Sarah Rice Explains Her Shocking Return to ‘The Challenge’ — And Where She Stands Now with Bananas (Exclusive)

Episode 10 of The Challenge: Cutthroat was a surprise, to say the least. The iconic reality show eschewed its typical format briefly, instead focusing solely on a set of two eliminations with team captains Tori Deal and Adrienne Naylor. The whole shindig was sponsored by the UFC, in an effort to promote its partnership with Paramount+ (the new permanent streaming home of The Challenge). The most shocking part, however, was the “mercenaries” who were brought out to take on Tori and Adrienne. One mercenery in particular.
Sarah Rice was a staple of The Challenge for nearly a decade. Across nine seasons, she made it to five finals, and won on her last two trips. Her most iconic moment, however, is not one of triumph, but tragedy. At the end of Rivals III, her partner, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, got to determine what to do with the prize money at the very end. And, as the seven-time champion put it, he chose to “take the money and run.” Sarah was left stunned and devastated and, for over a decade, fans assumed that she was done ever showing her face in the flagship again. Until now.
Parade got the chance to talk with Sarah Rice about how her return to The Challenge came to be, going “Balls In” against Tori, and how she and Bananas are after seeing one another in the arena.

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We have to start, of course, with what got you back in the sand. Many of us, myself included, had assumed you would never come back to The Challenge, and I know you’ve been asked to return in the past, but declined. So what made you decide to say yes to this particular opportunity?
Well, the timing was right. And they only wanted me for a week, like five days. I’m a therapist in private practice back at home, and I never have two months or a month or however long they need to take off for an entire Challenge season. So when they called me and said, “Hey, can you be available for five days?” I mean, yeah, I could reschedule a couple clients! No problem.
So I’ve listened to the “Brain Candy” podcast you do with Susie Meister. And you don’t mince words about when you disapprove of Challenge production. Did that affect your decision to come back at all?
My concerns were never with production and how things were run. My concerns were with the aftercare and the mental health care that they provided Challengers and things that maybe I didn’t necessarily need. I wanted to make sure that if we were participating in this, that there was proper aftercare. And when I saw in the contract and found out that that was taken care of, it made it a lot easier to say yes. It felt like it was aligned with my values and what I care about. And now they provide that, and I was very happy to hear that.
What was your headspace as you were heading back into the arena? Was there any trepidation, considering how things ended the last time you were on the show?
Not really. That was 10 years ago, if not more, and I have done a lot since then. That is really not my life anymore, or what brings me joy, or where I get my value from. So I really went on, as it was just a chance for me to have fun and get paid. I was just about to start an equine-assisted psychotherapy postmaster’s program, and I know that those aren’t cheap! What other situation does somebody like hand a couple thousand dollars to go have a nice little vacation for five days? And I said, heck yeah! That paid for all my school. I was thinking about this. Most of what I’ve earned on The Challenge has gone towards my education. So this is just another opportunity to put my well-earned money towards more education.
Well, it’s safe to say you worked hard during your “vacation,” as you faced off against Tori in “Balls In.” That definitely surprised me, considering you were known as the “puzzle queen” during your time on The Challenge. What was your reaction to having to do that elimination on your return?
I mean, I knew that I wasn’t going to have any say in what was going on there. And honestly, I didn’t really care. I also knew I wasn’t going to be fantastic. About two years ago, I had a radical hysterectomy. I had major surgery and went into menopause. So I think I might also be the only menopausal challenger that we’ve ever had competing in the main season.
So I knew I wasn’t going to be fantastic at anything physical, and that was the most physical I have ever been in my entire life. I’ve never hit anyone. I’ve never been in a fight ever. I don’t do that. I am a lover, not a fighter! So yeah, that was definitely outside of my comfort zone and outside my wheelhouse. I was hoping for something that was more like what I beat Johanna in on The Ruins, where it was somehow somewhat strategic, but maybe involved water. And when I didn’t see a big old pool out there, it’s like, “Okay, I’m gonna lose.” [Laughs.]
What was your reaction facing off against Tori, considering the two of you were like ships passing in the night with your runs on the show?
Oh, I really like her! I was just so happy. I’ve been following her on social media, and I like her energy. And I was excited to just meet somebody that I’ve been online friends with for a while. It’s funny, I came in there like I come into every Challenge, with this kind of happy-go-lucky, “I’m happy to be here” attitude, and that’s what I felt. It takes a minute for me to get in that competitive mindset. If I had been there the whole season, I can’t say I would have fought harder, because I gave it everything I had. I don’t know. I’m just not good at those things.
What was your perspective on how everyone reacted to you coming out there?
Well, some of them were like, “Who the hell is that?” [Laughs.] Some of them were born in 2003. My first season was 2008, so I understand that not a lot of people are going to know me because I’m from back in the day, and it’s been so long since I’ve been on a show. But I was really happy that people were warm. Cara Maria was so nice. Even Tori’s reaction made me feel really good. I was very happy.
Well, one person who probably was not very warm was Johnny Bananas, given where things left off in Rivals III. What was your relationship before the two of you saw each other in Thailand? And how did he react when you came out?
There was no relationship. I don’t know, I think he’s happy putting his energy into his role on The Challenge, and that just isn’t the life that I wanted. Obviously it’s the life that he wants. And I think that he expected I was going to have this big reaction, or I was going to yell at him, or I was going to tell him off or something. But I really, I do not think about this in between all of the other work that I do.
I just feel like it’s not worth it. He’s not really worth the battle, honestly. Sure, he took money from me on a game show. But I just don’t really care. And I’m not going to get into an argument with Johnny fricking Bananas! This guy has made The Challenge his life. It’s really important to him. I see that, and I understand that this makes Johnny happy. But I think we just have different values.
And have you two started DMing since your mercenary appearance, as he claimed on your way out?
Well, how it all went down is that he made some comment. Who knows? He always says something, and I said, “I don’t understand. Why can’t you just let this go? This is silly. It’s been so long. Just move on. Can’t we just make it water under the bridge?” Especially since he’s the one who did it to me! Shouldn’t I be the one who holds onto this forever?
And he said, “What? I never think about this. I don’t care at all.” And I said, “Don’t care. You sold pictures of me crying on your own website. Let’s put this in the past. I sent you messages. I DM’d you on Instagram, sent you a winky face. Come on, can’t we just be friendly at least?” He’s almost like a cousin that I got into a fight with at some Thanksgiving years ago, and I’m like, why are we still arguing when he’s 45 years old or something? What are we doing, sir?
Considering how long it’s been since you were last on The Challenge, I have to ask: Did this appearance give you any desire to come back in the future? Or were you happy to scratch that itch for one day and move on with your life?
It was very bizarre watching myself on TV. It felt uncomfortable in a new way. But everybody was so nice, and the response has been so wonderful. And I had no idea that so many people would be excited. I thought people were going to say, “Oh my gosh, look at her! She’s so old now. Look at how slow she is.” They did say the slow part, which is fine because I admitted I was not good. And as soon as Tori took that first hit, I started cracking up. I was like, “Oh my god, she is so strong! I know exactly how this is going to go.” But, if they don’t mind that I’m not at my top peak physical performance, then yeah, I guess I’d come back and do some other kind of mercenary thing. But I don’t know. I feel like maybe that was a one-and-done. I liked it for the moment, and I don’t know if it’ll hit the same for the second appearance.