One Contender and one Gladiator are suspended on a platform off the ground. The platform moves multidirectionally at random. The game commences on the referee’s whistle.  The objective for both the Contender and the Gladiator is to remove the opponent from the platform.  The Contender and Gladiator must attempt to remove each other from the platform. This may be done by pushing, pulling, throwing and wrestling. However wrestling submissive holds, kicking, punching, lifting above shoulder height, eye gouging, hair pulling, biting and no deliberate contact with the head is allowed during game play.  The game lasts for 30 seconds.

Scoring:

The scoring is 10 points for a win, if the Contender pushes the Gladiator off the platform, 5 points if the both the Contender and the Gladiator stay on the platform for the full 30 seconds and 0 points if the Contender is forced from the platform.

Trivia:

*  The rules have been loosened for Earthquake between series 1 and series 2: Contenders and Gladiators are now allowed to wrestle.
*  On "American Gladiators," the event is played over a pool.