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American Ninja Warrior 10 Finale: My Recap Obstacle by Obstacle

David Becker/NBC

STAGE 2

1. Epic Catch & Release

This obstacle seemed to be a modified version of Catch & Release in Dallas. You had to lock in the first pipe just like before, but the twist with this new version was that you had to jolt the second pipe back to unlock it and swing to the landing pad. Austin Gray looked to be done on this obstacle, but he recovered after taking extra swings locking the first pipe in. But I wish I could say the same with Jake Murray. He took multiple extra swings locking in the first pipe and it seemed to sap his energy because he fell after unlocking the second pipe. I was so heartbroken fro him because this first obstacle of Stage 2 ended what looked like a Total Victory-bound comeback season.

2. Criss Cross Salmon Ladder

The Criss Cross Salmon Ladder made its return from last season. It did more damage than last season, though, ending 3 top rookies' seasons: Angel Rodriguez, Lucas Reale, and Jonathan Stevens, as well as a veteran, Nicholas Coolridge. And, oh yeah, ADAM RAYL. No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was a pick for Stage 3 and even Stage 4 this season! But a sudden moment when the bar came off the rungs as Adam was swinging for the final transition ended this top ninja's season.

3. Deja Vu

AMAZING new obstacle. Congrats to Kevin Carbone for winning this year's Obstacle Design Challenge! He deserved it for such a dominant obstacle. Oh, you don't know what I mean? Check out these falls:

  1. Deja Vu's first victim was Tyler Gillett, marking his second season overall and his second season falling on the third obstacle of Stage 2.
  2. Next was Casey Suchocki, ending his best season ever.
  3. Then it was the Kingdom Ninja, DANIEL GIL!!!!! One of the top picks for Stage 3 suddenly went out early on Stage 2, marking his worst season ever.....
  4. Dan Polizzi, the Chicago firefighter who has looked good all season, was the fourth competitor to take a dive on this obstacle.
  5. Mike Murray, one of this season's dominant rookies, ALSO fell on this obstacle.
  6. Thomas Stillings, Mike Meyers, and Hunter Guerard, three amazing veterans, all fell on this obstacle in one "while we were away" sequence.
  7. Austin Gray, another top pick for Stage 3 who donated a kidney and has looked good all season long, fell on this obstacle after taking way too much time on the first two obstacles.
  8. Deja Vu's final victim was Eric Middleton, who had a nasty fall after hitting his face on the bar, and came out of the water with a bloody nose.
4. Swing Surfer

This obstacle should be replaced with a more difficult obstacle. Yeah, two competitors (Ian Dory and Mike Bernardo) fell on this obstacle last season, but no one fell on this fourth obstacle this season. Kevin Carbone, please create a new tougher fourth obstacle for Stage 2. :)

5. Wingnut Alley

This obstacle was dominant last year, and it was dominant again. In a repeat from last season when it came to clears, 3 competitors cleared this obstacle. Only 3! Wingnut Alley's victims:
  1. Josh Salinas
  2. Chris Wilczewski
  3. R.J. Roman
  4. Josh Levin
  5. Karson Voiles
  6. Mathis "Kid" Owhadi
  7. Zach Day
  8. Drew Knapp
  9. Ethan Swanson
  10. Jamie Rahn
  11. Brian Burkhardt
6. Water Walls

Yay ... or not? American Ninja Warrior's first underwater obstacle! The three competitors who attempted it were: Najee Richardson, Sean Bryan, and Drew Drechsel (who got revenge on Wingnut Alley after shockingly falling on it last season). The first to take a go at this obstacle was Najee Richardson - in other words, the man with arguably the most heartbreaking run of the season. Najee revealed to us that he has suffered from asthma since he was a child, and actually had an asthma attack during his Stage 2 run last season, but managed to clear the course. This year was a different story. Throughout his run, he took breaks to monitor his pulse. Even so, he still had about a minute and a half left at these Water Walls. But his asthma held him back, as he took large amounts of time catching his breath and he timed out just before the buzzer. It was a very sad moment for Najee and it broke all of our hearts.

The other two competitors to attempt this obstacle were Sean Bryan and Drew Drechsel. They both cleared the course, Sean with 21.70 seconds left and Drew with 38.65 seconds left. So it all came down to a man-to-man battle on Stage 3 for who would clear and move on to Stage 4, or who would go the farthest the fastest and earn $100,000.

STAGE 3

Course Run:

  1. Floating Boards
  2. En Garde - new obstacle
  3. Crazy Clocks (Modified from Miami Finals)
  4. Ultimate Cliffhanger (Modified to plexiglas walls)
  5. Curved Body Prop
  6. Peg Cloud
  7. Cane Lane (Modified from Indianapolis Finals)
  8. Flying Bar
First up on the course was Sean Bryan. He looked good through the Floating Boards, En Garde, and Crazy Clocks. On the Ultimate Cliffhanger, he was looking for revenge after falling on the obstacle last season. He got past the spot of his downfall last year, but on the final leap transition, he lost his grip.

Next up was the last hope for total victory, Drew Drechsel. He had a little scare on the Floating Boards, but got through. He then looked good through En Garde and Crazy Clocks. His dismount from the Crazy Clocks left his time 26 seconds faster than Sean's to that point, so he was crowned the Last Man Standing for Season 10 and earned $100,000. Later though, on the Ultimate Cliffhanger, Drew looked so good but fell in the exact same spot as Sean Bryan. (Does anyone else see it? He fell on the Ultimate Cliffhanger in USA vs. the World! Foreshadowing...) But it didn't matter, as Drew ended the season out on top just like in Season 8.

That does it for my finale recap! If you guys want to see more of my thoughts (Or find out who I am,) then check out my YouTube channel, Everything Ninja! Until then, bye!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of American Ninja Warrior Nation's writers or editors, or of NBC.

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