Sex, steroids and lots of blood: a new series reveals what really went down on ‘American Gladiators’

“Gladiators ready?!”

The words that began every challenge on “American Gladiators” also began my postelementary school ritual in the early ’90s. Every week, when the show aired, I’d abandon my math homework, pour a bowl of Frosted Flakes and run down to the basement to watch grown men and women in red, white and blue Spandex battle it out for glory. The competitions were every bit as ridiculous — and compelling — as the costumes. I still have clear memories of the Sky Track, Joust and Eliminator contests, even though I was watching them 30 years ago.

Naturally, then, my interest was piqued by “30 For 30: The American Gladiators Documentary,” a new two-part ESPN series that makes its broadcast debut June 5 on TSN1 and TSN5. (The series premiered at Toronto’s HotDocs film festival last month.)

The doc pulls the curtain back on the kitschy competition television series that aired from 1989 to 1996, where everyday citizens were matched up against muscular pro athletes known as “Gladiators” with intimidating alter-ego names like “Nitro,” “Zap” and “Laser.” The subsequent contests between the challenger and their Gladiator adversary tested their strength, agility and mental focus.

Directed by Ben Berman, the doc offers a behind-the-scenes look at the show, including all the sex — and steroids — consumed by the cast. It also delves into allegations of unsafe on-set working conditions, which led to injuries suffered by both Gladiators and challengers.

“You can’t fake the things that happened on ‘Gladiators,’” Deron McBee, the former bleached blond Gladiator known as “Malibu,” told The Star.

In the show’s first season, a planned collision in the “Human Cannonball” competition resulted in McBee flying off a raised pedestal and hitting his head. He ended up with a serious concussion.

“I had about a four-inch gash,” said McBee, recalling that a plastic surgeon sewed up his face.

Despite doctors warning him that another hit could cause permanent damage, McBee was back on set the next day. He said he knew there was a limitless roster of Gladiators ready to take his spot if he didn’t.

Salina Bartunek-Andrews, better known as Elektra on the show, had a similar experience when she was 20. In 1992, she was injured in the “Hang Tough” competition when a challenger tried to pull her off of rings suspended in the air.

“The momentum turned me upside down,” recalled Bartunek-Andrews. “I knew I was gonna land on the top of my head because I was a gymnast and if I landed like that, I would snap my neck. I pulled in and my knees went into my nose and she landed on top of my knees. Fortunately my nose did not go up into my brain … I just shattered my nose.”

The new series also investigates who created “American Gladiators” in the first place.

Finding that answer isn’t as straightforward as it sounds, as filmmaker Ben Berman learned when he began working on the project three years ago.

In the end credits of the original “American Gladiators,” both Johnny Ferraro and Dann Carr were listed as the co-creators, but only Ferraro — with his Elvis Presley-inspired style and hyperbolic hubris — seemed available to talk about the show. After Berman interviewed Ferraro for the first time, he knew he’d found the documentary’s primary antagonist.

“After talking to the guy for two minutes, it was clear [that] he was hiding some stuff,” said Berman.

As the first part of the documentary reveals, Ferraro allegedly controls all of his Carr’s public appearances in perpetuity. The second part offers answers about what led to the disintegration of the relationship between the former partners. To say anymore, however, would spoil the surprise ending.

But “30 for 30: The American Gladiators Documentary” isn’t all blood and controversy. Its greatest achievement is humanizing the Gladiators, including Wesley “2 Scoops” Berry, the original show’s unequivocal star.

Then 26, Berry won every tournament he competed in; in 1995, he became the first-ever international champion at a global Gladiators competition in the U.K. Berry’s fan-favourite status was further cemented when it was revealed that just two years before he tried out for the show, he suffered third degree burns to nearly half of his body in a freak car explosion.

“I refused to be handicapped by something that happened to me,” said Berry in an interview. “I knew that if I could get on the show, I would win the whole thing.”

The money that Berry collected from the show is another point of contention. The new documentary revealed that the Gladiators signed deals worth just $25,000 for each season, but Berry collected much more than that.

“I made five times the amount that they (the Gladiators) were making,” said Berry.

Berman said that “Gladiator resentment” is to blame for why he was able to speak with only a handful of the Spandexed stars for the ESPN documentary. Many of the Gladiators who chose not to participate in his project are reportedly offering their side of the story in a new Netflix docuseries titled “Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators.” That will debut on June 28.

Berry said he was approached by “Gladiators who were bitter” to participate in the Netflix series.

“They said ‘Two Scoops, you’re the best to ever do it man,” Berry recalled. “My issue with that was what they wanted me to and didn’t want to compensate me for. My soul is not for sale.”

“30 For 30: The American Gladiators Documentary” airs June 5 at 7 p.m. on TSN1 and TSN5.

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