Being stubborn doesn’t pay off on “The Challenge.”
During Episode 3 of Season 40, “Battle of the Eras,” Era III teammates Tony Raines and Averey Tressler forced themselves into the elimination game after they couldn’t agree on who to nominate of the pairs from the other teams.
While Tressler, 33, defeated Jodi Weatherton in the arena, Raines lost to Darrell Taylor and was eliminated.
In an exclusive interview with The Post, Raines said that he doesn’t regret the ballsy move that sent him home.
“I had to stick to my guns,” he said. “I had made my mind up. I’ve got my deal worked out. I know she’s [Averey] got her deal and her relationships, but I’ve gotta stick to my guns. I do not want to fold.”
“I had my reasons behind it,” Raines continued, “and unfortunately it didn’t work out. I should’ve known better when I saw it was a puzzle set up. I gotta live with that.”
Raines, who made his MTV debut on “The Real World” Season 30 in 2014, said he “felt so good” heading into this milestone season of “The Challenge.”
“Short-lived, but I felt like I was doing good up to that point,” he shared. “I felt very confident moving forward in the season. Unfortunately, I made a boneheaded move and I exited early.”
“I’m trying my best not to kick myself,” the dad of two added. “It’s gonna hurt having to relive it and all the backlash.”
During the episode, Tressler and some of the other contestants slammed Raines for going against her nomination choice. They said Raines was acting like an arrogant man and trying to steamroll a woman.
When told of the comments about him, Raines said, “I think that’s unfair. I could say the same thing about her.”
“She’s trying to steamroll me. She’s trying to push me to do what she wants. She’s trying to be this over-aggressive… it’s the same thing,” the reality star noted. “What’s the difference if I’m taking a stance or if you’re taking a stance? Why should I have to fold to you? Because you’re a woman? No.”
He went on, “You shouldn’t have to fold to me because I’m a man. We’re taking gender out of it. We’re Challengers out there. Not once do I remember to where I was like, ‘You’re gonna do what I say.’ That’s not even my character.”
Raines also revealed the unseen interaction he had with Tressler after their respective loss and win in the elimination arena.
“I was very proud of her, coming out of the elimination. I told her, ‘That was a great job.’ And she told me, ‘Go eat a d–k.’”
“And maybe I deserved that,” Raines added. “I’d love to have a conversation with her one day and hash it out. If apologies are needed then apologies are needed.”
“The Challenge: Battle of the Eras” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.
