Netflix’s Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators documentary series takes an in-depth look at the world of American Gladiators, the competition series that premiered in 1989 and ran through 1996. The series was briefly revived in 2008.
Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators will premiere on June 28, 2023 and, per Netflix, “chronicles the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and gripping behind-the-scenes stories of one of the biggest spectacles on television during the height of the ’90s. Told first hand from the stars who lived through it, this five part series reveals untold stories of the iconic American Gladiators’ triumph, turmoil, and ultimate price of fame.”
Dan “Nitro” Clark, Debbie “Storm” Clark, Erika “Diamond” Andersch Bunker, Jim “Laser” Kalafat, Lori “Ice” Fetrick, Michael “Gemini” Horton, and Raye “Zap” Olson participated in the five-episode documentary series. Past American Gladiators competitors Shari E “Blaze” Pendleton Mitchell, Shirley “Sky” Eson-Korito, and Steve “Tower” Hennebery are also involved in the docuseries.
Tony Vainuku (Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist) and Jared Hess (Murder Among the Mormons) directed and served as executive producers. Additional executive producers include Ross M. Dinerstein, Kyle McCutcheon, Danny Lee Clark, Peter Sussman, and Chris Koras.
The original American Gladiators series took place in an arena-style setting and showcased a range of events designed to test the physical strength, agility, and endurance of the contestants. These events included obstacle courses, jousting, tug-of-war, and assorted athletic challenges. The contestants, often referred to as “contenders,” competed for points, and the season’s top contenders would advance to the finals for a chance to win the title of “Grand Champion.”
