L.A. City Finals

There's something about the City Finals that are more exciting than Vegas. Of course, Vegas is the most important, and it's the main event, but the City Finals separate people. While Vegas has all the best people and big names in one place, the City Finals allow for a little more of the spotlight to be on others. Not on everyone because they skip a lot of people in order to show bios and interviews, but some rookies and hidden gems have a better shot to be known. I realize someone like Josh Levin is going to be talked about no matter where he is because he is a pretty great competitor, but his best friend Charlie Andrews or the Papal Ninja, Sean Bryan, got to bask in the limelight.

Speaking of Charlie Andrews and the Papal Ninja: I was a little surprised to see Andrews receive the POM Wonderful Run of the Night. At first, I was worried because I thought that meant only one person finished the course, but as a rookie in the City Finals, that's really great for him. I feel like he got a spot on the show because he's best friends with Josh Levin, the rookie breakout sensation of last year. Surely, Levin made an appearance in Andrews' submission video, and no doubt it helped him with securing an invite. Regardless of whether or not Levin had an influence, it doesn't really matter because Andrews proved he is strong enough to carry himself. I also really liked how both of them hit the buzzer, obviously, but also that they don't seem like rivals. I don't mind a bit of competition like between Thomas Stiles and Daniel Gil, but I liked how they didn't care about time or getting the Run of the Night but just that they both get to move on together. Even if one of them didn't make it, I think they both would have been genuinely happy. Josh Levin is a nice face to see again, too. Probably because he hit his City Qualifiers and Finals Buzzers, made it to Stage 2, and was on Team USA all on his Rookie year is why he is so popular. Levin has definitely shown to be really strong. Something I noticed was on the 9th obstacle. Unlike Andrews, Levin took a slower approach. He was very steady and deliberate, I guess, with every movement which ate up more time. The way Andrews did it seemed better to me because he spent less time on the obstacle and saved more energy, so I thought Levin might get tired by the time he got to the Elevator Climb, which as a side note: I really don't like that they keep changing the last obstacle. I think the Invisible Ladder worked just fine. This new one doesn't even allow for you to use your whole body. The Invisible Ladder made it so that if they used their legs to try to jump up, they could still make up some distance. This new obstacle, to me, feels like only your arms can do any damage, like even if you flail your legs and move your body, you  have to still move your arms up to grab any height. Anyway, back to Levin. Obviously, I'm looking forward to Levin in Vegas. On Team USA they saved him just for Stage 3, and he finished it, so he is definitely someone who could give Drechsel some competition for finishing. I don't know how well he'll fare on the Wedge obstacle they added to Stage 2 (unless they changed it again). The Wedge was in his first City Finals, but it was only one. Stage 2 has a double Wedge, and the second half is where his Rookie season ended. He was only 1 of 2 in his City to complete that obstacle, and he did the first half, I think he fell on the transition (?). It's just, I don't know if that is an obstacle people have started to build and practice or if Levin will be able to do it this next time. This is the kind of obstacle that anyone can mess up because any slight mistake can cause irreversible damage. It would be really interesting to see Levin destroy all of Mt. Midoriyama mostly because it's only his second year and that would be dramatic, but it would also be another rock climber further proving that rock climbing is the business to be in for ANW. It would also be crazy to see a kid like him finish the whole thing after some people have spent years and years competing. Even though it's for fun and for the love of the show and working out to be healthy and strong, the point of the show is still to win the million dollars. I feel like Nicholas Coolridge did the same thing that Levin did his rookie year and he did not get the same recognition (yes I'm going back to Coolridge again), but I really like Levin. He might be in my Top Ten favorite or at least Top Ten who have the best shot this year.

