Pyramid (Gladiators)
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Pyramid is an event played in several incarnations of the televsion series Gladiators. In this event played on a giant sponge Pyramid, two contenders must climb to the top whilst two Gladiators attempt to halt their progress.
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[edit] Rules
On the first whistle, the contenders stood at the base of the Pyramid, start their climb whilst the Gladiators stood at the summit, head down to meet the contenders. The event lasts 60 seconds.
Gladiators are allowed to wrestle, push and tumble the contenders down in order to stop them reaching the summit. In turn, contenders are also allowed to grapple and wretle with the Gladiators in an attempt to remove them from the Pyramid. 10 points are awarded for the first contender to reach the summit and pressing the button, 5 points for the second.
Should both participants fall to the mats at the base of the Pyramid, then they must release their opponent or face disqualification. Gladiators are only allowed to tackle their assigned contender and must not deliberatly get in the way of the other contender.
[edit] International differences
The Pyramid in the original American series was red and blue before being changed to red and white for the 2008 revival. In the UK, the pyramid is black and white whilst in Australia it is red and white.
In the 2008 American revival, a 'safety zone' was introduced, four tiers from the summit (indicated by a white dotted line). If a contnder got all of their body above this line they received 5 points. In America, the event ends as soon as a contender reaches the summit, thus preventing the other contender from trying to reach the top for the remaining time.
[edit] Event History
[edit] America
Years active 1993-1996
Pyramid was introuced in the fifth (1993) series of American Gladiators. In the original series of American Gladiators, the event lasted 45 seconds and Gladiators were allowed to tackle the opposing contender in addition to their assigned contender.
For the 2008 revival, the event was increased to 60 seconds and the Pyramid formed part of the Eliminator course.
[edit] UK
Years active: 1994-1995, 1997, 2008-
Pyramid was introduced in the third (1994) series of the original UK run, becoming one of the shows core events. However, the event picked up numerous injuries including career ending injuries to Jet and Amazon and the event was axed following Jet's injury on the 1996 Wembley Live shows.
The event returned in the sixth (1997) series in which a red 'safety step' was introduced six tiers down. Should a contender reach this step then the Gladiator was not allowed to tackle their contender thus leaving them free to climb to the top. Tackling a contender who had reached the safety step would result in Gladiator disqualification. The steps at the base of the Pyramid were also made thinner to reduce the risk of falling awkwardly.
Despite the events revamp, Pyramid was axed for the second time and did not return for the seventh (1998) series.
When introduced in 1994, the Pyramid was 32 feet high and each step was two foot high. In the fourth (1995) series, a huge 'G' symbol was located above the Pyramid which would flash (along with a small pyrotechnics display) when a contender reached the summit. For special shows in which three contenders faced three Gladiators, 2 points were awarded for the third to reach the summit.
Pyramid returned in it's original format in the 2008 revival and contenders must climb it ad zip line down as part of the Eliminator.
[edit] Australia
Years active: 1995-1997, 2008-
In some episodes of the first series, Pyramid lasted for 45 seconds before being extended to 60 seconds mid way through.
In 2008, gladiators are not allowed to tackle their assigned challenger if the challenger is on the base or on the first step. This happened on the first episode since its revival. Gladiator Outlaw tackled a challenger while on the first step. As a result, Outlaw was disqualified and the challenger was awarded 10 points. There was some controversey as to whether the challenger should deserve the points since the other challenger reached the top of the pyramid first in under 40 seconds and the tackle done by Outlaw happened on the last 10 seconds. For the first time, both challengers earned 10 points each.
Since its revival, no female challenger has ever reached the top of the pyramid. However, a female challenger got 10 points by default because gladiator Viper did not release the challenger when both of them were on the base of the pyramid. Until the second quarter finals, Georgie was the first female challenger to reach the top of the pyramid.
