If you tuned into CBS back in 2014 for the 25th installment of The Amazing Race, you probably remember the "Wrestlers." Robbie E and Brooke Adams didn't exactly walk onto the mat as the brainy favorites. Honestly, most people pegged them as the loud, high-energy "villains" who would burn out by the third leg. Instead, they became one of the most polarizing and entertaining teams in the show's history.
Basically, they defied every expectation.
They weren't just muscle-bound characters from TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling). They were actually savvy racers when it mattered, even if their navigation skills were, well, less than stellar. The Robbie and Brooke Amazing Race run is still a frequent topic in fan forums because of how it ended—a twist that felt like a low blow from a steel chair.
The Reality of the "Dating Pro Wrestlers"
When the cast was first announced, Robbie Strauss (Robbie E) and Brooke Adams were billed as "Dating Pro Wrestlers." At the time, they were staples on Impact Wrestling. Robbie had a "Jersey Shore" inspired gimmick—think spray tans and fist-pumping—while Brooke was a three-time Knockouts Champion.
But here is the thing: their relationship was complicated.
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Fans later found out they actually split up before the production even finished. If you re-watch the season, you can kinda see the cracks. They bickered. A lot. But unlike other teams that crumble under pressure, Brooke and Robbie’s conflict seemed to give them a weird sort of momentum. They’d scream, vent, and then just get back to the task.
A Performance Nobody Expected
Most people thought the "Dentists" (Jim and Misti) or the "Scientists" (Amy and Maya) would steamroll everyone. For a while, that was true. But Brooke and Robbie had this strange underdog energy.
- The Philippines Turnaround: They were in the bottom of the pack for ages. Then, in the penultimate leg in the Philippines, they did the impossible. They started in last place, finished a Speed Bump (which usually dooms a team), and somehow managed to arrive at the Pit Stop in first place.
- No Prize for First: Here is a bit of trivia that still bugs fans. Usually, winning a leg gets you a trip or a cash prize. Because this was a "keep on racing" twist leading into the finale, they got nothing. No vacation to Fiji. No five-figure check. Just a "keep going" from Phil Keoghan.
- The LA Disaster: They made it to the final four. In most seasons, that means you're in the finale. But Season 25 introduced a mid-leg elimination in Los Angeles.
What Really Happened in Los Angeles?
The end of the Robbie and Brooke Amazing Race journey was heartbreaking for their supporters. After surviving eleven legs across the globe, they got lost in a place where they actually spoke the language.
They were trying to find City Hall in Los Angeles. Brooke later admitted in interviews that they took directions from someone at a ship near the port who gave them the exact opposite of where they needed to go. They ended up driving the wrong way on the freeway while the other three teams—the Scientists, the Surfers, and the Dentists—pulled ahead.
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By the time they reached the Southwest Marine Warehouse, Phil was standing there.
He didn't have a mat. He just told them they were eliminated. They didn't even get to attempt the final Roadblock. It was a brutal way to go out, especially since they’d just won the previous leg. Brooke was visibly crushed, and even the usually "on" Robbie sounded like his voice was cracking. They finished in 4th place, just miles away from the finish line.
The Aftermath: Life After the Mat
If you’re wondering where they are now, they’ve both moved on to very different chapters.
Robbie E eventually made the jump to WWE. You might know him now as Robert Stone, the bumbling but hilarious manager in NXT. He actually married his ex-wife, Tara Sue, shortly after the race ended. It turns out that while he was racing around the world with Brooke, he realized he still had feelings for Tara. They now have twins and seem super happy.
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Brooke Adams left the wrestling world for a while and focused on being a mom. She appeared on the TLC show Rattled in 2017, which documented her journey into motherhood. She got married in 2023 and has largely stepped away from the spotlight to focus on her family in Texas.
Why Their Legacy Still Matters
The Robbie and Brooke Amazing Race stint proved that personality carries a season. They weren't the fastest or the smartest, but they were the most "human." They made mistakes, they were loud, and they showed that two people who are technically breaking up can still work together to beat some of the most elite competitors the show has ever seen.
What You Can Learn from the Wrestlers
- Momentum is fragile: You can win one day and be out the next. Don't get comfortable.
- Direction is everything: In the race (and life), working hard doesn't matter if you're driving in the wrong direction. Double-check your map.
- Handle the "No Prize" moments: Sometimes you do the work and don't get the immediate reward. Keep moving anyway.
If you're looking to dive deeper into TAR history, go back and watch the Philippines leg of Season 25. It's arguably the best comeback in the show’s run. You can find most old seasons streaming on Paramount+ or Hulu if you want to see the "Asstastic" wrestling moves and the frantic LA driving for yourself.
Check out the official Amazing Race social media archives for behind-the-scenes clips of their elimination—it's way more emotional than what actually made the final edit.