American Ninja Warrior fans were greeted with a reprieve in the long off-season drought in the form of USA vs The World. The two-hour program featured some of our favorite Ninjas doing what they do best: Destroying courses.
TL:DR: In a surprising turn of events, the reigning champs, Team Europe, were bumped out of the competition on Stage Three. That left the rookies, Team Australia, to take on the climb-off against Team USA. But there’s nothing Drew Drechsel dreams of more than getting a chance at Stage Four. He won the title for Team USA with a resounding lead.
Highlights:
- Oh no big deal, Jesse Labreck is just out here MAKING HISTORY. She completed Stage Two and did it faster than the other Ninjas in her heat, earning two points for Team USA. She’s only the second woman to do this, following in Jessie Graff’s footsteps from two years ago.
Throw those for @flexlabreck because she just FLEXED on Stage Two. pic.twitter.com/eaDWFcPUCP
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
- Mathis Owhadi is the youngest competitor to ever join Team USA, and we’re happy to have time. He lit Stage one on fire and hit the buzzer at 1.27.18, which makes it the fastest time seen on Stage One in season 10.
BEAST MODE: ACTIVATED @MathisThekid lives up to the hype. pic.twitter.com/Ldb8Prt83X
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
- Barclay Stockett is known for pushing boundaries, but she hasn’t hit a buzzer on an American Ninja Warrior course yet. She set her own record during the competition by becoming only the third woman to finish Stage One. Which is why she was all the more emotional when she completed Stage One and earned a point for Team USA.
This buzzer is a long time in the making. Way to go, @BarclayStockett! pic.twitter.com/pfP7ps8bje
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
- Our hearts broke for Najee Richardson when he ended his regular season on the Water Walls. Najee timed out while attempting to catch his breath. Seeing him face the obstacle again and overcome it was the satisfaction we all needed. He narrowly lost out on the two points when Australia’s Bryson Klein beat his time by a few seconds.
That’s got to feel GOOD, @NajeeRichardson! pic.twitter.com/9V5y8pJ35Y
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
- Stage Four was almost hilarious. Ashlin Herbert of Team Australia seemed to understand that this was Drew’s wheelhouse. Ashlin had a bucket of beers waiting for him at the top of the climb and just gave it his best shot. Drew, naturally, blazed up the rope in 33:43, bringing the trophy back to Team USA. Then both competitors necked a very well-earned beer.
Full recap
Teams:
- Team USA: Barclay Stockett, Drew Drechsel, Jesse Labreck, Mathis Owhadi, Najee Richardson
- Team Australia: Ashlin Herbert, Ben Polson, Bryson Klein, Jack Wilson, Olivia Vivian
- Team Europe: Georgia Munroe, Iris Matamoros, Javier Cano, Katie McDonnell, Oliver Edelmann
Point system:
- There were two heats on Stages One, Two, and Three.
- One athlete from each team ran in each heat. Whoever went the farthest the fastest earned two points.
- Second place earned one point.
- Third place was awarded no points.
- Only the two highest scoring teams advanced to Stage Four for the climb-off.
STAGE ONE
Obstacles:
- Archer Alley
- Propeller Bar
- Double Dipper
- Jumping Spider
- Jeep Run
- Warped Wall
- Razor Beams
- Twist and Fly
Heat one:
- Team USA - Barclay Stockett
Course complete, 3:02.57 - Team Europe - Georgia Munroe
Out on Double Dipper - Team Australia - Jack Wilson
Course complete, 2:30.61
Heat winner: Jack Wilson
Scoreboard:
- Team USA - 1 point
- Team Australia - 2 points
- Team Europe - 0 points
.@deadlyninjaw out here putting Team Australia on the board. pic.twitter.com/UD9LIDf4ie
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
Heat two:
- Team Europe - Oliver Edelmann
Course complete, 2:49.36 - Team Australia - Ashlin Herbert
Course complete, 2:09.80 - Team USA - Mathis Owhadi
Course complete - 1.27.18
Heat winner: Mathis Owhadi
On finding out he was going to join Team USA as a rookie: “It’s crazy. I didn’t think I’d get selected for Team USA. I thought I might do the Skills Challenge. It’s pretty unreal. I don’t have words for that.”