Then there's the Papal Ninja. He walked away with the fastest time by less than 1 second. I'm usually more impressed with fast times if they're by 10+ seconds. Him and Rayl basically had the same time. I don't mean to diminish his accomplishment by any means, though. He was great and unexpected. I'm pretty sure he was on a commercial break during the Qualifiers, and he has a more memorable nickname which makes it easier to remember him, but he has never really been on my radar before. So, I definitely think this was a good debut run for him, even though it wasn't his rookie year. To me, he put his name out there. I don't remember if he made it to Vegas last year, and if he did, I really don't remember his run at all. This year should be different because I'll be looking for him. I think because he finished his Finals, his run should be shown in full in Vegas. Out of all the City Finals, there aren't a whole lot of finishers, so they can definitely show all of their runs in Vegas instead of putting them over commercial break and showing someone who got in on "the farthest the fastest".
Him, Levin, Andrews, and Rayl need to be shown. I honestly expect Levin to always be shown, and it would be a real shocker if they skipped him, especially because they really like him. You can tell when certain people are out of the spotlight and when others are in because they aren't super great at not showing bias. I don't think any ninja is hated but some are obviously favored (*cough cough* Grant). I somewhat noticed something like this with Kevin Bull. He's still advertised and he's still a ninja favorite, but I feel like they talk about him a little less now. Maybe it's because he doesn't have some sob story that isn't known? Does that sound heartless? He also went really early in the line up. Now, I think veterans have some say. Usually the really big names are last or at least during the last half of the show, but Bull was within the first half hour. He was the first to make it to the Stair Hopper so when he made it there, I at least knew he was going back to Vegas. The 8th obstacle, whatever it is, is always the cut-off for a trip to Vegas. I still love Bull, he's one of my favorites.

Rayl, he is on my radar, of course, because he finished, and apparently he has done really well in local ninja competitions. I can't say he's a favorite just yet, but I am interested in seeing him in Vegas. I also noticed that all the finishers were 1 rookie and 3 sophomores. Long term veterans like Bull, Rodriguez, Campell, Hanson, and even McCartney did not finish. All except Grant made it in the Top 15, but the actual finishers were fairly fresh. Rayl, after some research, I found was a walk on last year meaning he is yet another walk on to prove my point about walk ons being some of the best. Watching with my dad, one of the City's had the Suttor Seven (or something like that. I can't remember of find the correct spelling of their name, sorry), and it was just 7 siblings, and only 1 qualified for the Finals. It made us realize that people like that earned a real spot while others like Rayl who finished a City Finals had to be a walk on. Granted, there were 3 women in that 7 which probably had a lot of pull. There are never any female walk ons. Anyway, Rayl should still be proud of his run because in my opinion, him and Bryan basically had the same time, and he finished which is all that matters. Time will be a factor in Stage 1, but I think he'll be fast enough.

It's good that Flip made it. He was really close to hitting the buzzer and he was one of the only athletes to get to and drop on the Elevator Climb. I don't remember a lot even getting there. Flip was disqualified last year because he broke the rules on the Wave Runner, I think, on Stage 2, so we'll never know how far he could have made it. Maybe he would have been a victim to the Wedge like many others, but maybe he could have been with Daniel and Drew in Stage 3, who knows? Hopefully this year, there will be no mistake.

Brian Wilczweski was there, but not his brother, Chris. Chris did really well last year and was even on Team Matt for the All Stars Special. Maybe he couldn't compete like Craver or he just didn't want to like Britten (I highly doubt he wasn't invited back), but for whatever reason, it's a shame he isn't there. Luckily, his brother is there still representing. He did pretty well, too, making it to the Stair Hopper. They definitely don't talk about Brian as much as Chris, but we'll see how he does.

I was really impressed with Gabe Hurtado. He was the first to make it to the Elevator Climb. I want to say he ran fairly early in the show, which makes it extra special, I guess, because it usually takes awhile for anyone to get that far. Usually, during the second hour is when people starting getting farther. Watching, we thought he was going to drop a lot earlier, but all the more to him because he was legitimate. The same goes for Nick Hanson, the Eskimo Ninja. He was the very first runner and he made it all the way to the 8th obstacle. Again, even though it's the Finals, the first few people still tend to drop early, and there were plenty of people to fall on the Battering Ram, but I liked seeing Hanson go far first. Maybe if he had gone later, he would have received more tips about the Swinging Peg Board and would have gone farther, but maybe not. He landed the 14th spot on the list, so at least we will see him in Vegas.

