American Gladiators

I used to get so hype off of "American Gladiators." You had a couple of athletic contestants who had to do various competitions such as jousting or the ball shoot and they'd have to deal with these larger-than-life bodybuilders. I was always rooting for the contestants just because they were such underdogs. It was a fun game show.

Contestant Rico Constantino, winner of an American Gladiator series went on to work for the WWE under his own name. As of the beginning of 2004, Rico has performed as the fashion designer/manager of Chuck and Billy, two later-shown-to-be-false homosexual wrestlers, and is now wrestling on his own as a flamboyant wrestler of questionable sexual orientation. He is managed by Jackie Gayda.

when i was a kid, i dreamed of being a contender to face the gladiators in 8 rounds of competition. but all i can do is watch reruns on TNN and watch people with mullets and frizzy hair from the early 90's period battle it out. and there is never a dull moment. no show can ever match this one. whats more fun than watching washed up football players giving play by play as gladiator sized men and women stop contenders from earning points which are needed for the all important ...!!ELIMINATOR!!... but why must the good shows be cancelled.

This show is part of the reason I was inspired to become a gym rat. And I think it had to have inspired many others to take charge of their health and fitness too. Simple challenges and glamorous gladiators drew in people with no interest in sports whatsoever. And if you WERE a sports fanatic, this show helped fill the void between games! I was very sad when it ended its run, but grateful for the 7 seasons it aired.

I'll admit that as a person who does not count themselves a sports fan and who shies away from almost all shows involving actual real physical activity, the American Gladiator show pulled me in from nearly the beginning.

I think that the part I truly enjoyed was all of the interesting contests and the changes to the contests that made it different from everything else out there. I mean, anyone can watch a group of football players who have been training and practicing for this one sport since they were children, but the gladiator contestants were every day people who had no idea what specific events they were going to have to do when they joined.

The fun names of the players, the interesting and yet fairly safe events, and the excitement of seeing the person you've rooted for take home the prize. Yes, I would very much like to see the show on the air again, or even on DVD.