Tony on Averey Fight, Claim He Wanted to Go Home

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from the Wednesday, August 28, episode of “The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras.”

If one thing is known by the cast of “The Challenge” — and the viewers — it’s that TJ Lavin doesn’t mess around. He proved just that during the latest episode. After Era 3 won the daily challenge, captains Tony and Averey were forced to select which other team captains would have to face the losers, Jodi and Darrell, in elimination. However, they couldn’t get on the same page.

While Tony wanted to send Derek and Aviv into the arena, since that’s who Darrell asked for, Averey was extremely close with Derek and refused to turn on them, instead wanting to target Kaycee and Kyland.

They both knew that if they couldn’t agree on who to send into the sand, TJ would make them compete. When neither budged, that’s exactly what happened. A very angry Averey claimed Tony didn’t want to be there and ultimately, took her anger out by beating Jodi in a very strategic puzzle. Tony wasn’t as lucky, as he was beaten by Darrell and sent home.

Below, Tony tells Variety how he feels now about his choice, Averey’s claims that he didn’t want to be there and breaks down just what he ate during the daily challenge.

We haven’t seen you on the flagship series since “Final Reckoning.” Why was now the right time to return?

Well, anytime’s a good time for Tony Time. I’m sorry, I had to. I took a break from “The Challenge” and pretty much every season since “Final Reckoning,” I’ve gotten that phone call. It’s been one of the hardest things to do to turn that down. I’ve missed the show so, so much. With this being Season 40 and my exit on “All Stars,” that couldn’t be my last mark on the game.

I was very fortunate to get a call for 40 and I couldn’t pass it up. Being back in the mix of it, the feeling, the energy, I got the fever all over again. I’m hoping I’m fortunate enough to get another call. I’m definitely gonna accept because I missed it terribly.

What was it like going back to living with all these people again? It’s physically challenging but a lot of this game is mental.

It was almost like riding a bike. I just fell back in the groove. It just felt so natural to me when I got in that house. It was like, this is where I’m supposed to be.

OK let’s dive into this episode. Everyone knows you’re good at eating challenges, but which of those disgusting plates of food did you eat? And how fast were you?

I think I ate two of the plates. I know I ate the Thai chili grub worms and I remember those specifically because I just took the bowl and [gulped it down]. Some of the Thai chili sauce got in my eye, so it’s one I won’t forget. It burned so bad. I can’t remember what the other thing was, but whatever it was, I just housed it. That’s no challenge for me. I’m from the south. If you were to see some of the stuff that we eat down here, you’d understand.

But the worms were alive.

It’s better to eat those things when they’re living because then you get all the nutrients. You don’t want to cook the nutrients, the vitamins out. I’ll tell you this, they didn’t come out alive!

OK, gross! Moving on. You and Averey were captains so when Era 3 won, you guys got to choose who went into elimination against Darrell and Jodi but couldn’t agree. Heading to the arena, were you feeling prepared to go in or were you bluffing, thinking she’d budge?

I can remember saying, “If we can’t get on the same page, then we’ve got to get prepared to go down there, because I’m not backing down.” I said it so confidently, I made myself believe it, and I needed to do that so it got through to her that I wasn’t playing. Did I want to go down there? No, but I had to believe in my decision, and what I was doing was best for my game. I knew she was going to stand her ground with Derek because she plays with a lot of emotion. She plays with a lot of heart. And you could tell that connection that they had, that bond was going to be unbreakable. I was thinking maybe if I say I’m going to give Darrell who he wants and we get down there and we’re in a stalemate, maybe Derek goes, “Averey, don’t even worry about it. He wants to be an asshole? I’ll go down there.” Then we’re in the clear. I was thinking, I’ve got a contingency plan. I thought, there’s no way Derek’s going to let Averey go down there. There’s no way. And he didn’t say a peep.

Can you explain why you wouldn’t budge — why you’d rather put yourself in than someone Darrell didn’t want?

In “Vendettas,” I did what was best for my game. That was a turning point for me in “The Challenge.” Somebody gave me a great piece of advice: Remove yourself from the game and look at it above like a chessboard. What is your next best move for checkmate? When I started thinking like that is when I started getting better in the game. That was the start of Tony Time. I was looking at it as, in my Era, I am the lowest man on the totem pole. No one is looking out for me but Devin. So I’ve got to go outside of my era and try to find some allegiance. Darrell is somebody I’ve known for a very long time. We have a good relationship. We respect each other. So I thought, if I do this, you’ve got to do me a solid in the future. That’s what was best for my game. I was looking at Averey, like, is what’s best for your game, to keep Derek here? Why? So you can confide in him? Are you thinking that’s what’s best for your game, and what’s the reason behind that? I know a lot of our conversations and my reasonings probably weren’t aired, but that was the gist of it.

It seemed like most of the house was rooting against you, telling you just to give in. Is that accurate?

Everybody except Darrell. Look, pride comes before the fall. And it’s a shame that in this situation, it may appear that pride got the best of me. It seems like it probably did. I’ve tried not to give it a whole lot of thought because I know me going home early, making that decision, getting home, having to see the disappointment on my family’s face — although they were happy to see me, that was great — but for the way that I went out, it’s tough. At that time, my mind was made up. And I told myself I wasn’t going to fold. But again, I figured she would budge. I figured Derek would throw himself in.

Averey claimed you didn’t want to be there. Was there any truth to that, that you wanted to go home?

I remember her saying that around the house, and then saying to TJ I didn’t want to be there and was checked out. It was like, how can you say that after the conversations that we had, the reason I told you why I’m here, fighting for my family? I’m here to make as much money as possible. Hey, if I don’t make the million and I make it to week 12 or whatever it is, that’s extra money in my pocket. It’s not like we just go out there and go home with nothing. Each week we’re out there past a certain time frame, we’re getting extra checks. I’ve already sacrificed three weeks of my life up to this point. I’m trying to make it all the way. Even if I make the final I’m going home with a great cushion and nest egg for my family.

I confided in her. We had a great relationship. She was probably the girl I talked to the most out there, which won’t be aired, which is a shame. We talked a lot on “All Stars.” She confided in me. Did I tell her that I miss my family, that I would tear up when I FaceTimed them? Yeah because I love my family, and it’s just natural. But to say that I was checked out when I was having the time of my life? I wasn’t checked out, but was I bummed out? Yes, I was bummed out when it came to that point. I could tell her mood and her attitude toward me changed because of what I wanted to do. It sucked. As far as not wanting to be there, that’s just something that shouldn’t be said. Honestly, I kind of take offense to it.

That makes sense! Ok, getting into the elimination, how heavy were those pieces?

We were trying to guestimate how heavy they were. We were ranging it 35-45 lbs. It felt like a 45 lb. plate at the gym. We were so shocked the girls and the guys were given the same weight.

Was anyone cheering for you or helping you?

I heard Devin and Jordan a little bit. Era 1 was screaming at the top of their lungs helping Darrell, and it was so loud. They were also trying to confuse me. With everything else going on, I was shot. I was doomed from the beginning. Then you go to the girls’ round, and my team was really giving Averey support, which I’m fine with, but where was that support for me? Why was everybody so quiet when Averey was trying to figure it out? It was a little odd.

After being eliminated, you were able to give people extra points, which will help them, somehow, down the line. Can you share who you helped?

I literally don’t remember, but I can tell you I’m 100% rooting for Derrick Kosinski. I love that guy. Devin was my number one out there. I was also rooting for Averey. We had a great rapport, great relationship before all that went down. You can tell, she has a lot of fight in her. She has that underdog spirit, which I freaking love, because I had that a lot early on in my career on “The Challenge.”