“‘DON’T SHOW ME…’ THEN RYAN SEACREST OPENED THE ENVELOPE ANYWAY—AND FANS THOUGHT THEY’D JUST SEEN THE MOST BRUTAL TWIST OF THE SEASON.” A Wheel of Fortune contestant came within one puzzle of driving home in a brand-new Toyota, but the real drama didn’t begin until the Bonus Round was over. Ryan Seacrest’s envelope reveal left viewers convinced—for a split second—that the contestant had just missed $100,000, sparking a wave of reactions online over what many called a shocking fake-out.

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Slam ‘Fake’ Ryan Seacrest After Patriots Fan Loses Car

'Wheel of Fortune' contestant Greg Swiszcz on November 19, 2025, Season 43
Wheel of Fortune/YouTube

A Patriots fan lost out on driving home in a new car on Wheel of Fortune. Fans slammed host Ryan Seacrest for “faking” them out with the envelope reveal.

Greg Swiszcz, from Las Vegas, Nevada, played against Ayana Powell, from Tallahassee, Florida, and Rylee Paige, from Mansfield, Texas, on Wednesday, November 20. Swiszcz is a huge Patriots fan who collects helmets, footballs, and signed memorabilia.

Wheel of Fortune' Fans Slam 'Fake' Ryan Seacrest After Patriots Fan Loses  Car

He solved both toss-ups, giving him $3,000. Swiszcz guessed most of the letters in the first puzzle, but when he guessed an incorrect letter, the turn moved to Powell, a Disney enthusiast, and she solved “Guards Forwards and Centers.” This gave her $1,650.

Paige, a hula hoop expert, jumped into the lead during the Mystery Round with $4,800 after solving “Knockout & Tropical Punch.” Powell also solved the Prize Puzzle — “Timeless Beauty” — for a trip to Vietnam. This gave her the lead with $9,116.

Swiszcz solved two of the three Triple Toss-Ups, giving him $4,000. Paige solved the third one for $2,000. Swiszcz solved the final puzzle right before the buzzer — “That’ll Do the Trick.” He took the lead with $12,400 and advanced to the Bonus Round.

Powell took home $9,116. Paige left with $6,800. Swiszcz chose “Phrase” for the Bonus Round.

He brought his son, Hudson, with him to the Bonus Round to cheer him on. After Wheel of Fortune gave him “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” Swiszcz chose “C, D,H, and A.”

Those letters didn’t help him much as his puzzle then looked like “_A_T  _T  _ _T.” “Something It Out,” he said as the time ran down. “Fact It Out,” “Pact It Out,” “Pout It Out.”

Swiszcz couldn’t figure out “Wait It Out.” He threw his head back in defeat.

“Ok, do you want to see this?” Ryan Seacrest asked.

“Nope,” the game show contestant joked.

“Ok. I don’t have to show you. I’ll show Hudson,” he replied.

Seacrest showed his son the envelope, which revealed that it had the Toyota in it. When the host showed Swiszcz, he went “Ahhh!”

Fans didn’t like that Seacrest “faked them out,” and they thought it was the $100,000 in the envelope. “Once again, I was shocked by Ryan. For a second, I thought it was the $100,000 envelope,” a YouTube user wrote. 

Same thing. I thought for sureit was $100,000, but nope. It was the Toyota,” another replied. 

“I don’t like that Ryan faked us out like that,” added a third.

Me too, I thought it was 100k, but thankfully it was not 100k, but at least it was an Automobile which is less painful than 100k,” a fan wrote. 

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