Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzioknows he’s got a lot to prove.
How’s that going to affect my legacy and my overall psyche?"
It’s going to be a wild season and a wild ride, so buckle up."
Nany González and Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio in ‘The Challenge’ season 38.MTV
Below, Devenanzio dives deep into hisChallengereturn and what fans can expect to see this season.
So yeah, it’s good to be back.
How did your return this season come about?
Nany Gonzalez and Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio in ‘The Challenge’ season 38.MTV
A few different things worked in my favor.
One of them was just scheduling.
All the stars just aligned, and it’s going to be one hell of a season.
Nany Gonzalez and Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio in ‘The Challenge’ season 38.MTV
In the time you’ve been on a break,The Challengehas already changed so much.
What was it like coming back into that world and having to adapt to the new game?
That’s whatThe Challengeis every season is different.
But this is the most I’ve had to adapt to new faces.
Prior toTotal Madness, I had done 13 seasons in a row.
She continued on the show.
Coming back in with Nany was kind of my social security blanket.
So it definitely was a big plus having her as my partner.
The last time you were partners was way back onBattle of the Exes 2.
How has your team dynamic evolved since then?
Since then, we’ve just built upon that.
I found that motivation in Nany’s win.
I knew how much she deserved it.
So that was my goal: finally getting that elusive W for her.
That was what I was really focused on fighting for this season.
That’s my girl, and I want to do whatever I can to help her get that win.
On the flip side, what were you worried about when it came to working with Nany all season?
That was my big concern: Which version of Nany was I going to get?
We lose our temper with each other pretty quick.
How were we going to work together in those intense moments?
That was also a big question mark.
[Laughs] Yeah, tell me about it.
It’s well documented how close of a bond we have.
Then you have these other people come in and it’s like, wait a minute.
When did Jordan and Aneesa become ride-or-dies?
You know what I mean?
And you’ve got these newbies, and it’s like, why are they ride-or-dies?
If this wasThe Challenge: Friends With Benefits, maybe that would apply.
Who did you see as your biggest competition?
We’ve gone at each other’s throats.
Everybody else I either have neutralized my issues with or didn’t have any with them going in.
As usual, Fessy’s been making waves recently, taking shots on social media.
What was it like reuniting with him and competing against him this season after you beat him onTotal Madness?
Compete and let people see it.
But yeah, he’s a tough guy to compete against, man.
But sometimes his overall mentality… it’s like self-inflicted wounds.
He does and says things that are unforced errors that get him into trouble.
That’s all part of the learning process.
Dude, that used to be me on social media, or just in general!
Constantly out there chirping, trying to get under people’s skin and remind them.
I think that’s his mentality.
I think he’ll eventually come around.
He’ll learn that.
It took me years.
You enter the game late this season.
How does your entrance shake up the house?
You want to talk about literally turning a house upside down?
Nany and I enter at the perfect time.
I’m the great disruptor.
How did your experience this season affect how you think about your future onThe Challenge?
Did it inspire you to keep coming back, or are you starting to think about retiring?
That’s like my relationship toThe Challenge.
That’s where I’m at right now, dude.
We had our little break from each other, but I’ve fallen back in love.
The Challengeis always going to have a very special place in my heart.
It’s really difficult to see myself without it.
The Challenge: Ride or DiespremieresWednesday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
