Multiple 'Wheel of Fortune' Contestants Lose Major Prizes on Recent Episodes

Several recent episodes of "Wheel of Fortune" have featured contestants facing challenging final puzzles that led to significant losses despite strong performances. Pia Wilson missed out on a $10,000 prize because she ran out of time after host Ryan Seacrest's on-air comments delayed her response, leading to fan frustration over the handling of the timer. Teryce Walters lost a potential $40,000 bonus round prize when she failed to solve a puzzle labeled under the "Event" category that many viewers felt was miscategorized, making it unfairly difficult. Navy veteran Billy Kendra came close to winning a Chevrolet Blazer but was stumped by a tricky two-word puzzle, drawing sympathy from fans for his near miss. Joe Ferroni dominated one episode with impressive winnings exceeding $60,000 but still missed out on an even bigger payday due to a tough final puzzle. Additionally, contestant Eric Handzel's father became a fan favorite for his infectious laughter during the show, though Handzel himself failed to solve his bonus round puzzle, highlighting the emotional highs and lows contestants experience on the game.