Lists of Gladiators events

Lists of Gladiators events cover sporting game events from the Gladiators TV franchise, which has had local versions broadcast in several countries since the 1990s.

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and American revival series whereas the UK concept of the American event Tug-o-War, known as Tilt, eventually superseded Tug-o-War for the 2008 American revival.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.

Second revivals

The following events made appearances during the three revival series aired since 2024. All the new events, highlighted below, originated in the United Kingdom; the majority of which are based on or inspired by classic events from the original ITV series.

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

Notes

1. Atlaspheres was reintroduced to the roster of events in the second series and inspired a new "sister-event" called Crash Course
2. In pre-production of the first series, an adaptation of the event named 'Battlebridge' was listed in the programme but ultimately dropped before filming
3. The event is referred to as 'Duel' despite Duel itself being in the event roster
4. 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.

First revivals

The various revivals in the 2000s and 2010s 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, highlighted below, 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	Arab League	Australia	Finland	Sweden	United Kingdom	United States
Assault/Danger Zone
Atlaspheres
Breakthrough
Duel/Joust
Earthquake
Eliminator
Gauntlet
Hang Tough
Hit & Run
Pendulum
Powerball
Pursuit
Pyramid
Rocketball
Sideswipe
Skytrack
Snapback
Sumo Ball
Suspension Bridge
Swingshot
Tilt
The Wall
Vertigo
Whiplash

Original series

Event	Australia	Denmark	Finland	Nigeria	South Africa	Sweden	United Kingdom	United States
Assault/Danger Zone			X				X[a]	X[b]
Atlaspheres	X		X		X	X	X[a]	X
Breakthrough & Conquer			X				—[c]	X
Catapult							X
Cyclotron							—[d]
Dogfight							X
Duel/Joust	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Eliminator	X	X	X	X	X	X	X[a]	X[b]
Gauntlet	X	X	X	X		X	X	X
Hang Tough	X		X		X	X	X[a]	X
Hit & Run	X	X		X	x		X[a]
Human Cannonball								X[e]
Joust	X[f]						X[g]
Pendulum/Rat Race	—[h]				X		X
Pole-Axe							X[i]
Powerball	X	X	X	X		X	X	X
Pursuit	X						X[j]
Pyramid	X	X				X	X[k][a]	X[b]
Skytrack	X						X[a]	X
Soccer Shootout				X	X
Snapback		X				X[l]		X[b]
Spidercage						X
Sumo Ball		X				X	X
Suspension Bridge	X	X		X	X	X	X
Swingshot	X					X	X	X
The Maze								X[m]
The Wall	X	X	X	X	X	X	X[a]	X[b]
Tightrope						X	X
Tilt	X					X	X[n]
Tug O War								X
Vertigo							X	X
Whiplash	X				X	X	X

Notes

1. An adapted version of this event was played in the British children's spin-off, Gladiators: Train 2 Win
2. An adaptation of this event was played in the American children's spin-off, Gladiators 2000
3. Breakthrough & Conquer was roadtested at the Wembley Live 1993 shows but was not taken forward for the televised series
4. 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
5. Human Cannonball was axed mid way through series 2, was brought back for Series 4 before being retired
6. The apparatus of Joust was that from the UK series, which was shipped to Australia after the event was axed in the UK
7. Joust was retired following Series 4 due to consistent negative feedback
8. Pendulum was intended to be introduced to the Australian series should a fourth series have been commissioned
9. 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
10. Pursuit would be retired following Series 5 for unspecified reasons
11. 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
12. Sweden had both versions of Snapback in their original series run
13. The Maze was retired after Series 4
14. Tilt was axed following Series 4 due to severe injuries

Lists

• List of Gladiators UK events
• List of American Gladiators events

See also

• Gladiators (franchise)