Amber Borzotra. Darrell Taylor. Johnny Bananas. Jonna Stephens.
Those are just the start of a list of names who are appearing on The Challenge: World Championship, in which a group of “global MVPs” from spinoffs like The Challenge USA will partner with those champions.
Joining that list of all-time greats is Tori Deal, who will be coming off an incredible win on Ride or Dies, her first in her career alongside Devin Walker.
As the season of World Championship drops on Paramount+, Deal spoke to For The Win about her victory and what we can look forward to in this season:
(This interview has been edited and condensed.)
Congrats on winning! Did that change your approach heading into future seasons?
There’s a new champ on the block! 🤩 Tori has seen it ALL and she’s ready to make some BIG moves on #ChallengeWorldChamp. 👏 Don’t miss the premiere of The Challenge: World Championship WED MARCH 8 only on @paramountplus! 🌏 pic.twitter.com/XQpXTQ3e47
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) February 17, 2023
Every time you show up to a season, you bring what you learned from past seasons. Winning gives you confidence that you can win again. I thought for sure I’d have a target on my back as a reigning champ. But the truth is, when you look around and everyone’s a champ or has made it to a final or did something standout on their season, there’s no target on your back because everyone has a target.
Looking at this cast, it feels like the most stacked group ever. Do you agree?
There are some incredible Challengers who weren’t on this season, so I’m grateful to be on it, and everyone is incredible. These MVPs from other countries, the went through their own — I would call it — training program in a way, where they compete without Challenge legends being in the picture. So they got an awesome experience before this one.
But a lot of them won their shows, so they’re coming in just as confident. They’re also coming in with three other people from their countries, so they have an alliance already built in. We’re not going up against competition that doesn’t know what to do.
Tell me about the format of this season.
The MVPs and Legends are paired up. The Legends originally thought they were going to run everything, but then we had to figure out how to work with someone who has their own alliances and their own ideas about how to maneuver through the game.
I literally never knew each week who was getting voted in. People who come on the show often have a run of the game — we know which way the votes will go. This season? I didn’t know. It’ll keep everybody on their toes. It was incredibly entertaining.
You're on a show again with your ex-fiance Jordan and we've seen you struggle on-screen with seeing him again and talk about how you've gotten through that. Have you heard from people who talk about how inspiring that was?
Tori & Jordan may no longer be together romantically, but they'll ALWAYS have love for each other. 💙 #TheChallenge38 pic.twitter.com/ZvGYH4qfiq
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) November 1, 2022
I’ve gotten a lot of beautiful fan outreach talking about how they could either relate to my story or how my talking about depression and being on medication inspired them to pursue healing in themselves.
You look at someone on TV and you say, “Oh, they’ve got it all together.” You really don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.
I know when I came home from a Challenge, it wasn’t the same experience. I didn’t feel that life inside of me when I was competing. I had to address it and I’m thankful I did. I definitely think going into [Ride or Dies], I had to be mentally strong for what inevitably came up with Jordan.
Looking back, it makes me trust in the universe way more. I was prepared in ways I didn’t expect I had to be prepared. I’m grateful for where we all are now. I’m obviously friends with Jordan and everything is all good there, and I feel good about myself. It’s been a journey, it’s hard to do it on TV, but I’m thankful for the opportunity, and one day I hope I get to look back and be proud of myself for what I’ve been able to accomplish.
What did you do with the prize money you won?
I’m doing my best to buy a house, but the market’s not great!
I’m being patient with it right now. Way back when, I was going to spend it and travel, but I think winning gifted me with more than just money. It gave me the opportunity to want to slow down a little bit. I quit drinking. I’ve fine-tuned myself and my mental health.
I’m thankful for where I am now and I’m excited to hopefully go into future seasons and bring this new attitude into it.
