‘The Challenge’ Premiere Date Revealed, ‘Battle Of The Exes II’ Dedicated To Diem Brown, Ryan Knight

The premiere date for the next season of MTV’s Challenge series has been set and it’s earlier than what most fans were expecting. Battle of the Exes II will debut on January 6, 2015 and the season will be dedicated to Diem Brown and Ryan Knight, both of whom competed on this season and recently passed away.

Entertainment Weekly shares the Challenge: Battle of the Exes II scoop. There will be 13 couples competing on this edition, season 26 of the Challenge franchise. Many fans know that Diem Brown and Chris “CT” Tamburello were filming the show when Diem collapsed and her new cancer was discovered. Brown died in November from that third battle with cancer.

Ryan Knight competed in this season with his former flame and Real World: New Orleans castmate Jemmye Carroll. Knight died on November 27, having been found at a Kenosha, Wisconsin home after partying with friends the night before. As TMZ notes, Knight’s autopsy found no immediate cause of death, but toxicology results are pending.

MTV has posted the full list of pairs competing in the Challenge: Battle of the Exes competition. TJ Lavin is back as host, naturally. Others in the mix of things include Johnny Bananas and Nany Gonzalez, Wes Bergmann and Theresa Gonzalez as well as Sarah Rice and Jordan Wiseley and Zach Nichols with Jonna Mannion. There are plenty of pairings from newer seasons of Real World as well plus some faces from MTV’s Are You the One? too.

This upcoming season was filmed in Panama and, as always, the pair combinations reflect a wide array of previous relationships. Some of the contestants are attached to new significant others off-screen, and others insist nothing ever happened between them in the first place. The season 26 slate of players is sure to be a combustible one, especially when competition and alcohol are added to the mix.

The prize of $350,000 remains the same as what contestants have battled for in recent seasons, but there is a midseason twist ahead called “Battle of the Ex-iled.” It seems in this one, eliminated contestants will have a chance to return to the game. There surely will be fresh drama and new hook-up combinations ahead in this newest offering and viewers can’t wait to jump in to check it all out.

Which Challenge: Battle of the Exes II stars will make it to the end and win the big money? Fans will have to tune in to find out, but the wait won’t be as long as they anticipated thanks to the January premiere date.

[Images via At 40, Reality Trainwreck]