NBC has released more information about the show specifically about the events the contenders and Gladiators will do battle in which include, Joust, Gauntlet, The Wall, Hang Tough, Pyramid, Assault, Power Ball, Hit & Run, Earthquake and the Eliminator. There are 10 events total with two new events, Hit & Run which has been in the UK version for quite some time and Earthquake, an all new event where Gladiators and contenders fight to knock the other from a 14ft circular oscillating platform. Check out all the event descriptions below…

JOUST - The ultimate head-to-head physical competition that highlights each contestant’s strength, speed and agility. Perched on two elevated peaks 15 feet high, the Gladiator and contestant fight to the finish (until one plummets 15 feet, splashing to the water below). Contenders face a Gladiator for a predetermined amount of time. In the original series, Joust used to take place on 8-foot platforms, 3-feet wide over cushy pads. Now those platforms stand 10-feet above the water’s surface. The Joust is now part smack down and part splash down!

GAUNTLET - In this challenge, the contestant’s raw strength and power will be put to the test as he or she must run through a gauntlet of Gladiators who are trying to knock him/her down or force him/her up and over the perimeter wall. The contestant will face four Gladiators. The Gauntlet course is 90 feet long, which ends with a 10-foot sprint under the bridge and crashing through a foam wall.

THE WALL - Two contenders simultaneously race to the top of a state-of-the-art rock-climbing wall as Gladiators, who are 7 seconds behind, chase them and try to yank them off. The new Wall is 8-feet higher than the on the original series.

HANG TOUGH - Strategy, strength and speed all come into play as the contenders swing ring-to-ring 20 feet above water trying to avoid the pursuing Gladiator. The event ends one of two ways:: the contestant gets to the other side, or the contestant is tugged and dragged off the rings by a Gladiator resulting in a gigantic splash into the water below.

PYRAMID - Scaling a giant padded pyramid is the goal. Two competing contenders race simultaneously up a giant padded pyramid that is defended by two Gladiators. Each Gladiator is assigned to a specific contestant. As the contenders race to the top, two Gladiators defend the Pyramid, pursuing them and throwing them to the ground.

ASSAULT - Contenders must avoid getting pelted by tennis balls being shot at them from a Gladiator by navigating a course filled with counter- strike weaponry like air cannons and cross bows. When a contender nails the target they not only get 10 points but the Gladiator gets launched off his perch where he was firing balls at over 100 mph and sent into the water below.

POWER BALL - Contenders have to score as many points as possible by depositing as many balls as they can into the five equally spaced scoring pods within the predetermined time. The contenders compete simultaneously as three Gladiators defend the Power Ball course. Contenders will try and avoid the Gladiators whose aim is to stop them from scoring by tackling them to the floor or putting them out of bounds in order to put the ball out of play.

HIT & RUN - The contenders criss-cross each other as they simultaneously traverse a 50-foot suspension bridge that is hanging above the water tank. As the contenders run back and forth earning points for each successful crossing, four Gladiators will be perched on platforms along the side of the suspension bridge swinging 100 pound demolition balls at the contenders in an effort to knock them off the bridge.

EARTHQUAKE - Aerial grappling at its best as contender and Gladiator engage in hand-to-hand combat on a 12-foot diameter platform as it gyrates above the arena floor. The loser is the first person thrown off.

ELIMINATOR - This is the ultimate timed obstacle course with fire and water. Contenders ascend and dive off of a 10-foot platform, swim beneath a flaming surface and climb a cargo net to pedal cranks high above ground. The contenders then pedal to a beam they must traverse across, then leap off and sprint up the Pyramid to a giant zip line that drops them at the reverse escalator. At the top of the escalator they grab a rope-swing that sends them crashing through the finish line.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 1:36 am and is filed under American Gladiators News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.