A recent episode of Wheel of Fortune sparked major online buzz after contestant Josh Post, a retired Coast Guard veteran from Magnolia, Texas, missed a Bonus Round puzzle many viewers considered one of the season’s easiest. Competing alongside U.S. Army veteran Aaron Graham and Marine veteran Arlene Kruser, Post entered the episode with strong energy and quickly became a standout player. Early rounds saw Graham solve “Great Courage” and Kruser take the lead with “Guessing Someone’s Age” and “Try Restarting Your Computer,” earning nearly $10,000. But Post soon began closing the gap, especially during the Crossword puzzle under the category “In My Desk,” where he claimed the Wild Card and solved “Food, Mousetrap, Pens, Staples,” boosting his total to $6,400.
His momentum continued when he correctly solved “Taking a Speed Boat Tour,” adding $3,200 and securing a luxury trip to Montenegro. That win pushed him into the lead with $18,573. The Triple Toss-Up round delivered extra excitement as Graham snagged two puzzles in the quirky “Absurd Bird” category while Kruser picked up another $2,000. Although Graham later solved “You Had to Be There,” it wasn’t enough to catch up. Kruser ended with $11,750, Graham with $11,000, and Post moved into the Bonus Round supported by his sister Melissa and niece Alexis.
With his Wild Card and the highest score, Post chose the category “People.” After revealing the standard letters plus his chosen “C, D, M, A, and Y,” the final puzzle appeared as “_ _ C E Y _ A N S.” As the clock ran down, he guessed “Juicy Fans,” leaving viewers stunned. Host Ryan Seacrest joked, “Some of the best fans are juicy,” before revealing the correct phrase: “Hockey Fans.” The missed solve cost him a heartbreaking $45,000.
Social media erupted immediately, with dozens of fans expressing disbelief. Comments ranged from “HOW DID YOU NOT GET THAT?” to “I solved it the moment those letters appeared.” One viewer added, “He must not follow sports,” while another wrote, “Those letters were perfect!” Despite the backlash, Post still walked away with over $18,500 and an unforgettable trip—yet the internet isn’t letting him forget the Bonus Round that slipped away.
