I really don’t like Gauntlet, as you say, the gladiators aren’t allowed to do anything to restrain the contender so it’s just boring watching the same result pretty much every time.I’m sure the guy that plays Steel said they can refuse certain events. He said he wouldn’t do Unleashed for example because he has a dodgy ankle? Something like that.
I think the OG gladiators were allowed to go harder. Gauntlet doesn’t work in the new series because the Glads are barely allowed to pin the contenders before Mark yells release at them.