'The Challenge: Battle of the Exes' Recap: 'What's Love Got to do With It?'

In this week's, The Challenge: Battle of the Exes episode “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” the episode begins with 12 teams left battling for $300,000.

At the house each “couple” is discussing their past relationships with one another. Wes decides that he wants to get the “ball back” in his relationship with Mandi. Naomi believes that Leroy still has unsaid feelings for her.

Jasmine and Tyrie get into an altercation because Tyrie overhears Jasmine talking about him. The partners become heated about a lot of “he said, she said,” which ends with Jasmine throwing the first punch at Tyrie. Even though the rest of the players are holding Jasmine back from lunging at Tyrie, it is no secret Tyrie and Jasmine now have targets in their back for being a “dysfunctional team” (or should I say couple?).

The players head to their next challenge in bathing suits awaiting their “hook up,” as T.J Lavin stated in their clue. At the challenge, the teams are told they have use giant hooks and simultaneously get across two giant platforms suspended 30 ft. above the water, as fast as possible. The two teams with the fastest times will compete against each other to determine the winner. The team with the slowest time automatically enters “The Dome.”

Since Johnny and Camilla won the previous challenge, they get to choose the order of the teammates. Of course, Johnny and Camilla choose Wes and Mandi first in their attempt to send Wes home. Newcomers Dustin and Heather are up against the two veterans. Dustin and Heather start off to a good start while Mandi and Wes realize just how hard it is to move the hook as partners. Once Dustin and Heather fall off the platform, Mandi also comes crashing down. The rest of the teams watch on the sidelines, observing just how difficult it is to maneuver on such a thin platform.

Tyrie and Jasmine are up against Leroy and Naomi. Before the challenge begins, Naomi almost falls off the platform. Leroy decides to take the reigns and tells Naomi to hold onto his waist while the two move from hook to hook. Maybe that was not the brightest idea, because within moments, the two come tumbling down followed by Tyrie and Jasmine. It looks like each team is having trouble moving farther than two hooks.

Vinny and Sarah are up against Ty and Emily. Vinny and Sarah complete three beams while Ty and Emily only make it past two.

Abram and Cara Maria are up against CT and Diem. Cara Maria falls into the water before the duo can make it to the third beam. CT and Diem spend a majority of the time arguing on the platform and are unable to surpass two beams.

Mark and Robin are up against Johnny and Camilla. Mark and Robin fall from the start while Johnny and Camilla blow the competition out of the water. The duo completes all 6 beams.

Anessa and Rachel go against Paula and Dunbar. After one beam, Paula falls in the water and Aneesa falls shortly after.

Johnny, Camilla, and Vinny and Sarah make it farther than any other teams in the competition. Both teams must now compete against one another in one last “hook up” challenge. Leroy and Naomi are the bottom team and are forced to enter “The Dome.” Vinny shocks the crowd and finishes strong, beating Johnny and Camilla in the final round.

Back at the house, Sarah decides that Tyrie and Jasmine are a couple she might want to throw into “The Dome” because of their “dramatic disturbance in the house." But will Vinny’s vendetta against Wes change Sarah’s mind about who really should go into the elimination round?

In an attempt to let loose, everyone decides to go out and party for the night. Sarah hopes that the night will end well because she worries that the challengers are not the most “well-behaved” group of adults. As Vinny gets wild, dancing around without a shirt, he decides to rip off Mandi’s shirt, which leaves Mandi topless in front of 30+ people.

The next morning T.J comes to the house to find out who will be going into “The Dome” with Leroy and Naomi. Vinny uses this moment to pretend to be funny, which actually comes across as annoying when he belittles Wes in front of the other teammates. Everyone can tell Vinny is trying to make light of exposing topless Mandi in front of a crowd. Wes defends Mandi’s honor moments before Vinny and Sarah announce Wes and Mandi will be going into “The Dome” against Leroy and Mandi.

By the pool Sarah confides in Wes she believes Vinny is a “liability” in the challenge. Shortly after, T. J comes to the house later in the day to inform the teams of his decision to let Vinny go. But not only is Vinny going home, so is Sarah, which leaves her devastated. T.J explains that Vinny’s behavior at the club cannot be tolerated. The house is distraught about T.J’s decision to let their “den mother” go home.

At “The Dome,” the teams are playing “X battle.” At the center of “The Dome” the teams are fighting one another for a piece of steal shaped like an “X.” The guys are going against each other, as are the girls. If there is a tie, T.J will flip a coin and the coin will determine who will go in for a final round to save a team from elimination. Since the power couple, Vinny and Sarah, are eliminated; whoever wins in “The Dome” determines the order for the next challenge.

During Round 1, Leroy wins, which gives Wes another chance to pick up the pace and leave the players tied. Unfortunately for Wes, Leroy pulls out another win during Round 2, which leaves Leroy the winner for the guys.

During the girls match, Mandi wins during Round 1. Mandi is holding on as tight as she can but Naomi will not give up without a fight. Unfortunately for Naomi, Mandi wins again in Round 2, which declares Mandi the winner for the girls.

The coin is flipped and “heads” means the boys are back in “The Dome.” Leroy holds on tight and brings home a win, making Leroy and Naomi safe and sending Wes and Mandi home. Leroy and Naomi’s win is shocking for Wes because he has never been sent home so early in a challenge.

The drama is not over yet. Back at the house, Leroy and Naomi are arguing about sleeping in the same bed together. Leroy is completely against the idea because he does not want to give Naomi the wrong message. Naomi does not agree. Uh oh, I guess one win does not stop trouble in paradise!