At the end of May, ESPN's hit documentary series "30 for 30" covered the backstory to one of my childhood pleasures, the athletic competition/game show, American Gladiators. I spent many summer mornings watching reruns of the show, wishing I could take one run on the Elimnator or test my skills in The Assault. I spent several hours pretending in the backyard that I was dodging tennis balls launched from the cannon by my favorite Gladiator, Laser!
My pal Mickey recently wrote a great piece about American Gladiators on The Retro Network, which is definitely worth checking out.
American Gladiators was a thrilling competition game show that first aired in 1989 and gained immense popularity through the early 90s. It featured a series of athletic competitions between everyday competitors, called "the contenders," and a group of muscular skilled athletes known as "the Gladiators." These competitions varied from obstacle courses, combat-style events, and tests of strength, speed, and endurance.
The contenders would face off against one another while fending off the Gladiators, aiming to accumulate points by successfully completing the games. At the end of each episode, the contestants with the most points would earn a head start in the final round: The Eliminator.
The original American Gladiators captivated audiences with high-energy comepttitons and charasmiatc personalities, with flashy stage names like Laser, Zap, or Nitro. These Gladiators became household names in the early 90s as the show's audience quickly grew.
While the original show continued until 1996, in 1994, a spinoff aimed at children was created called Gladiators 2000. It was hosted by the then-unknown Ryan Seacrest. It ran for two years and was aired in syndication on Saturday mornings.
In 2008, American Gladiators was revived on NBC, hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali. While their was an initial buzz based on nostalgia, the show was too different and didn't retain its audience. This iteration ended after the second season. While not a success, the show did launch several careers, such as TNA wrestling star Magnus, whom you may now know as former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis.
In honor of the 30 for 30 documentary and the recent resurgence of American Gladiators nostalgia online, today I opened this pack of trading cards from 1991. Produced by Topps, this pack of cards featured 8 "Glossy Photo Cards" and 1 Sticker.
Man, what a trip back to the 90s as I looked over these images. The bright colors, the giant, larger-than-life characters. I love it all. The sticker included in this one is pretty cool, featuring Mike Adamle, Nitro, Gemini, and Larry Csonka.
I think it's about to find its way to the inside of the door on my tool cabinet in the garage, where I have a slew of other old stickers. Enjoy this trip back to the 90s, and if you can, check out the 30 for 30 documentaries on ESPN! It definitely tells a different tale of the American Gladiators!
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