A Florida contestant on Wheel of Fortune experienced a heartbreaking near-miss after coming just one phrase away from a massive Bonus Round win. Corrina Bain, a flight attendant from Fort Lauderdale, had built an impressive lead and was poised to walk away with as much as $61,000. However, a deceptively simple puzzle stopped her short, creating one of those moments that left both viewers and the studio audience visibly deflated. The episode, originally aired on October 17, 2024, resurfaced during a June 26 rebroadcast, reigniting reactions online.

Bain’s game began strongly. She quickly solved the opening toss-up and secured $15,050 early, setting the tone for the night. She continued her momentum by solving another puzzle and maintaining control of the board. Competitor Heather Leinen, a cheese tester from Wisconsin, briefly closed the gap after winning the Prize Puzzle and a trip to Hawaii, while Zack Tedder from Texas stayed competitive with a late solve. Even so, Bain remained the top earner heading into the final round.

Entering the Bonus Round with $21,800, Bain faced the “Phrase” category as her family and boyfriend cheered from the audience. After selecting additional letters, the board revealed a partial puzzle ending in “IN THE D_ _.” With just 10 seconds to respond, Bain hesitated before guessing, “Made in the Day,” narrowly missing the correct answer.

The solution—“Back in the Day”—prompted an audible groan from the audience and sympathetic words from host Ryan Seacrest. The miss cost Bain a $40,000 prize, though fans praised her strong gameplay. Social media quickly filled with comments calling the moment “painful” and “brutal.” Despite the loss, Bain walked away with $21,800 and a memorable Wheel of Fortune moment fans won’t soon forget.