The tenth season of the American competitive television series BattleBots premiered on Discovery Channel on December 3, 2020, after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] This is the third season of Battlebots to premiere on Discovery Channel and the fifth season since the show was rebooted in 2015. The show introduced a new modified logo, with a pair of large red and blue "B"'s, making a "BB" logo atop the term "BATTLEBOTS". The subtitle "Fight Night" was used for episodes featuring qualifying rounds.
BattleBots | |
---|---|
Season 10 | |
No. of episodes | 14 |
Release | |
Original network | Discovery |
Original release | December 3, 2020 March 11, 2021 | –
Season chronology | |
MLB/NFL Sportscaster Chris Rose and former UFC fighter Kenny Florian returned to host for this tenth season, (fifth season of the reboot) of the BattleBots competition on Discovery. Also, arena announcer Faruq Tauheed, and his unique introductions, returned, as well as pit reporter Jenny Taft.
Brand new this season are the "box-side suites", where the builders/teams can get a "bots-eye" look at the action. They have a chance to "scout or shout" for the rest of the field.
Pete Abrahamson (a.k.a. "Bot-Whisperer") joins as a new team member who started competing in the first BattleBots Competition in 1994 with his famous robot, Ronin.
Judges
editThis season, the judges score on an 11-point scale: 5 points for damage; 3 points for aggression; and 3 points for control.
The current judges are: former BattleBots contenders, Derek Young, Lisa Winter, and Jason Bardis.
Contestants
editThis season marked the 21st year of the BattleBots competition. The lineup features 62 of the best heavyweight robots to fight head-to-head in the Battle Arena. Their goal is to earn a top 32 ranking and qualify for the post-season where there will be knockout rounds until a winner-take-all fight to crown the 2020 BattleBots World Champion.
In previous seasons, an in-studio audience from the general population was present around the BattleBox to watch the event and add crowd reactions for the broadcast program. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during the recording of the episodes, the in-studio audience consisted only of the competing teams, with significant separation between the teams.
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Seeding
edit- Hydra (3-0)
- Bloodsport (3-0)
- Copperhead (3-0)
- Uppercut (2-1)
- Black Dragon (2-1)
- End Game (2-1)
- Sawblaze (2-1)
- Whiplash (2-1)
- Valkyrie (2-1)
- Skorpios (2-1)
- Jackpot (3-0)
- MadCatter (3-0)
- Beta (3-0)
- Lock-Jaw (2-1)
- Fusion (2-1)
- Malice (2-1)
- Gigabyte (2-1)
- Tantrum (2-1)
- Shatter! (2-1)
- Ribbot (2-1)
- Tombstone (1-2)
- Rotator (1-2)
- Witch Doctor (1-2)
- Subzero (2-1)
- HUGE (1-2)
- Kraken (1-2)
- Perfect Phoenix (2-1)
- SlamMow! (2-1)
- HiJinx (2-1)
- Mammoth (2-1)
- Gruff (1-2)
- Hypershock (1-2)
Knockout stage
editEpisodes
editNo. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
147 | 1 | "Return of the Bots" | December 3, 2020 | 0.991[3] | |
The steel-on-steel action, hard-hitting combat of BattleBots: Fight Night returns. The 2020 regular season kicks off as 62 teams from all over the world converge for an all-out tournament. Tonight, Jack Barker with his beloved bot, End Game squares off with Ray Billings with his iconic robot, the fearsome Tombstone. Fight Card: SawBlaze vs. Whiplash; Fusion vs. MadCatter; Malice vs. Axe Backwards; Skorpios vs. Bloodsport; Lock-Jaw vs. Captain Shrederator; Rusty vs. Sporkinok; SMEEEEEEEEEEE vs. Sharkoprion; Main Event: End Game vs. Tombstone. The winners were SawBlaze (KO), MadCatter (KO), Malice (KO), Bloodsport (KO), Lock-Jaw (KO), Rusty (KO), SMEEEEEEEEEEE (3-0 UD), and End Game (KO) | |||||
148 | 2 | "Let the Big Bot Battle Begin" | December 10, 2020 | 0.906[4] | |