Out of all 15, there are 5 names I don't recognize, and one is rookie Hurtado. The other 4 I can't say for sure if they are rookies or not. I feel like rookies usually don't make it, but it really doesn't matter whether or not your a rookie. It's all based on your skill and strength, so they could all be rookies. I'm trying to pay attention to everyone who goes far, but I still feel like some people get skipped all together. Usually, even if they go during the commercial, they comment on them, so I don't really know where these people are. I remember them commenting on Pietschmann, but I can't remember if they said what year he was. I have a really bad memory and it was days ago, so cut me some slack. Anyway, whether or not I specifically remember their names, if it says they finished their Finals (under their name when they are introducing the runner), I will pay attention. I root for my favorites like Bull no matter if they finished or not, but I will always cheer for any City Finisher, veteran or rookie, popular or hidden, sob story or no sob story, regardless, I have a lot of faith in finishers. The rookies I realize have a disadvantage particularly on the Jumping Spider, but still. The point stands that Finishers are the ones who really, truly deserve to be at Mt. Midoriyama, and I always want to see them do well.

 The women, can't forget them. I pretty much expected Zhanique Lovett to be one of the two women. It's a shame she couldn't make it up the Warped Wall because I would have been interested in seeing her on the back half. She seemed pretty strong, so she might have been able to do the Salmon Ladder. If Lovett can make it past the Jumping Spider and the other obstacles, she'll probably go out on the Warped Wall in Stage 1. There's even less running room, and if she couldn't figure it out in 2 City courses, I honestly doubt she could do it in Vegas. Hopefully, I'm wrong, and somehow she makes it.
The other woman, Rebekah Bonilla, really surprised me. I thought for sure the pole vaulter Steiner-Bennett would take the other spot, but Bonilla stole the show. She made it all the way to the Swinging Peg Board. That's the legitimate cut-off obstacle. Women tend to be slower with time, so if there wasn't a women's rule, she wouldn't have made it, but making it there is really impressive. She is short, which isn't a massive disadvantage, but honestly, it is a disadvantage. She didn't seem particularly muscular or bulky, but she was really impressive. We thought for sure she would drop early. The Propeller Bar in Stage 1 might be problematic as well as the Jumping Spider, but nonetheless, she did prove to be the strongest woman in L.A.

Lastly, let's talk about Grant. His exit was really crazy. I expected him to make it. The Godfather was sitting in 15th place, and I think he thought he was going home, so it was super surprising to see Grant get wet. It really sucks for him because it looks like the Salmon Ladder in Stage 2 is what got him both of his previous years. He was also just one rung away from grabbing a peg and securing a spot to Vegas. When he fell, everything stopped. They even added the heartbeat effect for viewers at home. It was so shocking. Jake Murray going out last week was huge, and now Grant isn't going to Vegas! What interested me is that he didn't seem too upset. He seemed surprised and disappointed, but not shocked and devastated, if you understand me. He said something might have gone wrong in his wrist, but that sounded like an excuse to me. He might have just slipped up; it happens to everyone. It was just an error in judgement, I think. It may have cost him this year, but it's not the end of the world. I really think that Matt and Akbar were more upset about him dropping than anyone. I've made it pretty clear that I think McCartney is a favorite in their eyes. So, this year, there is no one of the Golden Hearts Team (Grant, Natalie, and Neil- The Golden Hearts was their Team name for the Ninja Warrior spin-off show) running in Vegas. Natalie didn't go far enough, Grant fell, and Neil is not competing due to recent shoulder surgery. That was definitely the biggest, jaw dropping moment of the night. Unfortunately, it had to be a bad moment instead of good one, but at least there was more than one finisher for the L.A. City Finals.

Sean Bryan, Adam Rayl, Charlie Andrews, and Josh Levin were the Top Dogs in L.A. Out of these four, my bet is on Levin, but I, of course, want to see the others succeed as well.