“Wheel of Fortune” viewers know the heartbreak of watching contestants lose big in the bonus round — and this week delivered another moment fans won’t soon forget. A returning puzzle, one that die-hard watchers say has already crushed a six-figure win in the past, once again left audiences groaning as contestant Greg Swiszcz missed out on a brand-new Toyota RAV4.
Swiszcz fought his way through the night with grit, snagging an early lead and building momentum as the game progressed. After tripling his first Toss-Up earnings, he crossed the $2,000 mark before most players even settle in. He later dominated the Triple Toss-Up, solving two out of three puzzles and widening the gap in the Speed-Up round. By the time the main game wrapped, he had secured $12,400 and a well-earned spot in the finale.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
With victory in sight, Swiszcz picked the “Phrase” category for his bonus puzzle and walked to center stage alongside host Ryan Seacrest. His son, Hudson, joined him for support — and even jokingly challenged his dad to bring home the win. After a spin of the bonus wheel, Greg claimed his golden envelope and prepared for the final showdown.
The board revealed a short, three-word phrase. The standard provided letters — R, S, T, L, N, and E — filled in their usual spots before Swiszcz added his choices: C, D, H, and A. Only the “A” landed.
What appeared on the board was:
_ A _ T _ T _ _ T
Show host Ryan Seacrest and contestant Greg Swiszcz in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
As the ten-second countdown began, Swiszcz managed to decipher the final word but couldn’t lock in the first one. He threw out guesses rapidly — “Fact It Out,” “Pact It Out,” “Pout It Out” — but none hit the mark. When time expired, Seacrest gently pointed out that Greg had been circling the right idea. The correct answer: “Wait It Out.”
The moment the solution was revealed, Swiszcz visibly deflated. He kept his eyes closed as Seacrest prepared to unveil the contents of the envelope. His son looked first. Then Greg saw it: he had just missed winning a Toyota RAV4.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Fans at home felt the sting right along with him.
“I totally blanked on this one,” one viewer admitted in a YouTube comment. Another remarked that Swiszcz made solid letter choices but desperately needed a “W.” One frustrated fan added, “That’s twice now the Toyota didn’t get given away.”
Show host Ryan Seacrest and contestant Greg Swiszcz in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Longtime watchers quickly noticed something else — the puzzle wasn’t new. Several fans pointed out that the exact phrase had been used in Season 20, a moment notorious for costing another contestant a $100,000 payday. One commenter summed up the déjà vu perfectly: “This feels like October 2010 all over again. The bonus round keeps landing on the car, and the wins and losses are like a seesaw.”
Though Swiszcz walked away with cash, viewers couldn’t help but feel he narrowly missed a life-changing moment. And as for that elusive RAV4? It remains unclaimed — once again.
