‘The Challenge’ Star Paulie Calafiore Says He’s Aiming to Win Four in a Row When He Returns
Big Brother star Paulie Calafiore has competed in three seasons of MTV’s The Challenge, finishing as a finalist in two of them. However, he hasn’t returned since 2019’s War of the Worlds 2. In a May 2021 tweet, the reality star noted he wanted to follow in multi-season champ Darrell Taylor’s footsteps by winning four seasons back-to-back when he returns.
Paulie Calafiore made it to the finals in two seasons of ‘The Challenge’
New Jersey native Paulie Calafiore initially competed on CBS’ Big Brother 18 (2016) before appearing on the dating series Ex on the Beach (2017). He made his debut on The Challenge for Final Reckoning alongside BB18 nemesis Natalie Negrotti (2018), and the two were quickly eliminated.
However, they won their way back into the competition, eventually finishing third overall. During the season, he met his now-girlfriend, two-time champ, Cara Maria Sorbello.
The couple returned for War of the Worlds (2019), where he played his best physical game to date, winning several daily missions and an elimination. However, he was purged out of the competition shortly before the finals.
The Big Brother star came back for War of the Worlds 2 (2019), where the two and their alliance made it to the end but struggled through the final mission, coming up short.
He and his girlfriend Cara Maria Sorbello haven’t returned in a few seasons
Shortly after War of the Worlds 2 premiered, the couple announced a break from the reality competition series. Cara Maria competed in five straight finals, winning one, and claimed she needed time away from the Challenge house for her “sanity” and to recuperate.
After their announcement, veteran Jemmye Carroll insisted the two did not choose to take a break but said the production team asked them not to return.
Before War of the Worlds 2 premiered, Paulie uploaded several videos to social media calling out cast members he wanted to eliminate in upcoming seasons, and Jemmye claimed some of the players considered them threats. As a result, the veteran said he wasn’t asked back, and Cara Maria refused to return in support of her boyfriend.
Others claim Paulie failed a psych evaluation, but he has since denied those claims. The couple point fingers at their nemesis and seven-time winner Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio for blocking them from coming back.
Paulie says he’s aiming to win four in a row when he returns
Although the two haven’t competed in three seasons and Paulie began trying out for the men’s Olympic bobsledding team, they seem open to eventually competing again.
In a May 2021 tweet, a follower told Paulie they thought he “single-handedly ruined” War of the Worlds 2, resulting in MTV tweaking the show’s format as eliminations are now required to compete in the finals.
The two-time finalist responded, claiming he gave viewers drama in Final Reckoning, competition in War of the Worlds, and “strategy and social game” in War of the Worlds 2. Therefore, he wants a break as he wants to follow in former champ Darrell Taylor’s footsteps, who won four seasons back-to-back, when he returns.
Paulie also responded to several followers who noted they enjoyed his gameplay and wanted him to return. The Challenge 37 is currently filming.
