Tonight’s on NBC American Ninja Warrior airs with an all-new Monday, July 14, 2025, season 17 episode 7 and we have your American Ninja Warrior recap below!
In tonights American Ninja Warrior season 17 episode 7 called, “Semifinals 1,” as per the NBC synopsis, “The semifinals begin in Las Vegas where the ninjas will take on a longer course featuring 10 iconic obstacles from the past. The fastest will advance to the National Finals and compete in head-to-head races.”
Tonight’s episode looks like it is going to be a great season 17, so be sure to tune in for our coverage of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior at 8 PM – 10 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!
American Ninja Warrior recap, it was night one of the Semifinals! The course was longer tonight. It went from six to ten obstacles. The Semifinals helps prep the ninjas for the end and so it was not an easy night for many.
Especially now that they brought back classic obstacles. The first ninja of the night was William “the Spartan” Brown. He was given that nickname because he loved to dress up as a character from his favorite movie, “300”. He retired for a bit. He was back now after ten years. He was still in great shape. He remained the Spartan.
Tonight wasn’t merely about skill. It also was about endurance. The ninjas mostly train for the first six obstacles. The second half of the course was daunting and the Spartan was out on the old Cannonball Alley.
Next up was Caitlyn Bergstrom-Wright. She was from the famous ninja family. Her husband was also a ninja. He was running later. Even her sister-in-law usually runs the course. She just had a baby and will be sitting out this season only will probably be back soon. Caitlyn in the meantime tried to carry on the Bergstrom legacy alongside her brother.
Caitlyn went as far as Cannonball Alley when she too fell. It was a very difficult obstacle. They took it out of circulation because it was too hard and they were bringing it back now for nostalgia.
She was followed by Enzo DeFerrari Wilson. He was known as “Electric Enzo”. He and his family just took up line-dancing. They really enjoy it. Enzo started dancing his way into his run tonight. He too had no problem with the first half of the course. It was the second half that had everyone worried. There was no need because Enzo was the first to pass Cannonball Alley.
He surpassed Doorknock Arch. He then had to climb up the Invisible Ladder. The last one took the most energy out of him. He knew he couldn’t make the climb and he had to drop.
He was very disappointed, but he made it further than anyone before him. RJ Roman was up next. The Rocker was known for his speed through the course. Can he maintain that speed on such a difficult course tonight? Many were wondering that same thing at the start. The hosts were even saying that RJ might have to pace himself tonight. And that was the hardest thing to do for him.
might have to pace himself tonight. And that was the hardest thing to do for him.
RJ surprised everyone when he easily sailed through the course. This included some of majority of the back half. It was the Invisible Ladder that got him. He was making the climb. He was using up too much energy and he was so close to the buzzer. It wasn’t fair. He just couldn’t make the reach. He went out like Enzo. He was followed by Isaiah Thomas. The Flyboy has been preparing for this since he was a kid. He was another speed demon and he actually beat RJ’s time to the second half as well as to the Invisible Ladder.
The Invisible Ladder puts so much stress on the arms. They’re basically carrying their own body up by the arms and it looked like it would take the Flyboy out too. Only he did what RJ didn’t. He used his legs to anchor himself up onto the platform. His arms wouldn’t have been able to carry him alone. His legs saved the day and he became the first finisher of the night. He also showed everyone behind him how to do it. If only they can repeat his success of making it that far. There were some during the commercial break that were out on the first half.
Karsten Williams was up next. The Big Cat was given the nickname for being tall and muscular. He remains a formidable ninja in spite being big. Things started going wrong when he hit his head on the Battering Ram. He injured his eye. It was swelling up while he was on the course. He was going to have a black eye from that one. Still, the Big Cat fought on. He made it to Doorknock Arch when he was dismounting and fell. It might have been the issue with his eye. He might have thought he cleared it when he didn’t.
What matters was whether or not he made it far enough fast enough. He almost made it to the last obstacle and has a good chance of advancing now. Up next was Isabella Folsom. She was formerly a Wakeham. She usually runs the course the same time as her brother and now she was running and training with her brand new husband. They got married this summer. Their reception was right outside of the barn where they train for the show. They were able to pay for the whole wedding by winning the couples’ tournament earlier this year.
Isabella’s training may have changed, but she was the first woman to attempt Doorknock Arch. She surpassed it and she climbed the Invisible Ladder. She perhaps had the easiest time of it on the worst obstacle of the night. She didn’t seem like she was struggling at all. She easily climbed up and became the second finisher of the night. She now stand amongst the greats after tonight. Her husband was also able to become a finisher tonight. And now they were the first couple to hit a buzzer in the Semifinals together.
Kyle Soderman soon had his turn on the course. He was a fan favorite. He seemed fine during the first half. He was making his way through the second half when the Invisible Ladder just knocked him back for six. You could see by the look on his face that he was struggling. He still made it to the tenth obstacle though. There’s a chance he still advances after tonight. Speed will be the great determinator now that three have hit a buzzer and the night was almost over. Babyface Kaden Forsha went next.
Kaden got interested in rock climbing when he was a kid. They did it as a family. He loves rock climbing at the gym with his grandparents. His grandparents showed that age was just a number. They were already in their 70s and had no interest in slowing down. They taught Kaden to be just like them. He was normally a chatterbox. He couldn’t do that tonight because he had the second half of the course to deal with. The kid was young and still he made surpassing the back half look easy. He had the easiest time on the Invisible Ladder. He doesn’t have muscles only he did have speed.
Kaden became another finisher. Caitlyn’s husband also became a finisher during the commercial break. The Cake Ninja was back. His brother-in-law on the other hand couldn’t make that final climb. Then came Jessie Graff. She was a stuntwoman in life and a superhero in hearts. She’s also never hit a buzzer in the Semifinals. She’s usually right before. She wanted to change that tonight. She didn’t try for speed. She tried for consistency. It unfortunately couldn’t contend with her personal curse and she was out on Cannonball Alley.
During another commercial break, Daniel Gil hit another buzzer. Nacssa Garemore was up next when the show returned. He went on to many stages several times. He was another speed demon. His runs always look effortless. He was flawless in his choices and he was a little slow on the dismount from Cannonball Alley. He took an extra second. It was only notable because they’ve never seen him do that before. Nacssa still carried on. He went on to hit a buzzer and he had the fastest run of the night.
The final athlete of the night wanted to see if he could top that. Elijah “the Boss” Browning was another speed demon. The Boss has started so many businesses that the young Entrepreneur has been living well for a while now, but he never forgot about ANW. He’s a three-time national finalist. He made all the wall to the Invisible Ladder when he was navigating his legs and his arms just gave out. It was a huge disappointment for him. He was clearly heartbroken.
And despite the suffering, there was some good news because Nacssa got to keep the fastest time of the night.
THE END!
