Tonight on NBC their obstacle course competition American Ninja Warrior returns with an all-new Monday, June 26, 2023, episode and we have your American Ninja Warrior recap below! In tonight’s American Ninja Warrior season 15 episode 5 called, “Qualifiers 5,” as per the NBC synopsis, “The qualifying rounds continue in L.A. with ninjas from across the country taking on the world’s most challenging obstacle course. Competitors as young as 15 return to take on veterans and will have a chance to face a taller Mega Warped Wall.”
Tonight’s episode looks like it is going to be a great season 15, so be sure to tune in for our coverage of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior at 8 PM – 9 PM ET! While you wait for our American Ninja Warrior recap make sure to check out all our American Ninja Warrior news, spoilers, recaps & more!
Tonight’s American Ninja Warrior recap begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
In tonight’s American Ninja Warrior episode, it was Night Five of the Qualifiers! The rules were a little different this season. Each contestant that finished under a minute and twenty seconds were allowed a chance to try out the Mega Warped Wall. It could mean an extra ten grand. It also was a bragging right this season because they raised the wall by several inches. The new warped wall on top of the new obstacles made tonight’s course one of the most difficult. But that didn’t stop people from trying. Up first was Jawon Turner. He was a server at a hot wings restaurant. He brought along some juicy wings for the hosts to eat. And they were chomping down as Jawon raced through the obstacle course.
Jawon made it past the Getaway. He made it pass the balance obstacle. He got as far as Ring the Bells when he fell. It was the fifth obstacle and so there’s a good chance that Jawon will be going into the next round. Up next was Cade Perkins. He was a ninja from Iowa. He was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease when he was ten and it was believed that he would never walk again only he defied the odds then and he was looking to defy them again tonight. Cade goes by the name “Blue Jean Ninja”. Some have taken to calling him “Young Country”. And he made it as far as Ring the Bells when he fell.
Ring the Bells has been the toughest obstacle on tonight’s episode. No one during the commercial break even survived it. Maggie Owen was another victim that fell prey to Ring the Bells. She was a college student now and so it’s been tough on her fitting ninja training into her busy schedule. Much less come back for her third season. She thankfully made do. She came back and then she fell. The fifth obstacle was seriously taking everyone down. There was much hope put into Scott Behrends who had his run after Maggie and it wasn’t for nothing for the veteran because he became the first finisher of the night.
Scott Behrends was one of the oldest contestants tonight. He was forty-one. He was a dad and his priorities were different compared to these teenage babies on the course. He had to fit in his ninja training with raising his kids. He created a miniature ninja gym for the whole family in his backyard. And while he had everything working against him, he still made it further than everyone before him. Scott was fast on his feet as he raced through Ring the Bells. He showed no hesitation and that seems to be what put him ahead of everyone else.
Scott was a finisher. The first finisher of the night. It then became a question about whole will join him? Jackson Twait later had his run. He was a five time veteran known as “Cat Daddy”. He was known for loving cats. He even wears a t-shirt with cats on them during his debut. He started up a pet sitting business since then that has taken him all around the country. He’s also branched out into loving other animals. He said cats can be divas, but that kangaroos were pretty chill. It was also known that many have underestimate him in the past because of his love for felines.
They tend to dismiss him in spite of him being one of the most legendary ninjas around. Jackson showed them all tonight that he does have what it takes. He showed such an ease on the course. It was like nothing could touch him until he made it to Ring the Bells and he overshot his jump. He’ll still make it to the next round only it just would have been nice for him if he became the second finisher. He now just has to wait around for the next round.
Meanwhile, making her debut tonight was Taylor Greene. She was well-known from her time on “American Ninja Warrior Juniors”. Only tonight was her first night in the big leagues. She was a fierce competitor on the junior version and hopes were high for her tonight. Everyone believed she would make a name for herself. Her having a background in gymnastics also didn’t hurt. It came in real handy during Ring the Bells and so it wasn’t surprising when she went on to become the second finisher of the night. She did so in under three minutes. And is guaranteed a spot in the next round.
Kaden Lebsack went on after Taylor. He was the teenage ninja wiz kid who has been the last ninja standing for the past two seasons. He’s won hundred of thousands of dollars and he’s literally still new at this. Kaden was just a known finisher. He was also still hoping to win the million dollar prize. Which was why he didn’t focus on speed tonight. He simply took his time and he made sure to get all the way to the buzzer where he became the third finisher of the night. Afterwards, there were two more finishers. They were Barry Boyd and Max Feinberg.
Then the Runoffs came. In the Men’s Runoffs, the winner was James Wilson. He won the final spot in the next round and then it was onto to the Women’s Runoffs. In the Women’s Runoffs, the winner was Ally Tippets Wooton. The new mom won with her baby son on the sidelines. And that was it for tonight.
THE END!