Tonight’s on NBC American Ninja Warrior airs with an all-new Monday, June 15, 2026, season 18 episode 2 and we have your American Ninja Warrior recap below!
In tonights American Ninja Warrior season 18 episode 2 called, “Western Regional Qualifying 2” as per the NBC synopsis, “The Western Regional Qualifying rounds continue in Las Vegas as ninjas compete for a spot in the all-new Regional Finals.
Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, along with co-host Zuri Hall, select their Fastest Pick of the Night.”
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 9 PM – 11 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, there obstacle course mostly stayed the same tonight. There were the Shrinking Steps, Roller Bags, Diamond Dash, Kite Surfer, Kaleidoscope, and the Warped Wall. The first ninja to run it was Mikey P. He runs the biggest ninja gym in the city. His students came out in droves to support him. His first run was more than ten seasons ago and he was looking good all the way up to the Kaleidoscope. He didn’t evenly displace his weight like he should’ve. He fell but he might still move on to the next round depending upon his timing.
Next up was Bennie Hesser. He’s a sixth generation cattle rancher. He was also new to the show. Bennie said that cattle ranching was a physically demanding job and that’s how he trained for the show. He could be right because he easily sailed through the course. He got as far as Kaleidoscope when he too fell. Last week, it was Kite Surfer knocking out people and now its Kaleidoscope this week. Those that were lucky to make it that far haven’t actually made it past it. And the commercial break was full of those.
Coming back it was a fresh face on the course. Her name is Praj Dela Cruz. She’s a rock climber. She’d even won some competitions back in the Philippines. Only she didn’t make it far tonight. She fell on Diamond Dash and so her chances of making it into the next round were very slim. She has time though. She was still a kid and she could keep working out. She might pass Diamond Dash next season for all anyone knows. Praj was then followed by Devin Herr. He was a dentist. He loved his job because he loved giving people back their confidence with their smile.
Devin also ran a family farm. He got it for his seven kids. He wanted them to be free to play on as much land as possible. He laughs that they could disappear for hours and that he doesn’t have to worry. This dental ninja was proved to be the first to break the Kaleidoscope curse. He actually made it past the obstacle. He got to the Warped Wall and his first run had been a letdown. Until he got it on his second try. Devin would later say that he was glad his kids got to see him fail and succeed all on the same night.
Zhanique Lovett soon had her run. She also shared some life-changing news tonight. Zhanique’s eldest daughter had a baby and now she’s grandma. Or Z-ma as she prefers. Zhanique didn’t look like a typical grandma with her muscles only that she was is now. She wanted to be the first grandma to hit a buzzer and she came close. Oh so close. She was another victim of the infamous Kaleidoscope. It took her down and odds are she’ll still be moving on. It just wouldn’t be with a buzzer tonight.
Next up was Talus Bunch. He was the first teenager from Alaska to come on ANW. He was trained by Nick Hanson himself. Nick has been doing everything he could to grow the sport and he came up with a competitive program to help teach kids from Alaska that anything was possible. He gave them hope. Now, Talus was showing off the hard work. He easily made it all the way to the fifth obstacle. Kaleidoscope. He then fell like most of the ninjas. Nick Hanson then had his own chance to see if he could beat the wicked obstacle.
Nick was taken out last season by the balance obstacle. He overcame that one tonight. The same goes for Kite Surfer that took him out in 2023. Nick called it redemption. Nick was an eleven time veteran. It didn’t stop him from also struggling on Kaleidoscope. It was looking iffy for a moment before he finally got past it. Nick went on to hit a buzzer on his first try. He still got it and his son watched his run from the sidelines. Its good to see him back again in the best shape. Up next was David Campbell.
Now David was special. He was the only athlete to complete in all eighteen seasons of ANW. It was his second year competing as a dad. He was known as the ANW’s Godfather. He was doing well all the way up to the Kaleidoscope. His arms gave out on the last piece and he fell. It was unfortunate, but odds are he’ll make it to the next round. Kieran Yuan followed him. He was another teenager. He’s a honor student who also happens to have two jobs. One of them was being a ranch hand. The other was being a meat slicer at a deli.
Nevermind his ninja training. He tries to get that in whenever he could or whenever his boss wasn’t looking. It paid off tonight. He didn’t hesitate when he came upon any obstacle. He just flew through them. He made it past the dreaded Kaleidoscope as well. He finished with the fastest time thus far of the night. He was given a chance at the Mega Wall to win an extra ten grand. He didn’t make it, but it was still impressive. He was followed by Luke Beckstrand. He was Akbar’s pick for fastest of the night. And it had looked like he’d win it.
Luke was moving so fast that he could’ve broken the record for the fastest run. There was just one issue. Sometimes going fast doesn’t mean you slow down to when you need to. He ended up being another casualty of Kaleidoscope. It really broke his heart and it’s good his family were there. They did their best to comfort him even while the loss stings. Luke thought this year he’d finally beat his brother, Kai. It didn’t happen tonight only there were plenty of stages left where he could shine. After him, there was Arnold Hernandez.
Arnold was back for eighth season. Only this time it was different because his father got to finally be there on the sidelines. His father taught him how to build and he create his own ninja gym. His dad couldn’t make it the previous seasons to see him run. He was there tonight. It was all that he needed to hit a buzzer. Its been a while since he done that and he owed his success to his dad. It was sweet to see this whole other side to him around his dad. He also didn’t get the fastest time because that went to someone else during the commercial break.
Next up was Mike’s pick for the fastest time. He chose Colton Skuster. He was a speed demon. He easily sailed through the course until he tripped up on the Warped Wall. He finished with a fast time rather than thee fastest time. He still had a chance at the Mega Wall. He didn’t make it up there, but he came close. Both Matt and Akbar’s picks were out. Zuri put her money on Kai Beckstrand who will run later. The next person to test the course was Payton Myler. She was a huge social media star. She was known for being one of the Ninja Kidz.
Well, they now put on live shows. They do a new one for the fans everyday on top of making contact for social media. Payton wanted to stand on her own tonight. She wanted to be more than just one of the Ninja Kidz. Or the younger sister of incredible ninjas. Her brother hit a buzzer during the commercial break. Payton wanted to stand on her own and she came awfully close to a buzzer tonight. She fell on Kaleidoscope. She made it far enough fast enough to make it into the next round. And that will count once the sting wears off.
Up next was Taylor Greene. She was a veteran with seven wins. She recently won the Women’s Championship. She was becoming one of the greats and she clinched that when she had hit her eighth buzzer tonight. There was going to be another Women’s Championship soon. Taylor might end up defeating Jessie “Flex” Lebreack’s winning streak before you know it. Zuri’s speed demon that went next. Kai Beckstrand also had some news for the ANW world. He’s engaged now. He was going to marry his girlfriend Lexee in the next few weeks.
The additional funds would come in handy for that wedding too. Kai was barely on the course when he got off it. He was that fast. He finished the course with the fastest time. He also defeated the Mega Wall for the fourth year in a row. He got an extra ten grand from that last one. And so the wedding plans are a go-go.
THE END!