It's a clash of the titans as the big bots do battle in the box. Four brand new bots make their rookie debut, including an 11-year-old driver. Meanwhile, a "ghostly" legend returns from the past. Also, last year's runner-up begins their season with a match against last year's breakout bot in the main event. Fight Card: Ghost Raptor vs. Shatter!; Tracer vs. Ribbot; Black Dragon vs. Kraken; Mammoth vs. HUGE; Claw Viper vs. HiJinx; Perfect Phoenix vs. Extinguisher; Main Event: Hydra vs. Witch Doctor. The winners were Shatter! (KO), Ribbot (KO), Black Dragon (2-1 SD), Mammoth (KO), Claw Viper (KO), Perfect Phoenix (KO), and Hydra (2-1 SD) | |||||
149 | 3 | "Stop! Hammer Time!" | December 17, 2020 | 0.866[5] | |
It's an all-out battle of veterans and rookie bots alike. A legendary hammer bot makes its return when it goes back in the box with one of the best rotating bots. Also, two top contenders go head-to-head in the electrifying main event for a chance to move up in the rankings. Fight Card: Copperhead vs. Gigabyte; JackPot vs. SubZero; Uppercut vs. Gemini; Beta vs. Rotator; Valkyrie vs. Tantrum; Atom #94 vs. Big Dill; Main Event: Gruff vs. HyperShock. The winners were Copperhead (KO), JackPot (KO), Uppercut (KO), Beta (2-1 SD), Valkyrie (KO), Big Dill (3-0 UD), and Gruff (KO) | |||||
150 | 4 | "Blood, Sweat and Gears" | December 24, 2020 | 0.859[6] | |
It's put up or shut up for the bots that already lost a match. They only have one more chance in the battle box to assert their dominance over their opponents. If they don't, they could be pushed out of the Top 32. A giant bot makes its historic season debut after two years by getting a facelift as a 500-pound 'walker' bot. A frog-bot battles it out with a cat-bot. A fan-favorite takes on a 'bloody' bot in a messy main event. Fight Card: Tombstone vs. Slap Box; Pain Train vs. SlamMow!; Perfect Phoenix vs. Skorpios; Ribbot vs. MadCatter; Chomp vs. Gamma 9; Malice vs. Shatter!; Main Event: End Game vs. Bloodsport. The winners were Tombstone (KO), SlamMow! (KO), Skorpios (KO), MadCatter (3-0 UD), Chomp (3-0 UD), Malice (2-1 SD), and Bloodsport (KO) | |||||
151 | 5 | "Sin City Slasher" | January 7, 2021 | 0.832[7] | |
Some of the biggest named in BattleBots who had their robots turned upside down in the arena by the young gun bots get their chance at redemption. Two legendary bots, Witch-Doctor and Kraken who lost their first matches go bot-to-bot in the Box. Vegas newcomer JackPot rolls the dice against comeback veteran bot Ghost Raptor. Also, flipper bot Hydra has an enormous surprise in store for HUGE in a controversial fight. Fight Card: Black Dragon vs. Claw Viper; Ghost Raptor vs. JackPot; GRABOT vs. SubZero; HUGE vs. Hydra; Aegis vs. Fusion; Big Dill vs. Lock-Jaw; Main Event: Kraken vs Witch Doctor. The winners were Black Dragon (KO), JackPot (KO), SubZero (KO), Hydra (3-0 UD), Fusion (KO), Lock-Jaw (3-0 UD), and Kraken (3-0 UD) | |||||
152 | 6 | "Battle of the Undefeated" | January 14, 2021 | 0.910[8] | |
It's the mid-point of the qualifying round and impressing the selection committee is what it's all about. Sparks fly around the BattleBox as several winless bots go head-to-head. Valkyrie and Rotator square off in a deadly battle of horizontal spinners. Also, surprise winning bots Malice and MadCatter duke it out while MIT grads Uppercut and SawBlaze meet each other in an explosive main event to see who will get their first loss. Fight Card: Rotator vs. Valkyrie; Extinguisher vs. Gigabyte; Slap Box vs. Sharkoprion; Malice vs MadCatter; Atom #94 vs. Tantrum; Pain Train vs. SMEEEEEEEEEEE; Main Event: Uppercut vs. SawBlaze The winners were Valkyrie (3-0 UD), Gigabyte (KO), Slap Box (KO), MadCatter (KO), Tantrum (KO), Pain Train (2-1 SD), and Uppercut (KO) | |||||
153 | 7 | "Turning Up the Heat" | January 21, 2021 | 0.763[9] | |
As BattleBots closes in on the end of the final qualifying rounds, the remaining bots need to impress the selection committee who will soon pick the 32 most-lethal bots to make it into the world championship tournament. A loss by any of these teams could cripple their season. With a few fights left, this is one of these teams' chances to prove they belong among the best bots. Fight Card: Axe Backwards vs. Captain Shrederator; Copperhead vs. P1; Rusty vs. Beta; Mammoth vs. HyperShock; SubZero vs. Sporkinok; Bale Spear vs. Tracer; Main Event; Gruff vs. Whiplash The winners were Captain Shrederator (KO), Copperhead (KO), Beta (KO), HyperShock (KO), SubZero (KO), Tracer (KO), and Whiplash (3-0 UD) Digital-exclusive fights: (mentioned but unaired in this episode) (winners in bold): P1 vs. Chronos; Deadlift vs. Bale Spear; HiJinx vs. Tracer | |||||
