Muscles and Mayheim: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators

Growing up, AMERICAN GLADIATORS had a nice little run in my viewing scheduling.  

Sure, the WWF (now known as the WWE, but I was digging the wrasslin’ long before the World Wildlife Federation won that fight) was more my jam, but I was certainly down with the Gladiators for a time. It blended the right amount of sport and spectacle with a David vs. Goliath feel. It was a show that I genuinely thought, “hey, maybe someday I can do this!” And, before you even ask the question, I mean as a competitor. NOT a gladiator.

Netflix’s latest slice of nostalgic goodness is the five-part docuseries called MUSCLES AND MAYHEM: AN UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF AMERICAN GLADIATORS. Featuring interviews with many of the individuals (including most of the original gang of Gladiators) who were there from the beginning, it is a series that glosses over some of the seedier aspects of the production, and focuses on its run as a pop culture staple in the late 80’s and early 90’s. 

For those who are unfamiliar, AMERICAN GLADIATORS was a syndicated show in which attractive behemoths would compete against “average” people in multiple physical competitions. It blended the muscle-bound theatrics of wrestling and the thrill of competition by letting jacked men and women toss around folks half their size. Unlike the WWF, it was not scripted and the outcomes were not predetermined. Like the WWF, though, the Gladiators were developed into characters, and it was up to the audience to decide who they were going to throw their allegiance behind.

Though the revelations made throughout the docuseries were hardly earth-shattering, it was fascinating to think back to a time not-so-long-ago where an entire series could be based on little more than a title and halfhearted attempt at an idea.  Whereas AMERICAN GLADIATORS became a juggernaut, originally, no one had any idea what they were doing. The events were lackluster and dangerous, both the athletes and contestants were getting injured at an alarming rate, and the production value was shoddy at best. With a few tweaks to game play a decent marketing campaign, however, the public started to take notice. 

At the height of its run, AMERICAN GLADIATORS was a ratings smash and the athletes became full-fledged celebrities. They found themselves on t-shirts, lunch boxes, and developed into action figures, but none of them saw any of the profits. How lucrative the merchandise truly was is still a source of contention (the Gladiators say it was millions, the producers say it was “hardly anything”) but the bottom line is, these athletes were not reaping any of the financial rewards. Based on their original contracts, they were getting paid very little, and were not entitled to raises or merchandising revenue.  That’s not to say that living as a young, famous, easily-recognizable television star wasn’t without its benefits, and every single Gladiator who appeared on camera readily admitted that it was a fun ride while it lasted.

Gladiators Gemini (Michael Horton), Ice (Lori Fetrick), Laser (Jim Starr), Nitro (Danny Lee Clark), Zap (Raye Hollitt), and many others gleefully discuss what it meant to them to be part of the journey and aren’t afraid to admit that they made mistakes along the way. Clark, perhaps more than any other, openly discusses his use of steroids, and how it was such a vital part of his success. He neither condones nor celebrates his drug use, but doesn’t shy away from it either. He freely admits that it is what helped him get ahead, and helped mold him into the exact character that executives were yearning for.  

Like many of the most endearing nostalgia-based docuseries of its kind, MUSCLES AND MAYHEM utilizes original footage to excellent effect, transporting viewers like me back to their couches in an era of absurdity. Showcasing behind-the-scenes looks, training clips, and sequences from the original episodes, it is a reminder of a somewhat simpler time in television, an era in which hulking specimens with jousting sticks could pummel their competitors into submission, much to the delight of the masses. 

MUSCLES AND MAYHEM: AN UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF AMERICAN GLADIATORS- B

Now streaming on Netflix

Brian Miller