A Wheel of Fortune contestant left viewers groaning after coming painfully close to winning a brand-new Mercedes-Benz during the Bonus Round. Despite the heartbreaking loss, she still walked away with a hefty cash prize and an unforgettable vacation.The episode, which originally aired on May 16 but re-aired on August 29, wrapped up the game show’s special Bragging Rights Week—a twist where friends compete against each other instead of strangers.
The Big Winner of the Night
Chicago’s Wanda Ruff faced off against Joyce Underwood of Broadview and Terri Houston from North Riverside in a heated matchup. In the end, Ruff claimed victory with $21,398 in cash plus a dream trip to Portugal. Houston walked away with $7,700, while Underwood rounded out the night with $2,000.With the top spot secured, Ruff advanced to the highly anticipated Bonus Round, where the category was “Thing.”
The Puzzle That Cost a Car
After the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, E were revealed, Ruff selected H, C, D, and A as her additional picks. The board then displayed:
“A ATCH _ _ TH_C _ _ _.”
As the 10-second clock started ticking, Ruff gave it her all.“A patch of thick…” she began, struggling to find the last word.“A match of thick… a watch of thick…” she continued, but time ran out.The correct answer was “A PATCH OF THICK FOG.”
Host Ryan Seacrest revealed what was inside the prize envelope—a brand-new Mercedes-Benz. Ruff reacted with disbelief, throwing her hands up as the audience gasped.Seacrest offered encouragement, reminding her that she was still going home with over $21,000 in winnings and a luxury vacation.“You shouldn’t be disappointed,” he told her with a smile.
Fans Sound Off Online
After the episode aired, viewers quickly took to social media to share their reactions.“BEST CONTESTANTS EVER!! They were so fun & their laughs were contagious lol,” one fan wrote on YouTube, suggesting Ruff should return if the show ever brings back fan-favorite contestants.Others debated the difficulty of the puzzle.“These puzzles are becoming unclear and hard to solve!” one viewer complained.Another warned future contestants, “Never pick ‘Thing’ as a category. It’s way too vague—it could be anything!”One fan summed it up simply: “I wouldn’t have gotten that at all. That feels more like a phrase than a thing.”