Scoreboard:
- Team USA - 3 points
- Team Australia - 3 points
- Team Europe - 0 points
OH MY! @MathisThekid with the fastest time we’ve seen. pic.twitter.com/CDnRAjeNTq
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
STAGE TWO
Obstacles:
- Epic Catch and Release
- Criss Cross Salmon Ladder
- Deja Vu
- Swing Surfer
- Wingnut Alley
- Water Walls
Heat One
- Team USA - Najee Richardson
Course complete, 3:50.86 - Team Europe - Javier Cano
Out on Deja Vu - Team Australia - Bryson Klein
Course complete, 3:42.83
Heat winner: Bryson Klein
Scoreboard:
- Team USA - 4 points
- Team Australia - 5 points
- Team Europe - 0 points
Bryson Klein delivers a nail-biter finish you HAVE to see. pic.twitter.com/9j5F2V1FIx
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
Heat Two:
- Team Australia - Olivia Vivian
Out on Catch and Release - Team Europe - Iris Matamoros
Out on Wingnut Alley - Team USA - Jesse Labreck
Course complete
Heat Winner: Jesse Labreck
On knowing she was going to face Stage Two: “I’m fine with the water obstacle. It’s getting to the water obstacle that’s the harder part. I grew up on a lake so I’m totally okay with swimming and being underwater. I’m a little bit more worried about the Deja Vu and the Wingnuts.
Deja Vu was a very tricky obstacle. Coming right off the Salmon Ladder, that’s just unreal. The strength that these guys had to make it through that. I was just amazed by who could get through it because it was so hard.”
Scoreboard:
- Team USA - 6 points
- Team Australia - 5 points
- Team Europe - 1 points
Get ready to cheer because @flexlabreck delivers an EPIC run. pic.twitter.com/Hkb8ncoVpr
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
For Team Europe to stay in the competition, they would need to place first in both heats.
STAGE THREE
Obstacles:
- Floating Boards
- En Garde
- Crazy Clocks
- Ultimate Cliffhanger
- Curved Body Prop
- Peg Cloud
- Cane Lane
- Flying Bar
Heat one:
- Team USA - Drew Drechsel
Out on Cane Lane - Team Australia - Ben Polson
Out on Cliff Hanger - Team Europe - Katie McDonnell
Out on En Garde
Heat Winner: Drew Drechsel
Timing was a factor here. Drew previously shared how he paced himself on Stage Three during the regular season. “Doing the Floating Doors, En Garde and Crazy Clocks, into Cliffhanger, with only about 30 seconds of a rest between them all, it pumped me out. The Cliffhanger was a different configuration from what we’ve seen in past years. There were more movements than there normally were. Typically there’s one big, big reach up. That’s something I’m always looking forward to. I have that extra power reserve. But this year they didn’t have that giant reach. They made it a little bit longer, more moves. By the time I got to that area, and I made transfers, that was a lot of movement with very little rest, I was starting to feel pumped.”
Scoreboard:
- Team USA - 8 points
- Team Australia - 6 points
- Team Europe - 1 point
WHAT A SAVE, @REALLIFENINJA_! pic.twitter.com/3b9dmSCksn
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
This meant Team Europe was eliminated and there was no second heat needed. There are no points considered in the climb-off. It’s win or lose.
Stage Four:
- Team USA - Drew Drechsel
- Team Australia - Ashlin Herbert
Winner: Drew Drechsel
80 feet to the top and only ONE can win.
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) January 28, 2019
Will it be @RealLifeNinja_ or Ashlin to hit the buzzer for global-bragging rights? pic.twitter.com/vhyjCigyuz
TEAM USA WINS THE 2019 USA VS THE WORLD COMPETITION