Human Cannonball (Gladiators)
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Human Cannonball was an event played during the initial American series of Gladiators. In this event, contenders had to dislodge Gladiators from platforms by swinging at them from a rope.
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[edit] Rules
On the whistle, the two contenders simultaneously swing out towards their assigned Gladiator who are stood on a raised podiums. Each Gladiator is armed with a blocking pad to try and deflect the contender. The contenders have two attempts to knock the Gladiators off the podium, receiving 5 points for each successful swing.
Contenders were originally allowed to swing with their legs extended, knocking the Gladiators off with their feet. However, this rule was changed following an injury to Gladiator Malibu and contenders had to swing in a tucked position with their knees bent and feet tucked in underneath their body.
[edit] Event history
[edit] America
Years active: 1989-1990, 1992
Human Cannonball was one of the six original American Gladiators events but was dropped from the event line up before the second half of the second series.
In the first series, each contender separately swung out against three separate Gladiators receiving 30 points for each successful swing. If all three Gladiators were knocked off then they had the chance for a bonus swing which is successful would earn them 10 extra points. From the second half of the first series, the scoring format changed to 3 points for each successful swing and 1 point for the bonus swing.
The event returned for the fourth (1992) series before being axed due to safety reasons.
The gameplay of swinging on a rope to dislodge the opponent was later incorporated into the Sideswipe event in the 2008 revival.
Human Cannonball will not be returning for the 2008 revival.
