History Main / GladiatorGames

Sometimes, after a particularly grand victory, [[WinYourFreedom the gladiator is freed]], but generally ends with either GladiatorRevolt, or gladiators losing the monsters they fight on the crowd, to great consternation. This trope is distinguished from other forms of recreational combat -- such as a tourney -- by the spectators never getting their own hands dirty.

[[caption-width:345:[[{{Film/Gladiator}} "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!"]]]]

Sometimes, after a particularly grand victory, [[WinYourFreedom the gladiator is freed]], but generally ends with either GladiatorRevolt, or gladiators loosing the monsters they fight on the crowd, to great consternation. This trope is distinguished from other forms of recreational combat -- such as a tourney -- by the spectators never getting their own hands dirty.

The vultures stay behind
--> -- TomWaits, "In The Coliseum"

* Let's get this started! [[GGundam Gundam Fight all set!]] Ready, GO!
* Kino has to participate in a gladiator-esque tournament (held for the benefit of an insane emperor) in ''KinosJourney''. She manages to win without killing any of her opponents.
* The third and fourth ''{{Zoids}}'' animes are primarily set at a time where the most popular sport is organized combat between the titular HumongousMecha.
* [[LadyLand Amazon Lily Island]] in ''OnePiece'' has a gladiator arena that they use to execute criminals (men) or just throw a few more or less friendly fights to see who's the strongest (along with heavy betting).
* One of these exists in the [[MagicalLand Magic World]] in ''MahouSenseiNegima'', which is used for a small TournamentArc. There's been hints that it used to be much more violent than in the current story (including slavery and fights to the death).
** Recently, it's been revealed that the reason that Jack Rakan is so unbelievably strong is because he spent years [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower fighting in the arena]] [[spoiler: so that he could earn his way out of gladitorial slavery]], before moving on to fighting in wars.

[[quoteright:340:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/340px-jean-leon_gerome_pollice_verso_7343.jpg]]

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arena.JPG]]

-->-TomWaits, "In The Coliseum"

->''"You honor the arena with your combat. May your swords and shield preserve the peace."''
-->-Raanu, ''{{Bionicle}}''

** It also features a dungeon and raid that pit the players against NPCs representing the opposing faction, champions of the [[ChurchMilitant Argent Crusade]], and even gigantic monsters captured for the sole purpose of unleashing them in the arena. Of course, rather than just being entertainment, it's part of a tournament to find the greatest heroes in the world to take on the BigBad, but that doesn't stop the crowd from cheering when you trample someone under your horse.

* [[LadyLand Amazon Lily Island]] in ''OnePiece'' has a gladiator arena that they use to execute criminals (men) or just trow a few more or less friendly fights to see who's the strongest (along with heavy betting).

People -- criminals or, worse [[MadeASlave slaves]] -- [[CondemnedContestant are forced]] to fight each other or savage monsters. HeroicFantasy (especially SwordAndSandal) and LostWorld stories are particularly fond of the monsters; a good way to show them off. As a BloodSport, this may last for a time, with many bouts, allowing the gladiators time to train; either the character can always win, or they do not always insist on death at defeat. [[InvoluntaryBattleToTheDeath The first is more common]]; the crowds will insist FinishHim. Conversely, it may be a way of combining [[CondemnedContestant executions]] with [[EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor amusement]] -- a DeathTrap that gets watched -- which generally involves animals, as they don't want to deal with the winner.

Sometimes, after a particularly grand victory, the gladiator is freed, but generally ends with either GladiatorRevolt, or gladiators loosing the monsters they fight on the crowd, to great consternation. This trope is distinguished from other forms of recreational combat -- such as a tourney -- by the spectators never getting their own hands dirty.

No, the regular gladiators did not say, "We who are about to die salute you!" Suetonius tells that those who were sentenced to death by exhibition fight greeted like that.

The thumbs-up and thumbs-down signals, indicating that less fortunate contestants should be spared or killed are common in fiction, actually [[NewerThanTheyThink can be traced back no further than the 19th century]], where Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1872 painting "Pollice Verso" popularized their [[DidNotDoTheResearch anachronistic]] use in ancient settings.

* The GalaxyRangers episode "Shoot Out." [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen The Queen]] builds a stadium on the WretchedHive world of Tortuna, and inaugurates it with a gun-slinging tournament (yup, this is a SpaceWestern). This serves as BreadandCircuses for her subjects, adds a few more poor bastards (the losing contestants) to her [[PoweredByAForsakenChild Psychocrypt]], and she baits the Rangers there with the promise of awarding Eliza's crystal to the winner.Of course the last part turns out to be total BS on her part.

* Douglas Hill's [[LastLegionary Last Legionary]] has the titular [[LastOfHisKind Keill Randor]] participating in a gladiatorial tournament. Despite him being the only one not using weapons, the rest don't stand a chance.

* Douglas Hill's [[LastLegionary Last Legionary]] has the titular [[LastOfHisKind Keill Randor]] participating in a gladatorial tournament. Despite him being the only one not using weapons, the rest don't stand a chance.

* ''StarTrek'': In the original series episode ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_Circuses_(Star_Trek) Bread And Circuses]]'', the crew discover a planet identical to Earth except that that its ruled by TheRomanEmpire with TV cameras... SoYeah.

*[[ModestyBlaise Modesty Blaise]] is forced to do this in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Man%27s_Handle ''Dead Man's Handle''.]] Actually, she's kind of forced to do something like this in ''all'' the books, frequently stripped for action, but ''Dead Man's Handle'' is the closest to Roman-style gladiation.
More:
*Modesty Blaise:''Sabre-Tooth '' Fights the Twins in a proper arena.
*Modesty Blaise:'' I, Lucifer '' Forced to duel with Willie, pistol against throwing knife.
*Modesty Blaise:'' A Taste for Death'' Fights an epee duel with Wenczel, stripped to the waist. The Fanservice is lampshaded as an attempt to distract one of the villains. .
*Modesty Blaise:'' The Impossible Virgin '' Forced to fight a gorilla.
*Modesty Blaise:'' The Silver Mistress '' Not quite this trope--she fights Mr. Sexton with an audience of one. Worth mentioning for sheer Fanservice--her edge in the fight to the death against a larger, stronger, and dangerously skillful opponent is that ''she's completely naked and covered in grease.''
*Modesty Blaise:'' Dragon's Claw''Forced to fight a quickdraw duel with the Reverednd Uriah.
*Modesty Blaise:'' The Xanadu Talisman'' Fights El Mico in an arena in the Atlas Mountains.
*Modesty Blaise:'' The Night of Morningstar'' Fights the Earl in.