# The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II
**The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II** is the 26th season of MTV's reality game show *The Challenge*, and the sequel to the show's 22nd season, *Battle of the Exes*.[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) It premiered on January 6, 2015 and concluded with the reunion special on March 24, 2015.[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II) The season takes 26 competitors, paired with their exes, to Panama, with the final challenge set in Norway.[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) Jordan Wiseley and Sarah Rice won.[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season number | 26th season of *The Challenge*; sequel to the 2012 season, *Battle of the Exes*[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) |
| Original run | January 6 – March 24, 2015, on MTV; 16 episodes including the reunion and three specials[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II) |
| Filming | Pedasí, Panama and Ørsta, Norway, in August and September 2014[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) |
| Cast | 26 competitors forming 13 ex couples, drawn from *The Real World*, *The Challenge*, and *Are You the One?*[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II) |
| Host | TJ Lavin[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II) |
| Prize money | $350,000 season prize pool; the winning pair received $250,000[3](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/the-challenge-battle-of-the-exes-ii-crowns-a-winner-2015243/) |
| Winners | Jordan Wiseley and Sarah Rice; second place, Leroy and Theresa; third, Jay and Jenna[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II) |
| Streaming | Paramount+ (subscription), or digital purchase on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Video[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) |
## Format
The season follows the same format as the original *Battle of the Exes*, in which male-female couples who were romantically involved compete together in daily challenges.[4](https://mtvchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/01/rules-and-scoring-battle-of-exes-2.html) The fastest pair in a daily challenge becomes the Power Couple, safe from elimination; the last-place pair goes into the elimination round, known on this season as the Dome. In the first challenge, [I Got You Babe](https://www.edgepedia.org/i-got-you-babe), Wes and Theresa finished fastest to become the first Power Couple, while Adam and Brittany fell into the Dome after one step.[5](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2015/01/08/battle-of-the-exes-2-top-moments-from-episode-1/) The team that wins the elimination round returns to the game and keeps a shot at the $350,000 prize, while the losing team is eliminated.[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II)
A mid-season twist distinguished the season from its predecessor. In Battle of the EX-iled, teams eliminated from the Dome were sequestered from the main house and competed against the next eliminated team for the right to stay and re-enter the game.[6](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_the_EX-iled) MTV also released this content as an online exclusive, recapped in a special hosted by TJ Lavin.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-challenge/episodes-season-26/1000160644/)
## Cast and filming
Filming took place in August and September 2014, first in Pedasí, Panama, and later in Ørsta, Norway, where the final challenge was set.[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) The cast of 26 included alumni of MTV's *The Real World*, prior *Challenge* seasons, and *Are You the One?*, alongside fresh faces from other MTV reality series.[2](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II) Almost half the house were rookies for the first time in the franchise.[8](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0I3IN9ESCR7U7C62A1DW2GNIJN?tr=as) A cast special, *EX-tra Baggage*, aired December 30, 2014, in which host TJ Lavin and Challenger Camila Nakagawa introduced the thirteen ex couples.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-challenge/episodes-season-26/1000160644/)
## Dedication to Diem Brown and Ryan Knight
Two cast members died shortly after filming ended. [Diem Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/diem-brown), who competed alongside her former on-screen partner Chris "CT" Tamburello, had battled cancer for several years and returned to the show; Ryan Knight competed with his ex, Jemmye Carroll.[9](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni58077553/) Both died in November 2014, weeks apart, and MTV dedicated the season to them.[10](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2025/07/05/jemmye-shares-that-battle-of-the-exes-2-could-have-gone-unaired/) In the season premiere, filmed days before Brown's third cancer diagnosis, she described wanting to win so the prize money could fund having children through surrogacy.[5](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2015/01/08/battle-of-the-exes-2-top-moments-from-episode-1/)
## Finale and outcome
The final was a two-day competition in Norway that culminated in a climb up a 5,200-foot mountain. Sarah Rice and Jordan Wiseley reached the summit first to win the $250,000 prize; it was Rice's first win after six prior seasons, two of which ended prematurely because of her partners.[3](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/the-challenge-battle-of-the-exes-ii-crowns-a-winner-2015243/) Leroy and Theresa finished second and split the $70,000 second-place prize.[11](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2015/03/25/battle-of-the-exes-2-top-moments-from-episode-12/) The finale and reunion both aired March 24, 2015.[12](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-challenge/seasons/official/26)
## Reception and availability
The season holds an IMDb rating of 8.1 out of 10 from about 5,200 user ratings.[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26) In the United States, it streams with a subscription on [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) and can be bought digitally through the Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Video.[1](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26)
## References
1. [Real World/Road Rules Challenge – Season 26, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-challenge/season-26)
2. [The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II, The Challenge Wiki (Fandom)](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/The_Challenge%3A_Battle_of_the_Exes_II)
3. [The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II Crowns a Winner, Us Weekly (March 24, 2015)](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/the-challenge-battle-of-the-exes-ii-crowns-a-winner-2015243/)
4. [MTV Challenge: Rules and Scoring: Battle of the Exes 2](https://mtvchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/01/rules-and-scoring-battle-of-exes-2.html)
5. [Battle of the Exes 2: Top Moments From Episode 1, Stop Being Polite](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2015/01/08/battle-of-the-exes-2-top-moments-from-episode-1/)
6. [Battle of the EX-iled, The Challenge Wiki (Fandom)](https://thechallenge.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_the_EX-iled)
7. [The Challenge Season 26 Episode Guide, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-challenge/episodes-season-26/1000160644/)
8. [The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2, Prime Video](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0I3IN9ESCR7U7C62A1DW2GNIJN?tr=as)
9. [MTV sets date for 'The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II,' dedicates season to Diem Brown and Ryan Knight, via IMDb/EW](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni58077553/)
10. [Jemmye Shares That Battle of the Exes 2 Could Have Gone Unaired, Stop Being Polite](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2025/07/05/jemmye-shares-that-battle-of-the-exes-2-could-have-gone-unaired/)
11. [Battle of the Exes 2: Top Moments from Episode 12, Stop Being Polite](https://stopbeingpolite.com/2015/03/25/battle-of-the-exes-2-top-moments-from-episode-12/)
12. [The Challenge – Battle of the Exes II – Season 26, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-challenge/seasons/official/26)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › Culinary, physical, and other skill competition seasons › Racing and adventure competition seasons › The Challenge seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license