source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

NBC network officials are well aware of the criticism of airing American Gladiators because so many believe that the Gladiators are on steroids and other various drugs. NBC made it clear that they are drug testing everyone, however, privately they are aware that a number of the Gladiators are using Growth Hormone to look the way they look. Due to this, several Gladiators won’t be brought back for the second season.

For the upcoming season, they plan on using people who had personality, but weren’t too muscular, which is pretty much why they missed out on being Gladiators. The new doctrine on the show is to use good looking people who are real athletes with good physiques, and to shy away from the freaky, overly muscular people who make the people at home think steroids when watching the show. They also want to shy away from individuals who have tattoos.

At least five wrestlers/MMA types have tried out for the second season of the show. Among those still in the running for spots as Gladiators are former WWE wrestlers Matt Morgan, Luther Reigns and Daniel Puder (who tried out for last season’s show and was cut). Women’s MMA star Erin Toughill is in the running for a women’s spot on the program. One former WWE wrestler who won’t be on the show is Chris Masters. He didn’t make the latest cut.

The second season of American Gladiators will start airing in July as summer filler programming. Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali are staying on as the hosts of the show.

Pictures REVEALED of Hulk Hogan’s MISTRESS