It was a tough break on Wheel of Fortune Tuesday night, as one contestant came painfully close to a major payday — only to watch it slip away in the final seconds.
Returning champion Raul Lopez entered the April 7 episode with momentum after banking $18,109 the previous night. The College Station, Texas native was hoping to extend his winning streak, but he faced stiff competition from Ben Johnson of Colorado Springs and Karen Stevenson of Joliet.
Early on, Johnson — a pastor who enjoys swing dancing with his wife — grabbed the first toss-up puzzle. Lopez quickly responded by solving the next one, keeping the game tight. Stevenson then found her rhythm, correctly answering a puzzle in the “You Can’t Beat The Price!” category and earning $1,350 along with a valuable Wild Card.
But luck can turn fast on the iconic spinning wheel. Stevenson’s Wild Card disappeared when she landed on Bankrupt in the following round. Meanwhile, Johnson hit the Mystery wedge, which carried a potential $10,000 bonus, but he couldn’t capitalize. Stevenson surged ahead again by solving a crossword-style puzzle under the category “American ___,” securing a trip prize that boosted her total significantly.
Lopez had a chance to regain control but stumbled after repeating a letter, handing the turn back. Stevenson took full advantage, quickly solving “See You Later, Alligator” and adding a trip to Mexico to her growing winnings.
As the game progressed, all three contestants chipped in during the Triple Toss-Ups, each earning additional cash. But Stevenson sealed her victory by solving the final puzzle, “High School Gym Teacher,” bringing her total to $33,934 and punching her ticket to the Bonus Round.
Johnson walked away with $3,000, while Lopez exited with $4,000 for the night, finishing his run with a respectable $22,109 across two episodesIn the Bonus Round, Stevenson chose the category “Person” and was joined by her sister, who helps care for their 109-year-old grandmother. After receiving the standard letters — R, S, T, L, N, and E — she selected M, P, D, and A to complete the puzzle.
The board revealed a challenging phrase: “A _ _MAN D NAM.”
As the clock ticked down, Stevenson guessed “A Woman Dynamite,” but it wasn’t correct. The right answer — “A Human Dynamo” — appeared moments later, triggering an audible sigh from the contestant.
The loss was especially painful when the envelope revealed what could have been a $55,000 prize, which would have brought her total winnings to a staggering $88,934.
Fans at home didn’t hold back their reactions. Many took to social media, saying the puzzle seemed straightforward and expressing disbelief that it wasn’t solved in time. Some admitted they were shouting the correct answer at their screens as the countdown played out.
Despite the near miss, Stevenson will return for another shot, hoping to turn heartbreak into a comeback on the next episode.
