Tonight’s on NBC American Ninja Warrior airs with an all-new Monday, August 24, 2026, season 18 episode 12 and we have your American Ninja Warrior recap below!
In tonights American Ninja Warrior season 18 episode 12 called, “National Finals 3” as per the NBC synopsis, “The competition continues on the third night of the National Finals. The remaining ninjas from across the country face off in a series of races with the hopes of being crowned champion. ”
Tonight’s episode looks like it is going to be a great season 18, 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!
In tonight’s American Ninja Warrior episode, it was Night Three of the National Finals! The remaining finalists compete in the group stage. They all have to compete at least three times to dictate where they ended up in the group’s bracket. Evan White vs Taylor Greene was the first competition of the night.
They’ve competed against each other on ANW Junior. Now, Greene was working her way up to all time buzzers. She was at nine. The record to beat was ten. It was currently held by “Jesse Flex” LaBreck. Taylor had to beat it to tie and she ended up doing that tonight.
Evan rushed ahead. He remained ahead until his surprising fall. It happened just like it did on ANW Junior. He competed against Taylor three times in the past and only lost to her by rushing ahead.
He repeated that mistake tonight. He fell. Taylor quickly overtook his former position. She would’ve had the win no matter what and she chose to keep going because of that tenth buzzer. She hit it. She became tied with Jesse. She also has two more competitions left. Plenty of chances to overtake that record as she did to Evan’s game.
Next up was Deren Perez vs Weston Boswell. Deren travelled all the way from Guam to compete only Weston wasn’t without his challenges. He was allergic to so much that it was hard to eat.
He couldn’t really eat out. He has to make most of his own meals and its so unfair. There should be an unwritten rule that every person deserved at least one cheat day. The fact he didn’t get his was the true unfair part. These two were both great competitors. They were neck and neck at the start of their race.
It happened right before the Salmon Ladder. Weston just pulled out ahead. He gained a momentum that was hard to beat and soon hit another buzzer. Though Deren being neck and neck with a guy twenty years younger than him meant he was no slouch either. He merely had to switch to Weston’s diet plan for an added boost.
The next race was between John Mack and Brandon Singletary. Both men were brand new dads. They had kids after last season. Their babies were super cute. In spite of their sleepless nights, both had plenty of energy on the course.
John used his nearly foot more in height to dominate in the beginning. He made it to the obstacles quicker. He also took less steps than Brandon did. It put Brandon at a disadvantage until John fell. John fell on Hourglass Drop.
It was considered the scourge of the National Finals. It took out John. Brandon then learned from his mistake and did much better. He surpassed the obstacle. He hit his buzzer. Which was a big deal for him because Brandon doesn’t normally hit many buzzers. He ended up breaking his own personal curse tonight.
Aaron Deal vs Amir Malik was the next race. Aaron was given the nickname of “the Big Deal” back on ANW Junior. Akbar gave him that nickname and Aaron has been living up to it ever since.
Tonight however wasn’t his night. He was in the lead right up until Amir came up behind him. Amir found his footing on the course. He sped past Aaron. He was steady, quick and he hit a buzzer with a clear determination. Aaron fell after that. Maybe he fell because he figured what’s the point at that part. Who knows? The Big Deal was defeated.
Next up was Taylor Green vs Deren Perez. It was the second race for both. Deren didn’t win the last one. It made him even more determined to win this one.
He was faster than Taylor though it should be noted Taylor wasn’t known for her speed. She was being precise. She was the steady wins the race kind of woman.
Deren just had to make it to the end to claim the win and unfortunately his knee buckled at the worst possible time. It happened on Hourglass Drop. His knee gave out after the big drop and he fell.
Taylor knew what to expect. She relaxed. She defeated the drop and she gained a record for herself. She was no longer tied with anyone after that second buzzer of the night. She was officially the record holder for most buzzers for a woman on American Ninja Warrior ever. She defeated a legacy tonight. The next race was between Charlie Ball and Aaron Deal. They were the same age. They were about the same height. It was a little funny that fell on the same obstacle. They were neck and neck before Charlie pulled out a little ahead.
