‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Groans in Horror After Losing Luxury Car

A Wheel of Fortune contestant groaned in frustration after missing out on a brand new car in a tricky Bonus Round. But still, she managed to walk away with more than $20,000 cash and a luxury trip.

Wanda Ruff, from Chicago, played against Joyce Underwood, from Broadview, Illinois, and Terri Houston, from North Riverside, Illinois, on the episode which re-aired on August 29. It was originally broadcast on May 16. The show ended Bragging Rights week, which had friends competing against each other instead of strangers.

Ruff won the game with $21,398 and a trip to Portugal. Houston left with $7,700. Underwood was in last with $2,000. This meant that Ruff advanced to the Bonus Round, where she chose “Thing.”

After being given “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” she chose “H,C,D, and A.” Her puzzle then looked like “A  _ATCH  _ _  TH_C_  _ _ _.”

When the timer counted down, Ruff guessed “A patch of thick…,” but couldn’t get the last word. “A match of thick, a watch of thick…”

“You were on to something there,” host Ryan Seacrest said. The puzzle was revealed to be “A PATCH OF THICK FOG.”

Seacrest showed Ruff the envelope, which had “Mercedes Benz” in it. Ruff turned around and groaned loudly. She threw her hands up and shook them to the sky. The audience let out a low “Oooo.”