‘The Challenge’: Why Leroy Garrett Thinks Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio Should Retire Following Season 35 Win
For the first time in his nearly 10-year career on The Challenge, Leroy Garrett is competing on Double Agents without close friend and last season’s champ Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio. When asked if his ally would return for another season, Garrett explained why he thinks the most winning contestant in the show’s history should retire.
Leroy Garrett and Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio became close friends during ‘The Challenge’
In 2011, The Real World: Las Vegas star Leroy Garrett made his debut on The Challenge: Rivals, which also served as Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio’s seventh. The two became good friends and allies as Bananas has competed in every season Garrett has appeared in.
They also hang out outside of the series as they traveled and trained together while preparing for new seasons of the MTV competition show.
During his fifth season, Battle of the Exes II, Garrett had to go head-to-head against his ally and then-defending champ, defeating him twice en route to the finals.
The two have continued to publicly work with each other, which many fans believed has hampered Garrett due to other competitors targeting Devenanzio. The current season, Double Agents, is the only one he will compete on without Bananas as Garrett has announced his retirement following the season.
Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio is the highest-earning Challenger
Although the Real World star has competed in four finals during his 11-season run and came close twice, he has yet to win. On the other hand, Devenanzio is the most winning contestant in the history of the franchise.
After his embarrassing elimination during the premiere episode of The Duel as a rookie, the reality star returned for The Inferno 3, where he made it to the finals. He went on to win six out of the next 12 seasons he competed in, including Rivals III where he infamously kept the entire million-dollar prize, solidifying himself as a Challenge legend.
However, his impressive resume began to work against him as the other competitors targeted him, resulting in an early elimination. He returned for season 35’s Total Madness and reduced his opposition by teaming up with longtime rival Wes Bergmann.
His decision paid off as he reached the finals and won the $500,000 cash prize. The MTV star is the highest-earning Challenger with over $1,184,720 won throughout his 20-season career.
Garrett thinks Devenanzio should retire following last season win
Before the Jan. 20 episode of Double Agents aired, Garrett went live on Instagram to talk to his followers. One fan noted Devenanzio should return for another season, but the veteran thought differently.
He explained his friend should “retire and ride off into the sunset” following his win last season. Garrett continued, noting he believes the seven-time champ has the “potential to do other things” and thinks Devenanzio has “outgrown” the competition show.
While Garrett acknowledged how difficult it is for them to not return due to the guaranteed money, he said Devananzio should “bow out” as he believes other doors will open for him. Bananas hasn’t officially said if he’s retiring or coming back for another season as of yet.
The Challenge 36 airs Wednesdays at 8/7 Central on MTV.