Charlie made it to the Hourglass Drop where he fell. Aaron then made it to the same obstacle only to fall as well. Neither got a buzzer. The win was then handed to Charlie. He got to the obstacle first and the rule was furthest fastest. Now, this next race was the closest race of the night. Amir Malik was given the nickname of Sonic. He didn’t like it after last season because he felt he let it down. He got defeated in a race because he spent too much time focused on what the opponent was doing and that cost him valuable time.
Well, the same proved to be true of tonight. He won his first race. He then let it all fall with his second against Colton Skuster. He began paying attention to his opponent again. He did that even as they were both on the same obstacle. Who knows what would’ve happened if he just kept going instead stopping to look at someone else. He was a few seconds behind to the buzzer. Those few seconds gave the win to Colton. Colton rightly deserved win because he stayed focused on his own game.
The Papal Ninja was naturally a great ninja. He earnt his own nickname so he’s been doing this long enough to know don’t jump ahead unless you’re absolutely sure. Yet, he broke that rule tonight. Sean Bryant went up against John Mack. Sean was up ahead. He was leaving John practically in his dust. Then the Salmon Ladder. The Salmon Ladder can be a tricky beast. It was doubly so for those rushing ahead. Sean already had the time. He just wanted to be faster and that cost him this race because he took a surprising fall on the Salmon Ladder tonight.
John didn’t fall. He kept going. He defeated the obstacle that defeated his first televised competition of the night and he hit another buzzer. Aaron Deal soon hit his first in his race against Colton Skuster. Colton was older and bulkier. He just wasn’t as fast as the Big Deal. Yes, the Big Deal finally made a triumphant return to center stage. He soon raced ahead all the way to the finishing line. He got that buzzer. He was at one out of three. It wasn’t too bad. Its not everyone that could be as fortunate as freaking Taylor Greene.
Taylor was up against Weston Boswell for the next race. Weston was quick too. He raced out ahead. He was going way too fast because he ended up falling and that was literally the third time that has happened to her. She steadily hit another buzzer afterwards showing her brand works. It doesn’t work everyone, but it definitely works for her. Her nemesis also went on to win against Deren Perez. He was still out of the race because he hadn’t won enough races of the night so the match up next season should be even more epic.
Then along comes a new bunch. Up first of the new bunch was Jay Lache vs Ashton Myler. Both were speed demons. They weren’t as fast as the Flyboy because pretty sure no one is as fast as him. They were still pretty good though. They were at each other necks throughout most of the race when a stumble on one obstacle cost Ashton valuable time. He didn’t fall. He merely stumbled. It cost him the race that ended up going to Jay by a few seconds. The Flyboy then had his race. Isaiah Thomas vs Max Feinberg.
Max was fast too. Was he as fast as the Flyboy? We’ll never know tonight because Isaiah fell on an obstacle and Max went on to hit a buzzer. Next year should be good though. Elijah Browning then went ahead and won his race against Weston Boswell. They were evenly matched for most of it so all fair in love and ninja. Donovan Meteyor vs Josiah Pippel was another good one. Donovan was keeping things classy as always in his three piece suit. He looked amazing. He fell on the last obstacle and it was okay because he knew that Josiah had gotten to it before he did. Josiah hit another buzzer.
Isabella Folsom vs Luke Beckstrand. They were both from prominent ninja families. Only there was no stopping Luke. Luke raced out ahead and held the momentum all the way to the finishing line. He was a Beckstrand. He was always going to get that buzzer. Isabella didn’t move as fast as he did. It was okay for her because she already clinched her spot in the next Women’s Championship. The next race was between Daniell Gill and Max Salebra. It resulted with one of the most shocking falls of all time.
What happened Daniel? Daniel was moving slower than he normally does. Is he injured? Does want to fake an injury after losing to Max tonight because maybe he should?! Max was the little kid compared to him. He sailed ahead and hit another buzzer. Daniel’s season was over. The same surprisingly was said of Noah Meunier. Noah raced against Nacssa Garemore. There aren’t many as good as Nacssa and yet Noah had been one of them until he fell tonight. He fell. And Nacssa continued on sailing to the buzzer.
The last race of the night was between Kai Beckstrand and Jackson Erdos. The race probably would’ve always went to Kai. He was fast, but Jackson’s fall didn’t help. Erdos has next season and tonight proved this heavy weight match up was far from over.
THE END!
