It's a battle between youth and wisdom as a 20 year old college student challenges a 52 year old investment manager in the female competition. The men's battle finds a dolphin trainer taking on a media director.

The women's side finds single mom and black belt Melissa Trinidad vs. firefighter and Chernobyl survivor Elena Maskalik, while the men's event pits grocery store owner Toby Gordin goes head to head with carpenter Randee Haynes. The second hour kicks off with Para-Olympian John Sciliano battles with teacher Gerry Garcia, and the female side finds Air Force Major Vanessa Warren takes on feisty bartender Nikki Key.

This round features four contestants who have had a successful weight loss. The men's round includes a teacher, James Ruggiero from Yucca Valley, California (dropped 65 pounds) takes on a waiter, Sean Hetherington from West Hollywood, California (lost over 100 pounds). The women's tilt features a cheerleading coach Jessie Garcia from Bronx, New York versus a mother of four Patricia Franklin from Leesburg, Virginia, who have both lost over 60 pounds.

A pair of Chicago police officers battle it out against the gladiators, as does a couple of female officers from Denver.

A SWAT officer and a tree climber take on the Gladiators for the men's team and going up against the female Gladiator's is a business consultant versus and adventure junkie.

The males matchup features a school teacher and a survivor from Columbine. The ladies features a military vet and crime reporter. A special appearance is made by actor/bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno.

A special episode featuring two married couples, the ladies competition finds sales rep Ally Davidson from Dallas, Texas and social worker Kendra Sirignano from Tempe, Arizona challenging each other, while their spouces financial advisor Jeff Davidson, Ally's husband battles Kendra's spouse wrestling coach Aaron Simpson in the men's competition.

Siblings battle in the arena against the gladiators.

Returning contestants compete in the semifinals. Ally Davidson from Dallas, Texas will challenge Vanessa Warren from Colorado Springs, Colorado, a mother of three in the female competition. The men's round finds Iraq War veteran Alexander Coates of Baltimore, Maryland, taking on Tim Oliphant from Branson, Missouri.

Ally Davidson from Dallas, Texas will challenge Vanessa Warren from Colorado Springs, Colorado in the female semi-final competition. The men's semi-final round finds Alexander Coates from Baltimore, Maryland vs.Tim Oliphant from Branson, Missouri.

The semifinals will be determined after a detective from New York City challenges an ex-marine in the men's competition. The ladies side finds a student in a duel against a figure skater.

In this 2 hour season finale, the remaining two men and two women compete for a spot in the final round. The top two men and top two women then compete in the final round to become the next American Gladiator.