Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and ex-girlfriend Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola endured an awkward reunion on Thursday's episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation on MTV.
The season seven episode titled Jersey Hot Chicken Challenge opened with Ronnie, 38, and Sammi, 37, sitting at opposite ends of the table during a hot tenders eating contest organized by Paul 'DJ Pauly D' DelVecchio, 43.
Vinny Guadagnino, 36, nearly derailed Pauly's plan to ease the tension when he brought up the infamous note during the food contest and Sammi scolded him to stop.
Pauly relied on his backup plan and called for the restaurant's mascot chickens to come in and dance for them.
Ronnie and Pauly both tapped out as the food got too hot for them, but Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, 36, and Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 41, remained in the competition.
Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola endured an awkward reunion with her ex-boyfriend on Thursday's episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation on MTV
Pauly teased Ronnie for crying on his first day back as the spicy hot tenders made his eyes water. A montage showed Ronnie crying on previous group trips while getting emotional.
'Oh, my God, it hurts,' Ronnie said while wiping his tears away.
JWoww was determined to beat Mike and win the $1,000 prize and T-shirt, but they both lasted until the end and Pauly declared them co-champions.
'The reason why I picked this place is because we wouldn't be focused on the Ron and Sam stuff. Instead, everybody was focused on chicken and games and contests,' Pauly said in a confessional.
Angelina Pivarnick, 37, farted in the car on the ride back and it also helped ease the tension.
'Oh, my God, you just made my night,' said Sammi, who had been feuding with Angelina.
Mike ran to the bathroom and so did JWoww as the food eating competition caught up with them.
Vinny apologized to Sammi for bringing up the note and crossing a boundary.
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro joined the group in Nashville and saw Sammi again for the first time since their split in 2016
Vinny Guadagnino, 36, nearly derailed Pauly's plan to ease the tension when he brought up the infamous note during the food contest and Sammi scolded him to stop
Pauly relied on his backup plan and called for the restaurant's mascot chickens to come in and dance for them
Pauly teased Ronnie for crying on his first day back as the spicy hot tenders made his eyes water
'It's really nice that Vinny pulled me aside and took me into consideration. It was genuine, and I'm thankful for that,' Sammi said in a confessional.
Pauly in a confessional was proud of his plan.
'It's a lot less awkward right now with Sam and Ron. My plan worked because they're easing into each other. They're not talking or anything, but at least they're looking at each other. But there's still so many things that could go wrong,' Pauly told the camera.
Vinny and Pauly the next day checked on Sammi and she told them she was glad that she stayed and had fun.
'Vinny and Pauly are checking in on me to see how I'm doing. Like, it means a lot to me,' Sammi said in a confessional. 'Seeing Ron for the first time, it was weird.'
Sammi told Pauly and Vinny that she was glad it was over with and was looking forward to moving on from it.
'It's just somebody who I've X'd out of my life for a really long time. So that was the weird part,' Sammi said. 'But otherwise, there's no feelings. There's nothing there.'
'The reason why I picked this place is because we wouldn't be focused on the Ron and Sam stuff. Instead, everybody was focused on chicken and games and contests,' Pauly said in a confessional
Angelina Pivarnick, 37, farted in the car on the ride back and it also helped ease the tension.
Vinny apologized to Sammi for bringing up the note and crossing a boundary
'It's really nice that Vinny pulled me aside and took me into consideration. It was genuine, and I'm thankful for that,' Sammi said in a confessional
'It's just somebody who I've X'd out of my life for a really long time. So that was the weird part,' Sammi said. 'But otherwise, there's no feelings. There's nothing there'
Angelina asked Ron how it felt seeing Sammi again.
'You know, it had to happen,' Ronnie said. 'I'm glad it's over with.'
Ronnie said everyone was asking him how he felt.
'If I felt a certain way, you'd hear me talk about it and really bring it up,' Ronnie said.
Ronnie gave Angelina some advice and told her to not let everything in her life stress her out.
'You don't have to live in chaos everywhere, Ange. You go home, you live in chaos. You're going through things with your father, and your this person and that person. It's like, you need to, like, find some kind of peace,' Ronnie told her.
Angelina told Ronnie about her issues with Sammi and ultimately blamed Mike for causing problems.
Mike rallied from the restroom to defend himself and Angelina said that Sammi was trying to make a name for herself at her expense.
Angelina asked Ron how it felt seeing Sammi again
'You know, it had to happen,' Ronnie said. 'I'm glad it's over with'
Angelina told Ronnie about her issues with Sammi and ultimately blamed Mike for causing problems
Mike rallied from the restroom to defend himself
The guys instantly reacted to her remark and promised they wouldn't repeat it to Sammi.
Mike feared the girls wouldn't go on the next trip if they knew what Angelina said and promised to keep quiet about it.
The girls headed home while the guys spent another day in Nashville with Mike who was not feeling well enough to travel because of the food contest.
The guys had a GTL day in Nashville and Ronnie felt like he had to catch up after staying away from the show for two and a half years while working on himself.
They later went out to a steakhouse for dinner and Mike as usual ordered lots of food for the table.
They broke out a map and considered where they should all go next for their next family vacation.
'Luckily, this restaurant has children's menus with maps on the back. We were gonna use a globe, but Mike thinks the Earth is flat, so this is perfect,' Vinny quipped in a confessional.
Pauly tossed out Arizona and the guys decided that should be their next trip.
They texted the girls to let them know their decision.
The guys had a GTL day in Nashville that included a haircut for Vinny
Pauly tossed out Arizona and the guys decided that should be their next trip
'Luckily, this restaurant has children's menus with maps on the back. We were gonna use a globe, but Mike thinks the Earth is flat, so this is perfect,' Vinny quipped in a confessional
JWoww got a text from the guys telling them about their next trip destination
'We're going to Arizona. And Ron's in the group,' JWoww said after getting the text.
'I mean, Ron might be there. You don't care though, right?,' Sammi said to her boyfriend Justin May.
'Why do I feel like this is gonna be a very weird trip?,' Angelina said to her fiance Vinny Tortorella.
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation will return next week on MTV.