154 | 8 | "Hit the Jackpot!" | January 28, 2021 | 0.840[10] | |
Some of the most notorious bots that have either undefeated or balanced records prepare for their third and final chance to impress the selection committee and do some damage inside the BattleBox as they try to make it into the Top 32 of the world championship tournament. Fight Card: HUGE vs. Kraken; Ribbot vs. Axolotl; Big Dill vs. Rotator; Lock-Jaw vs. Jackpot; Chronos vs. Bloodsport; Fusion vs. War? EZ!; Main Event; Skorpios vs. Tombstone The winners were HUGE (3-0 UD), Ribbot (KO), Rotator (KO), Jackpot (KO), Bloodsport (3-0 UD), Fusion (KO), and Skorpios (KO) Digital-exclusive fights: (mentioned but unaired in this episode) (winners in bold): War? EZ! vs. Axolotl; SlamMow! vs. War? EZ! | |||||
155 | 9 | "Now or Never" | February 4, 2021 | 0.849[11] | |
It's the final round of the qualifiers. Some bots are on the brink of making it to the Top 32 while others it's do or die time in the BattleBox. Will the top teams risk it in order to get a better seed in the tournament? One bad hit could wreak havoc on their season. For the rest, it's playing for pride and letting it all hang out to spoil the best bots' chances, making a statement to impress the selection committee. Fight Card: Captain Shrederator vs. Shatter!; Gigabyte vs. Claw Viper; Chomp vs. HiJinx; Witch Doctor vs. SlamMow!; Extinguisher vs. Gruff; Perfect Phoenix vs. Atom #94; Main Event; Copperhead vs. Black Dragon The winners were Shatter! (3-0 UD), Gigabyte (KO), HiJinx (KO), Witch Doctor (KO), Extinguisher (KO), Perfect Phoenix (3-0 UD), and Copperhead (3-0 UD) Digital-exclusive fights: (mentioned but unaired in this episode) (winners in bold): Ghost Raptor vs. Chomp; (partial showing) Mammoth vs Deadlift | |||||
156 | 10 | "Qualify! Or Wave Goodbye!" | February 11, 2021 | 0.766[12] | |
The tournament qualifiers has reached the end of the line. So it's the last chance for some of the bots to qualify and have an opportunity to influence the selection committee to make it into the Top 32. Plus, seeds will be determined for the BattleBots World Championship bracket. Fight Card: Hydra vs. Uppercut; Rusty vs. SawBlaze; Gamma 9 vs. Tantrum; End Game vs. HyperShock; SMEEEEEEEEEEE vs. P1; Beta vs. Grabot; Main Event; Whiplash vs. Valkyrie The winners were Hydra (3-0 UD), SawBlaze (3-0 UD), Tantrum (KO), End Game (KO), P1 (KO), Beta (KO), and Whiplash (3-0 UD) | |||||
157 | 11 | "Survive and Advance" | February 18, 2021 | 0.828[13] | |
It's time for the Round of 32 of the World Championship. Low-seeded bots try to punch their ticket into the next round by trying to defeat the top bots. So there's danger in every match as up-and-coming teams look to shake up the tournament bracket. Fight Card: #12 MadCatter vs. #21 Tombstone; #5 Black Dragon vs. #28 SlawMow!; #13 Beta vs. #20 Ribbot; #4 Uppercut vs. #29 HiJinx; #9 Valkyrie vs. #24 SubZero; #8 Whiplash vs. #25 HUGE; #16 Malice vs. #17 Gigabyte; #1 Hydra vs. #32 HyperShock The winners were Tombstone (KO, 128 seconds), Black Dragon (KO, 128 seconds), Ribbot (KO, 70 seconds), Uppercut (KO, 33 seconds), Valkyrie (KO, 99 seconds), Whiplash (3-0 UD), Gigabyte (KO, 162 seconds), and Hydra (KO, 178 seconds) | |||||
158 | 12 | "We're Beast Slayin' Tonight!" | February 25, 2021 | 0.910[14] | |
It's win-or-go-home time for the 16 remaining bots as the Round of 32 concludes. The winning teams move onto the Round of 16, and one step closer to the World Championship. Fight Card: #14 Lock-Jaw vs. #19 Shatter!; #11 JackPot vs. #22 Rotator; #6 End Game vs. #27 Perfect Phoenix; #3 Copperhead vs. #30 Mammoth; #7 SawBlaze vs. #26 Kraken; #2 Bloodsport vs. #31 Gruff; #15 Fusion vs. #18 Tantrum; #10 Skorpios vs. #23 Witch Doctor The winners were Shatter! (KO, 119 seconds), Rotator (KO, 88 seconds), End Game (KO, 57 seconds), Mammoth (2-1 SD), SawBlaze (3-0 UD), Bloodsport (2-1 SD), Tantrum (KO, 150 seconds), and Witch Doctor (3-0 UD) | |||||
