I'll admit that as a person who does not count themselves a sports fan and who shies away from almost all shows involving actual real physical activity, the American Gladiator show pulled me in from nearly the beginning.
I think that the part I truly enjoyed was all of the interesting contests and the changes to the contests that made it different from everything else out there. I mean, anyone can watch a group of football players who have been training and practicing for this one sport since they were children, but the gladiator contestants were every day people who had no idea what specific events they were going to have to do when they joined.
The fun names of the players, the interesting and yet fairly safe events, and the excitement of seeing the person you've rooted for take home the prize. Yes, I would very much like to see the show on the air again, or even on DVD.