The second season of the 2008 American Gladiators revival premiered on April 12, 2008 and concluded on August 4 of the same year, airing on NBC in the United States and Citytv in Canada.
However, during the two-hour season premiere, the contenders only participated in four events before competing in the Eliminator in both heats.
Contenders no longer have to fish in the sand for an arrow or load any of the weapons with the exception of the slingshot.
In Earthquake, the contender and Gladiator wrestle on a 12-foot-diameter (3.7 m) platform that is suspended above the pool, rather than over the floor as in the first season.
However, during the semifinals, the rules reverted to ones similar to those used in the original US version: contenders earn 10 points for completing the Gauntlet in under 20 seconds, or 5 for doing so within the 30-second limit.
The rules for Hang Tough are largely the same as in the first season, except the course has been lengthened and the scoring rings are blue instead of red.
Unlike previous editions, however, contenders earn 5 points if they are still on the Wall when the 60-second time limit expires.
When each competitor presses a button, they are launched via their harnesses into the air toward two goals at the center of the arena.
As in Hit and Run, the Gladiators try to end the event early by knocking the contender into the water.
The two contenders race around one lap suspended upside down from a figure 8 track hanging from the ceiling of the arena.
[4] In the new version, each contender is connected by a bungee cord to a Gladiator, who stands on a platform behind a 50-foot-long lane.
The contenders race toward red buttons at the end of their lanes while the Gladiators resist by pulling back on their bungee lines.
[5] In Vertigo, which was first introduced in the UK version, the contender and Gladiator race across a course of seven flexible poles with handholds and platforms.
The competitors begin on ramps, as in Seasons 3 and 4 of the original series, and each contender must roll his/her sphere directly over the sensors in the middle of the pod to release a blast of steam and score 2 points.
Lou Ferrigno, who portrayed the Incredible Hulk on the 1978 TV series, was in the audience for this episode.