“Wheel of Fortune” delivered another rollercoaster episode this week, ending with missed opportunities, frustrated viewers, and a bonus round that once again proved how unforgiving the final puzzle can be.
Rainey Dorbor of Tempe, Arizona, came out strong early, securing the opening toss-up and setting the tone as a competitive player. She described herself as someone who enjoys home cooking and reality television, but her gameplay quickly became the main talking point of the night.
She faced off against Amanda Schlefman of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Ryan Robinson of Michigan City, Indiana. Robinson, who enjoys beach days with his spouse and pets, grabbed the second toss-up, keeping the game tightly contested.
Momentum shifted rapidly in the opening rounds. Schlefman, who is expecting a child and even has a “Wheel of Fortune”-themed baby celebration planned, solved an early puzzle and picked up the Wild Card, briefly putting herself in a strong position.
But the advantage didn’t last long. A costly Bankrupt spin wiped out her Wild Card, and shortly after, Dorbor also ran into misfortune when she hit Bankrupt while holding the Mystery Wedge. The result was a chaotic stretch where control of the board changed hands repeatedly and several near-solves slipped away.
Dorbor eventually regained her footing in a big way. With just a handful of letters remaining, she correctly solved the “Bon Appétit” themed puzzle featuring words like “Dune,” “Nibble,” “Gulp,” and “Gobble,” giving her a lead at $3,750.
The move, however, sparked immediate debate online. Some viewers questioned why she didn’t risk another spin when only a few letters remained. Others argued she likely chose caution over another potential Bankrupt after a turbulent round.
The pace picked up again in the Prize Puzzle round. Robinson seized control with the correct solution to “Pack A Portable Power Bank,” which also earned him a trip to Costa Rica and pushed him into the lead heading into the final stretch.
From there, Robinson continued consistency, adding momentum through the Triple Toss-Ups and ultimately entering the Bonus Round as the night’s frontrunner.
Schlefman closed her game with $4,450, Dorbor finished at $5,750, and Robinson advanced with $13,749.
In the Bonus Round, Robinson selected the “Person” category and was joined by his husband for support. After receiving the standard letters—R, S, T, L, N, and E—he chose D, P, M, and O to complete the board.
The puzzle appeared as “_ _ LD PROD _ _,” a difficult configuration under the time pressure of the final round. Despite multiple guesses, Robinson couldn’t crack it before the clock expired.
The correct answer was revealed as “Child Prodigy,” costing him a BMW Z4 that was in the envelope.
The episode left viewers split between sympathy and disbelief, especially after several strong performances throughout the night ultimately came down to one final, elusive phrase.