159 | 13 | "Shock and Awe" | March 4, 2021 | 0.892[15] | |
The Round of 16 begins. Sixteen bots will battle it out to move even closer in the tournament. Eight winning teams will have two more fights left while eight losing teams will have their chance at earning the Giant Nut die in the BattleBox. Fight Card: #7 SawBlaze vs. #23 Witch Doctor; #4 Uppercut vs. #20 Ribbot; #2 Bloodsport vs. #18 Tantrum; #1 Hydra vs. #17 Gigabyte; #5 Black Dragon vs. #21 Tombstone; #8 Whiplash vs. #9 Valkyrie; #19 Shatter! vs. #30 Mammoth; #6 End Game vs. #22 Rotator The winners were SawBlaze (KO, 179 seconds), Ribbot (KO, 94 seconds), Tantrum (2-1 SD), Hydra (3-0 UD), Black Dragon (3-0 UD), Whiplash (3-0 UD), Shatter! (2-1 SD), End Game (2-1 SD) | |||||
160 | 14 | "The World Championship Finals" | March 11, 2021 | 0.949[16] | |
The BattleBots World Championship Tournament has reached the end as the remaining eight bots battle it out in the Battle Box. Only one team will hoist the Giant Nut trophy and be crowned champions. Quarter Finals: #20 Ribbot vs. #5 Black Dragon; #19 Shatter! vs. #6 End Game; #18 Tantrum vs. #7 SawBlaze; #1 Hydra vs. #8 Whiplash. Semi-Finals: #18 Tantrum vs. #6 End Game; #5 Black Dragon vs. #8 Whiplash. Finals: #8 Whiplash vs. #6 End Game The quarter final winners were Black Dragon (3-0 UD), End Game (KO, 117 seconds), Tantrum (3-0 UD), and Whiplash (2-1 SD). The semi-final winners were End Game (KO, 176 seconds) and Whiplash (3-0 UD). The Giant Bolt Award winners were Valkyrie (Most Destructive), Skorpios (Founders Award), Rusty (Best Newcomer), and Chomp (Grant Imahara Award) (Best Design). The 2020 BattleBots World Champion is End Game (KO, 110 seconds). Note: this episode was dedicated to Grant Imahara, a former BattleBots contestant and guest judge, and Gayle Garner Roski, BattleBots' first sponsor; both of whom died in 2020. |
References
edit- ^ "The Ultimate Robot Combat Series, "BattleBots" Returns for an All-Out Battle Royale, Premiering December 3 on Discovery Channel". The Futon Critic. November 12, 2020.
- ^ Sporkinok (2020) - BattleBots
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 7, 2020). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.3.2020". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 11, 2020). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.10.2020". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 18, 2020). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.17.2020". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 28, 2020). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.24.2020". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (January 11, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.7.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (January 15, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.14.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (January 25, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.21.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (January 29, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.28.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 5, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.4.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 12, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.11.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 22, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.18.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 26, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.25.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 5, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.4.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 12, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.11.2021". ShowBuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.