‘The Challenge’ Producers Define Each Era of the Past 40 Seasons — From When the Structure Changed to When Athletes Were Created

What began as pitting “The Real World” roommates against “Road Rules’” competitors in 1998, MTV’s “The Challenge” has expanded into one of the largest franchises on television.

Season 40 was the perfect example of that growth. For the first time, the cast included all returning players, split into four teams — each based on which year they first began on “The Challenge.” As longtime host T.J. Lavin described it: “Era I started it all. Era II introduced Fresh Meat. Era III elevated rivalries and romances, and Era IV brought the game global.”

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But which era is the best? That depends on

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