Friday night’s Wheel of Fortune left fans scratching their heads—not only because of a confusing puzzle but also due to a costly Bonus Round miss. The episode featured three contestants: Stephen Sporer from Minnesota, Christina White from California, and Megan Russell from West Virginia. Early rounds saw ups and downs, with all three hitting Bankrupt before Russell solved the first puzzle for $3,500.
Confusion erupted during the second puzzle, under the category “Event.” The answer revealed was “Seeing the green flash,” a phrase many viewers had never heard before. Social media lit up with fans asking what it meant. Fortunately, hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White later explained that the “green flash” is a rare optical phenomenon that sometimes appears as the sun sets, when a brief green light is visible above the horizon.
The game pressed on, with Christina White earning $9,000 and a trip to Aruba. But Sporer stole the spotlight in the later rounds, sweeping the Triple Toss-Ups and solving the final puzzle, “In the home stretch.” That victory secured his place in the Bonus Round with $35,000 already banked.
In the final challenge, Sporer faced the puzzle O N O _ R _ _ _. With letters added, the answer was “On Our Way.” Despite multiple tries, he failed to solve it—losing out on an additional $40,000. Fans were stunned, many claiming they solved it instantly. Still, Sporer walked away with a solid $35,000 prize.