MJ have joined the ‘All Stars 3’ cast

Jonna and MJ are returning for All Stars 3, alongside Yes Duffy, who claimed the inaugural season’s title.

Other OGs who previously competed on the spinoff and came back for another shot include Tina Bridges, Tyler Duckworth, Syrus Yarbrough, Nehemiah Clark, Melinda Collins, Kendal Darnell, Mark Long, KellyAnne Judd, Laterrian Wallace, Derrick Kosinski, Jemmye Carroll, Darrell Taylor, and Brad Fiorenza.

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There are also several newcomers, yet familiar faces, joining the cast, such as Road Rules: All Stars winner Cynthia Roberts (The Real World: Miami), two-time winner Roni Chance (Road Rules: Northern Troll), two-time champ Wes Bergmann (The Real World: Austin), one-time finalist Kailah Casillas (The Real World: Go Big Or Go Home), veteran Nia Moore (The Real World: Portland), finalist Sylvia Elsrode (The Real World: Skeletons), and three-time champs Jordan Wiseley (The Real World: Portland) and Veronica Portillo (Road Rules: Semester at Sea), hoping to take the crown.

The Challenge: All Stars 3 premieres May 11 on Paramount+.

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