Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Lists of Gladiators events

Lists of Gladiators events cover sporting game events from the Gladiators TV franchise, which had local versions in several countries during the 1990s, early 2000s, and 2020s.

Events

There have been 35 events involving The Gladiators (as well as the Eliminator) across the incarnations. Four of the events have an alternate name in certain territories. A different selection of the events will be played in each episode. No single territory has had all thirty-five events on its roster. The UK had the largest number of events during its initial run with twenty-three events.

All events were created by either the American or UK series with the exception of Soccer Shootout in the South African version and Spidercage in the Swedish version. The UK notably adapted some of the American events, with the adaptations becoming the standard design for the concept. For example the UK version of Skytrack would later be adopted by the Australian and American revival series whereas the UK concept of the American event Tug-o-War, known as Tilt, eventually superseded Tug-o-War for the 2008 American revival.

Over the course of the original UK and American series, several events were dropped, often due to safety reasons. The Eliminator was the only event which was played in every episode across every territory.

Current (2024–)

The following events have made appearances during the three 2024 revival series.

Event United Kingdom Australia France
Atlaspheres Yes
Collision Yes Yes
Crash Course Yes
Duel Yes Yes Yes
Earthquake Yes
Eliminator Yes Yes Yes
Gauntlet Yes Yes
Hang Tough Yes Yes Yes
Powerball Yes Yes Yes
Pyramid Yes
Suspension Bridge [a] Yes[b]
The Edge Yes Yes Yes
The Ring Yes Yes
The Wall Yes Yes Yes
Tilt Yes Yes[c]
Unleash Yes
Whiplash Yes Yes

2008 revival

The various revivals in the 2000s mostly used events previously seen during the show's original airing in that country. Australia introduced UK events Pendulum, Sumo Ball and Vertigo for the first time and the United States introduced Hit & Run, Tilt and Vertigo. Snapback whilst re-introduced to the US had a completely different gameplay to previously and Skytrack would adopt the gameplay from the original UK and Australian series.

All the brand new events for the revivals originated in the United States. Whilst Sideswipe only aired in the US, Rocketball would be used in the UK revival and Earthquake amongst almost all revivals.

Event Australia Finland Sweden United Kingdom United States
Assault/Danger Zone Yes Yes
Atlasphere Yes Yes Yes
Breakthrough Yes
Duel/Joust Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Earthquake Yes Yes Yes Yes
Eliminator Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gauntlet Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hang Tough Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hit & Run Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pendulum Yes
Powerball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pursuit Yes
Pyramid Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Rocketball Yes Yes
Sideswipe Yes
Skytrack Yes
Snapback Yes Yes
Sumo Ball Yes
Suspension Bridge Yes Yes Yes Yes
Swingshot Yes
Tilt Yes
The Wall Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Vertigo Yes Yes
Whiplash Yes

Original series

Event Australia Denmark Finland Nigeria South Africa Sweden United Kingdom United States
Assault/Danger Zone X X X
Atlasphere X X X X X X
Breakthrough & Conquer X [1] X
Catapult X
Cyclotron [2]
Dogfight X
Duel/Joust X X X X X X X X
Eliminator X X X X X X X X
Gauntlet X X X X X X X
Hang Tough X X X X X X
Hit & Run X X X x X
Human Cannonball X[3]
Joust X[4] X[5]
Pendulum/Rat Race [6] X X
Pole-Axe X[7]
Powerball X X X X X X X
Pursuit X X[8]
Pyramid X X X X[9] X
Skytrack X X X
Soccer Shootout X X
Snapback X X[10] X
Spidercage X
Sumo Ball X X X
Suspension Bridge X X X X X X
Swingshot X X X X
The Maze X[11]
The Wall X X X X X X X X
Tightrope X X
Tilt X X X[12]
Tug O War X
Vertigo X X
Whiplash X X X X

Notes

  1. ^ In pre-production of the first series, an adaptation of the event named 'Battlebridge' was listed in the programme but ultimately dropped before filming
  2. ^ The event is referred to as 'Duel' despite Duel itself being in the event roster
  3. ^ The event was slightly modified so that both platforms were at the same height, similar to the US event Tug O War, though in keeping with the original event, both tables tilt forwards and backwards.
1.^ Breakthrough & Conquer was roadtested at the Wembley Live 1993 shows but was not taken forward for the televised series
2.^ Cyclotron was planned for the sixth series and appeared in the opening credits in CGI format. However problems persisted throughout pre production and the event was scrapped before making a televised appearance
3.^ Human Cannonball was axed mid way through series 2, was brought back for Series 4 before being retired
4.^ The apparatus of Joust was that from the UK series which was shipped to Australia after the event was axed in the UK
5.^ Joust was retired following Series 4 due to consistent negative feedback
6.^ Pendulum was intended to be introduced to the Australian series should a fourth series have been commissioned
7.^ Pole-Axe would be axed prior to filming of Series 5 after severe injuries to both a Gladiator and contender. The event would return in Series 6 in safer form
8.^ Pursuit would be retired following Series 5 for unspecified reasons
9.^ Pyramid was axed prior to production on Series 5 following several severe injuries. It returned in a modified, safer version in Series 6 only to be axed again the following year
10.^ Sweden had both versions of Snapback in their original series run
11.^ The Maze was retired after Series 4
12.^ Tilt was axed following Series 4 due to severe injuries

Lists

See also