Season 1 Gladiator Scoop
Wednesday, August 13 2008 | Comments (0)
Tanoai Reed AKA Toa
Similar to the original American Gladiators franchise, which aired on syndication in the U.S. from 1989 to 1996, NBC's All New American Gladiators which began airing in early 2008 featured amateur male and female contenders pitted against Gladiator professionals. The show initially followed 12 gladiators, six men and six women, as they took on contestants both male and female. This time, in a new twist, the players were given the opportunity to train for their match, while viewers will be given a glimpse of their personalities prior to the actual competition.
According to americangladiatorsblog.com, the Gladiators' names were actually picked up by some of the studio audience members who posted it across the internet. The female Gladiators include Robin Coleman (Hellga), a contender in ESPN's Worlds Strongest Woman Event, Valerie Waugaman (Siren), who has won several body building contests, IFBB competitor Tanji Johnson (Stealth), Jamie Reed (Fury), who participates in Fitness and Figure Championships, IFBB Pro and National Fitness Champion Beth Horn (Venom), and mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano (Crush). These names complete the six main female gladiators, along with one alternate Gladiator going by the name of Blast (Jennifer "Jenny" Barry) an elite, professional fitness trainer.
American Gladiators Season 1
As for the men, they consist of kickboxer Jesse Smith (Justice), bodybuilder Alex Castro (Militia), actor William Romeo (Mayhem), Powerlifting champion and three-time Mr. Universe winner Mike O'Hearn (Titan), rodeo bullfighter Don “Hollywood” Yates (Wolf), along with Tanoai Reed (Toa) and Hammer (Michael Briehler). I know there are tons of curious fans that would like to get to know the persons behind these newer aliases.
Toa is being pointed as Tanoai Reed in real life. Although he's known as the cousin of actor/wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Reed has already established himself as an award-winning Hollywood stunt man who had his big break on the set of Kevin Costner's Waterworld in 1995. Since then, he has worked as a stunt double in more than 20 films, including Daredevil, The Rundown, Gridiron Gang, Walking Tall, The Scorpion King and Doom. He has also forayed into acting with Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Dark Justice, The Stepford Wives, Constantine and Batman Legends.
As for Hammer, his real name is Michael Briehler. He's a recent graduate of Rider University Business School with a degree in Entrepreneurship Studies. He's spent many years training in several aspects of fitness, ranging from a personal trainer to achieving a professional status in natural bodybuilding. He is also a professional model. Unfortunately, I don't believe Blast or Hammer got a chance to be on Television during Season 1 and were only in place as reserve Gladiators during that First Season.
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