The Masked Singerseason 12 runner-up Wasp, who was revealed to be singer and actor Mario, was one of the best contestants in the history of the show, andhe deserved to win, but he was up against the unstoppable Buffalos, who were Boyz II Men, and they won the competition instead. Boyz II Men were extraordinary, and they deserved their win, but Mario was just as good.
ThroughoutThe Masked Singerseason 12, Mario blew away the panelists–Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora–and they gushed about his performances. Rita guessed him correctly, and Robin agreed with her, but Jenny thought he was Jason Derulo, while Ken theorized that he was Usher.Here’s why Mario deserved to winThe Masked Singerseason 12, and why he would have if he competed in any other season.
The Masked Singer Season 12’s Mario Was One Of The Best Singers To Ever Compete On The Show
Mario Is A Versatile Performer Who Can Sing Any Style
ThroughoutThe Masked Singerseason 12,Mario was a phenomenal performer who somehow got better and better with every week.He began his run on the show as Waspwith a fantastic version of “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake, which included incredible dance moves. The following week, he slowed it down on Barbie Night, singing an emotional rendition of Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper.”
During the Group B finals on ’60s Night,Mario once again went in a completely different directionwith his spectacular rendition of “Ain’t No Way” by Aretha Franklin, which featured his signature falsetto. Mario then competed against Goo in the Group B finals Battle Royale, during which he and Kobie Turner’s Goo both sang their own superb version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.
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Mario won the Battle Royale, and then advanced to the quarterfinals, during which he mesmerized everyone with his mind-blowing version of “Standing Next to You” by Jungkook, complete with an impressive dance routine. He then moved on to the semi-finals, in which he sang a chill-inducing version of “Beautiful Things,” which was so impressive that he was voted directly into the season finale, andhe didn’t have to compete in the Smack Royale.
DuringThe Masked Singerseason 12 finale, Mario wrapped up his journey on the show with two showstopping performances that showed his amazing range as an artist. He sang “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars and “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston. He went from a ballad to a song that allowed him to dance and display his star quality. After he was unmasked, he delighted his fans by singing his own hit song, “Let Me Love You.“In any other season, Mario would’ve easily walked away with Golden Mask Trophy, but, in this one, he was up against the legendary Boyz II Men.
Mario Won Every Masked Singer Round That He Competed In
Mario Even Beat Boyz II Men During The Semi-Finals
Another reason that Mario deserved to winThe Masked Singerwas becausehe won every round of the competition. He beat Kobie Turner’s Goo during the Group B finals Battle Royale. He also sailed straight into the semi-finals with Boyz II Men after the audience and panelists voted in the quarterfinals, and he didn’t have to compete in the Smackdown for his spot. Instead, AJ Michalka (Strawberry Shortcake) and Kobie Turner (Goo) battled it out, and AJ won.
Most impressively,Mario pulled ahead of Boyz II Menduring the semi-finals vote, and moved on to the season finale without having to compete in the Smack Royale versus AJ. Because of this, he proved himself to be a competitor who could and did beat Boyz II Men in a round.Mario was so strong of a singer that he pulled ahead of one of the greatest groups of all-time. In addition, he could’ve beaten any other competitor from any other season.
The Masked Singer Season 12: Boyz II Men’s 10 Performances As Buffalos Ranked
As The Masked Singer season 12’s Buffalos, Boyz II Men stampeded through the competition. Here are there 10 performances from the show ranked.
In any otherMasked Singerseason, Mario would’ve won, but Boyz II Men also deserved their win.Therefore, perhapsThe Masked Singerseason 12 should’ve ended in a tie. After Mario was unmasked, he stated,“it smells like victory still,“and he was right. He was a gracious runner-up, who told Boyz II Men that he wouldn’t have been there without them. Mario also joyously sang along to their unmasked performance of “Motownphilly” at the end of the show.Mario is an absolute legend and he and the Wasp will be remembered as one ofThe Masked Singer’sbest singers and performers ever.
The Masked Singerseason 13 premieres on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.
The Masked Singer
Cast
The Masked Singer is a reality singing competition where celebrities perform in elaborate costumes concealing their identities, with panelists and viewers trying to guess who is behind the mask based on clues provided throughout the show.
