This is the sixteenth (and final!) in a series of “The Challenge: Rivals 2″ team previews that will lead into the first power rankings of the season. Next up: on Tuesday, The Challenge: Rivals 2 Weekly Power Rankings – Week 1
ZACH and TREY
Where did we last see them? Both were rookies on Battle of the Seasons. Zach, as a key cog in Team San Diego, won in the finals. Trey, often ignored by Marie on Team St. Thomas, was not so successful.
The Rivalry: On Battle of the Seasons, they did not get along too well, but since, they have been on social media attack mode (see more below).
Rivalry Meter on a scale of 1-10 (where 1 is a Leroy and Mike from Rivals I “Rivalry? They’re actually really good friends” rivalry and 10 is a Kenny and Wes from Rivals I “they have hated each other for years” RIVALRY) – 8, best Rivals I comparison: Aneesa and Robin
Highlights and Commentary from MTV bio:
“The male team that poses the biggest physical threat… is also the one fraught with the most bad blood. Zach and Trey hate each other and neither is afraid to express it.”
Wow! This is frankly a little unexpected. I wasn’t aware that they had all that much to do with one another on Battle of the Seasons.
“Zach seethes, ‘Trey is your typical douchebag. He’s the friend no one likes. He’s truly a disgusting human being and now I gotta carry Mighty Mouse to a final.’”
Zach, please don’t hold back.
“Their feud has even spread to social media, where Zach assailed Trey’s character in interviews and on Twitter. As Trey explains, ‘At first those things kind of bothered me and then I realized Zach is just a really insecure bitch. He wants everything to go his way because he’s the biggest dude in the house.’”
Yeah, so it is game on for these two. We might actually have a “rivalry” on Rivals 2 that is currently at war (albeit over social media).
For Trey, though, this Challenge is about redemption. After a disappointing debut last season, this Baltimore boy yearns to make a name for himself and finally impress his peers with his athletic ability.
Yeah, Trey had a some difficulties acclimating himself on Battle of the Seasons. His will to win is not questioned and he and Zach will both have this in common, but Trey must learn how to better manage the social game. With Frank and Johnny a pair and Zach and Frank besties for life, Trey would be smart to immerse himself in the Johnny Bananas power structure and learn from a master.
Best-Case Scenario: With a little good fortune and some surprise power team eliminations, Zach and Trey make it to the finals and have a realistic shot to win.
Worst-Case Scenario: The twitter smoke is an actual fire that has too far spread. A dispute in a challenge puts them in an early elimination and they are taken out by a team that does not share their dysfunction.
The Verdict: Maybe not the “biggest physical threat” as the MTV Bio suggests, Zach and Trey are in the conversation, and, besides Johnny and Frank, I am not sure there is a more competitive pair. Zach continues to grow in gameplay and I think his management of Frank (and his potential volatility) was one of the most underrated elements of Team San Diego’s success. Both Zach and Trey must put aside whatever animosity has been fostered and focus on how to use their relationships and physical abilities to their advantage. I think the intensity of their respective wills to win and wills to prove themselves will overcome any unnecessary hatred.
Watch the Robb and Derek’s pre-interviews here
Men Team Previews:
Women Team Previews:
David J. Bloom can be reached on twitter @davidbloom7 and writes about MTV’s “The Challenge,” pop culture, and the NBA for Bishop and Company. His weekly “The Challenge: Rivals 2” power rankings will begin the week of July 10.
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