Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestant misses out on $40,000 after failing to guess the last word in a puzzle (marketrealist.com)
“Wheel of Fortune” Kicks Off 2026 with Another Bonus Round Heartbreak, Fans Left Frustrated
“Wheel of Fortune” fans are starting the new year with a familiar feeling of disappointment, as contestant Maureen narrowly missed out on a $40,000 bonus prize in what viewers are calling an “easy” puzzle. The show, which saw a series of bonus round struggles in 2025, continued the trend with this latest miss.
Maureen, who had a strong showing throughout the main game, ultimately walked away with $18,000 after a crucial fumble in the bonus round. Her journey to the final round was impressive, accumulating her winnings through a series of smart solves.
She snagged $2,000 in the Second Toss-Up, added $4,000 in the Mystery Round by skillfully identifying four ‘N’s, and then correctly solved “Snowman in the front yard” to boost her total to $8,000. Maureen continued her winning streak by acing all three Triple Toss-Up puzzles, adding another $10,000 to her pot, bringing her total to a respectable $18,000.
However, the “Living Thing” category in the Bonus Round proved to be her undoing. Given the standard R, S, D, L, N, E, Maureen opted for D, G, C, A.
The board then displayed “A, _, _, L, D, _, R, N, C, _.” As the clock ticked down, Maureen appeared to be on the verge of solving it, muttering “A wild wrench.
A wild… A wild…
Oh.” Despite her proximity to the correct answer, “A Wild Bronco,” the final word eluded her.
The revelation of “A Wild Bronco” left Maureen visibly devastated at the loss of the $40,000 cash prize. Host Ryan Seacrest attempted to console her, saying, “It could have been a wild wrench.
But it was a wild bronco. Don’t be frustrated.”
Fans quickly took to social media to express their frustration, with many feeling the puzzle was straightforward. “@StarrtasiaJackson-jj4ou” lamented, “That is not a good way to start the year of 2026 if we don’t get a bonus round win or let alone break the losing streak tomorrow, it will be a skunked. Somebody’s gonna have to break the streak tomorrow.”
Another viewer, “@sy-kd6km,” highlighted a potential hint: “This year is the Year of the Horse, so “Bronco” was included in the puzzle. However, Maureen succumbed to the consonant “W” and the vowels “I” and “O.” It was a wild puzzle.”
The sentiment was echoed by “@myles-spikewebby8519,” who added, “Not a good bonus win to start 2026. We need a winner tomorrow or it’s gonna be skunked. Don’t give up!”
Maureen ultimately left with her $18,000 winnings, but the search for a bonus round winner to break the show’s recent streak of losses continues.