Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming reboot of “American Gladiators” has set Mike “The Miz” Mizanin as host.
“American Gladiators” originally ran in syndication from 1989 to 1996 and saw amateur athletes compete against each other and a panel of “gladiators” in various strength and agility challenges. The new version features an “all star cast of gladiators for the modern era,” per Amazon, and will utilize new challenges while reprising some from the original series, including “Gauntlet,” “Hang Tough” and “The Eliminator.” The cast will include bodybuilders, former D1 athletes, crossfit champions and fitness trainers from throughout the world.
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Mizanin, a professional wrestler, first broke out as a TV personality in 2001 when he joined the cast of “The Real World: Back to New York” on MTV. Besides that, he is best known for becoming a Triple Crown Champion and a two-time Grand Slam Champion in the WWE, his three-season USA Network reality series “Miz & Mrs.,” and appearing in other unscripted programs such as “Dancing With the Stars.”
Prime Video recently launched a free ad-supported television (FAST) channel for “American Gladiators” that hosts the original version of the series. The reboot comes after several international versions of the series, including one in the BBC last year. Additionally, Live Nation recently opened ticket sales for a “Gladiators Live Tour.”
“American Gladiators” will be executive produced by John Ferraro and Daniel Calin.
“We’re excited to officially welcome WWE Superstar Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin to the American Gladiators Family. He’s the perfect host for the new era of this iconic franchise,” said Barry Poznick, general manager of MGM Alternative, Evolution Media and Big Fish Entertainment. “The U.S. reboot, combined with our epic success in the U.K., our Live Nation Tour and the launch of our 24/7 Gladiators FAST channel — this isn’t just a comeback, it’s a cultural revival. Fans, old and new, are going to love this evolution in sports entertainment.”
News of Mizanin’s casting as host came out of Amazon’s 2025 upfront presentation in New York, where the company also announced greenlights for several new docuseries.
Among them is a currently untitled series spotlighting prominent female CEOs including tennis legend Serena Williams, Latin music artist Thalia, former model and fashion designer Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, Market America and Shop.com CEO Loren Ridinger, supermodel and Cay Skin founder Winnie Harlow, wellness expert and Conteur Capital founder Hannah Bronfman and fashion and jewelry designer Isabela Rangel Grutman. The series is produced by Fifth Season’s Blink49 Studios and Amazon MGM Studios, with executive producers including Blink49’s Tara Long and Nadine Rajabi as well as Williams and Caroline Currier via Nine Two Six Productions.
Additionally, Amazon ordered two sports projects: a six-part docuseries about the New York Jets and an untitled docuseries about Terrell Owens.
“The Home Team: NY Jets” follows six New York Jets players and their partners throughout the 2024-25 regular season, charting both business endeavors and family moments. Featured couples include Quinnen and Maranda Williams and Alijah and Jessie Vera-Tucker. The series is presented by Prime Video Sports and Skydance Sports in association with NFL Films, with VaynerWatt producing. Executive producers include Jesse Sisgold, Jason T. Reed and Jon Weinbach of Skydance Sports; Ross Ketover, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy and Keith Cossrow of NFL Films; Eric Wattenberg, Gary Vaynerchuk, Matt Higgins and Sam Brown of VaynerWatt; and Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott of 9.14 Pictures. Joyce and Argott also serve as directors along with Ron Cornwall.
The Terrell Owens docuseries, per its official description, follows “one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of the NFL. His unprecedented blend of physical dominance and theatrical flair fundamentally altered the wide receiver position and football culture itself, transforming the game’s relationship with personal expression and paving the way for generations to come. However, locker room conflicts, contentious media relationships, and sometimes over-the-top celebrations made Owen’s one of the most controversial figures the game has ever known.” Like “The Home Team,” the Owens project is presented by Prime Video Sports and Skydance Sports. NFL Films produces, with executive producers including Sisgold, Reed and Weinbach for Skydance; Ketover, Cossrow, Rodgers and Boddy for NFL Films; Mike Hill; and director Alex Stapleton. Basil Iwanyk, Ben Bitonti and Mike Ciardi serve as producers.
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