/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65047464/1161846152.jpg.0.jpg)
Wait, what? Stop the presses. What did Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila just say? Matt and Akbar told People.Com some NEWS today.
Right around the eight minute mark in the video above, Matt drops a bomb shell, “For the second time in the show’s history, we crown a winner. This season, someone is taking home the million dollars.”
Um. We need a second to process that.
To be fair, we’ve had several strong hints that this was coming. First, the National Finals were extended to four episodes this year. That’s an increase from the three episodes we’re used to seeing. And now we know it’s because we need time to watch at least one person complete Stage Three AND go to Stage Four!
There was also this promo that ran prior to the Baltimore City Finals.
This year a Ninja will be crowned.
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) August 10, 2019
Don’t miss the Baltimore City Finals this Monday only on @nbc. pic.twitter.com/sVwv979PLz
Okay, this promo pretty much said it as well. But it only showed Baltimore Ninjas so we weren’t 100% convinced.
But Matt’s comment pretty much clears up any confusion. One Ninja will become the champion this season and take down all four stages of the National Finals. Well, at LEAST one Ninja. Who knows if we’re talking about another nail-biting climb off between Ninjas, like we saw when Isaac Caldiero took the championship over Geoff Britten in season seven.
Take a moment. Take that in. One of the Ninjas that we’ve already seen in the Qualifying regions this year is going to do it all and become only the second-ever American Ninja Warrior Champion.
(To be fair, I’ve known this news since the taping of the National Finals back in June. But heck, I’m surprised and excited that we get to talk about it now!)
Who’s your guess? Leave your American Ninja Warrior Champion prediction in the comments below!