A Near Miss in the Bonus Round
A Wheel of Fortune contestant left viewers groaning after a painful near-win. She came close to driving home a brand-new Mercedes-Benz during the Bonus Round. Instead, she missed the puzzle by inches. Still, she didn’t leave empty-handed. She secured a large cash prize and an unforgettable vacation.
The episode first aired on May 16 and re-aired on August 29. It also closed out the show’s special Bragging Rights Week, where friends compete against each other rather than strangers.
The Big Winner of the Night
Chicago native Wanda Ruff battled Joyce Underwood of Broadview and Terri Houston from North Riverside. The competition stayed tight. However, Ruff pulled ahead in the end.
She won $21,398 in cash and a dream trip to Portugal. Houston finished with $7,700. Underwood ended the night with $2,000.
With the top spot secured, Ruff advanced to the highly anticipated Bonus Round. The category? “Thing.”
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel Of Fortune/Youtube
The Puzzle That Cost a Car
Next, the board revealed the standard letters: R, S, T, L, N, E. Ruff then chose H, C, D, and A. The puzzle appeared:
“A ATCH _ _ TH_C _ _ _.”
As the 10-second clock started, Ruff jumped in.
“A patch of thick…” she said, searching for the final word.
She tried again.
“A match of thick… a watch of thick…”
Time expired.
The correct answer was “A PATCH OF THICK FOG.”
The Mercedes Reveal
Host Ryan Seacrest opened the prize envelope. Inside sat a brand-new Mercedes-Benz. Ruff groaned loudly. She threw her hands up and stared at the ceiling in disbelief. The audience gasped.
Still, Seacrest quickly reassured her.
“You shouldn’t be disappointed,” he said with a smile. After all, she was heading home with over $21,000 and a luxury vacation.
Fans React Online
Soon after, viewers flooded social media with reactions.
“BEST CONTESTANTS EVER!!” one fan wrote on YouTube. They praised the group’s energy and even suggested Ruff return if the show brings back fan favorites.
Others focused on the puzzle itself.
“These puzzles are becoming unclear and hard to solve!” one viewer complained.
Another offered a warning:
“Never pick ‘Thing’ as a category. It’s way too vague.”
One fan summed it up bluntly:
“I wouldn’t have gotten that at all. That feels more like a phrase than a thing.”
