The very last thing a Wheel of Fortune contestant needs within the Bonus Spherical is to see Vanna White standing nonetheless after they’ve chosen their extra letters. However that’s what occurred to 1 unfortunate participant on Tuesday’s (July 8) episode, and issues solely acquired worse from there.
Within the Army Veterans Particular, which initially aired on December 24, 2024, and was repeated on Tuesday, July 8, as a part of the summer season reruns, Ron Wheeler from Shreveport confronted off towards two different veterans on the legendary recreation present.
Wheeler, an Military and Nationwide Guard vet who based the nonprofit Doing It for the Youngsters in 2017, was up towards Sheneese Townsend, an Air Pressure veteran and “cool aunt” from Las Vegas, and Humberto Del Rio, a Marine Corps vet and Deadpool cosplayer from Menifee, California.
The sport began off powerful for all three contestants as they struggled to resolve the early puzzles. Nevertheless, Wheeler pulled away within the Specific Spherical after fixing the prize puzzle and successful a visit to the Papagayo Seashore Resort in Curacao price $8,225.
Townsend and Del Rio tried to mount a comeback within the Triple Toss Up and Pace Up rounds, however it was too little, too late. Wheeler maintained his lead, successful the episode with $16,525 money. However he had an opportunity to stroll away with much more cash as he headed into the $100,000 Bonus Spherical.
After choosing the dreaded “Phrase” class, Wheeler picked the extra letters “D, G, C, and I.” Sadly, not a single a kind of letters appeared within the puzzle. All White may do was shake her head as host Ryan Seacrest stated, “Properly, Vanna’s not going wherever, which isn’t an awesome signal.”
“It’s gonna be powerful, however possibly you’ll get this,” the American Idol host added as Wheeler stared on the four-word puzzle that learn, “_ N / _ _ / _ _ _ / _ _ _ E.”
With solely two letters on the board, Wheeler struggled to provide you with the appropriate reply, guessing “On To The Subsequent,” “On To The Life,” “In To The Zone,” and extra. After the ten-second timer ran out, White revealed the proper reply as “On My Method Residence.”
“It was actually powerful,” Seacrest admitted earlier than opening the prize envelope to disclose what Wheeler misplaced out on. Including insult to harm, Seacrest turned the prize envelope round to indicate Wheeler missed out on the additional $100,000.
“What a heartbreaking episode, however congratulations regardless ron, thanks on your service!” wrote one YouTube commenter.
“In Ron’s protection, when Vanna stays nonetheless, it’s by no means a superb signal. It nonetheless hurts like hell, although. That was brutal. Sorry, Ron! I really feel your ache!” stated one other.
“Positively a 100k caliber problem of a puzzle. I wouldn’t have gotten that even when he solely acquired the vowel proper. That was VERY difficult,” one other added.
One other wrote, “That 100k was a painful loss right here. Thanks on your service ronnie.”
“That was powerful – it undoubtedly would’ve been a $100K remedy if he pulled it off. Oh effectively, congrats Ron!” stated one commenter.
“Gosh that was very troublesome!” wrote one other.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t all dangerous, as Wheeler nonetheless acquired to depart the present with over $16,000 and a visit Curacao.
Wheel of Fortune, Season 43, airing this fall, test native listings