‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Misses Car Prize After Tough Bonus Puzzle – Fans Say It Was Nearly Impossible
A recent episode of Wheel of Fortune had viewers talking after contestant Michael Soltis came within inches of winning a brand-new Jeep Wrangler, only to be stumped by a Bonus Round puzzle that many fans later called “one of the hardest in months.”
Michael, a longtime union carpenter from Pittsburgh, had a challenging start.
Fellow contestant Eimi Smith, a soccer fan from Austin, dominated the early rounds by sweeping both toss-ups and solving puzzles like “Accidentally on Purpose” and “Sleeping Bag of Tricks,” quickly building a strong lead.
But the momentum shifted in the Prize Puzzle round.
Michael grabbed a Wild Card and solved “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?,” earning a trip to Africa and pushing him ahead with more than $14,000.
He continued his streak by picking up two out of three triple toss-ups and solved the final puzzle “The Wild Wild West,” finishing regular gameplay with $20,240.
That placed him in the high-stakes Bonus Round.
Before the letters were revealed, Ryan Seacrest made light conversation about Michael’s dog — and the nerves were obvious.
Michael blanked on describing the breed, laughing through the moment as the pressure built.
Had he solved it, he would have won the night’s top prize — a Jeep Wrangler.
Could you have solved it before the buzzer?
