Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1/Wild Card Warriors

The Wild Card Warrior battles were a series of one-on-one battles held during Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1. A new robot which had not fought in the main competition before took on an experienced veteran in order to win themselves a place in Robot Wars. However, only one of the newcomers won a battle here, but the victory was not televised. The idea of this tournament may have been influential on the creation of the New Blood Championship in Extreme 2.


 * Dominator 2's victory over The Executioner is ranked 8th in the Shortest Battles in UK Robot Wars. It is the quickest battle in both Extreme series.
 * TX-108 was the only newcomer to win a battle, defeating Hypno-Disc via the veteran breaking down. However, the fight was never televised, possibly due to its short length and presumed lack of exciting content.
 * From the six newcomers, only Axe Awe and The Executioner fought in the UK Series after this, with Draven and TX-108 failing to qualify and the assumption being that the other two failed as well. However, The Spider and Axe Awe were not true newcomers, the teams having fought in previous UK Championships with different machines, The Spider with Robocow and Axe Awe with Iron Awe.
 * This marked Behemoth's first Out of the Arena flip, and the first robot not to use a flipping weapon to do so.
 * It was also the first case of a House Robot throwing a robot out of the arena, with Sir Killalot doing so to Stinger in its battle. However, as cease had already been called, Stinger still won the judges' decision.
 * King B Powerwork's battle against Draven is the only battle in Robot Wars history to be extensively edited after its original airing (on BBC Choice). Draven had originally gone by the name of "Anthrax", but after an anthrax scare occured at around the time its fight aired on BBC2, the name had to be changed. As a result, all usage of the Anthrax name by Craig Charles and Julia Reed was removed, and Jonathan Pearce re-commentated the entire fight.
 * Mortis was originally scheduled to fight Axe Awe, but was replaced by Panic Attack at the last minute.

Robots Competing
Veterans Newcomers
 * Stinger
 * Behemoth
 * King B Powerworks
 * Dominator 2
 * Panic Attack
 * Hypno-Disc
 * Ajjay
 * The Spider
 * Draven
 * The Executioner
 * Axe Awe
 * TX-108

Stinger vs Ajjay
The fight began with both robots largely dodging each other. Ajjay made the first attack, ramming into Stinger whilst avoiding its bludgeoning spike, but its spinning weapon didn't appear to be working. Stinger missed several hits with its spike, and Ajjay continued to ram it, eventually hitting it into the pit release button. Stinger drove away, and Ajjay attempted to ram it again, but made no meaningful attacks, whilst Stinger merely continued to slam its mace on the arena floor. "But is there control? Is there any aim to this?"

- Jonathan Pearce noting both robots lacking in good control

The constant dodging continued, with Ajjay seemingly unable to control itself properly. This became evident when, under no pressure, it drove straight into Sir Killalot's CPZ, who picked it up in his claws. "Ajjay! Ajjay! Ajjay!? OK? KO? I think so...."

- Jonathan Pearce

He eventually dropped Ajjay, who drove onto the flame pit. Ajjay then drove at Stinger, who at last started landing meaningful attacks with its spike. The two robots then continued to drive at each other. "The underdogs have come here, though, with plenty of pluck, determination and courage, and we'll give them credit for that"

- Jonathan Pearce praises Ajjay

A few more less meaningful attacks occurred to both robots, and suddenly Stinger reversed towards Sir Killalot, who grabbed hold of it by its axle. He then proceeded to carry it towards the arena wall; cease was called, but Killalot dropped Stinger out anyway. The judges were called to make a decision. "Now, this is not a unanimous decision. They've decided, two-to-one, that the winners are Stinger!"

- Craig Charles announces the decision

Winner: Stinger

Behemoth vs The Spider
"There's always new ones, they always stand to their own fair chance, but they're not too sure what it's like out in the real world of the battles and, well, we're quite familiar ourselves, so we'll show them what it's like"

- Michael Pritchard

The battle begun with both robots dodging around each other. After three of these, they both drove front on at each other, and Behemoth flipped The Spider over, driving it straight into the arena wall. Upon contact, Spider's spinning blades made matters worse for itself by pulling it up the wall. Behemoth charged at the stuck Spider, knocking it onto its side. It then made another charge and lifted it over the arena wall altogether. This was the first time a non-flipper weapon had thrown another robot out of the arena. "Out of the web, out of the picture, out of the plan!"

- Jonathan Pearce after the quick battle

Winner: Behemoth

King B Powerworks vs Draven
"I've been talking to Martin (Gutkowski) who's the team captain, and I've always laughed at his robot, saying "Oh, it's so complicated, you've taken two years to get that going, you'll never get it going, it's going to fall over as soon as you get in there"...and he HAS got it going and now it's frightening"

- Simon Harrison, captain of King B Powerworks, on Draven's back-story

King B Powerworks got off to the faster start, but the first few moments of the battle had the two simply driving around one another. Eventually, Draven managed to catch King B within its jaw, but wasn't able to close it in time and instead pushed it around the arena. King B when attempted to use its saw on Draven, but it did not appear to be working. Draven took the advantage and pushed King B into the CPZ, but the more experienced machine escaped. With its saw out of action, King B attempted to use its lifting spikes to ram Draven's side, but no damage was caused. Draven eventually managed to catch King B Powerworks again, but the jaw was too slow to catch its faster adversary. "Draven had a chance there to close the beak on King B and they failed to do so. If it goes to the judges, they will have taken notice of that"

- Jonathan Pearce

King B then attempted to use its saw on Draven again, which seemed to flicker back to life momentarily before stopping again. With this failing, it attempted to use its spikes again and this time it was able to get underneath Draven and hook itself between its wheels. Draven attempted to escape by raising its lifting mechanism, but this only caused part of its armour to break off. Unable to escape, King B took the immediate advantage and, in a decidedly Panic Attack-equse move, activated the pit and pushed Draven straight in. "And once again, it's the more experienced robot, King B Powerworks, that wins it"

- Jonathan Pearce

Winner: King B Powerworks

Dominator 2 vs The Executioner
"Go home, guys. You're gonna get trashed"

- Mark Nenadic, of The Executioner

As soon as the battle began, The Executioner drove away from Dominator 2 and attempted to press the pit release button, but missed. It attempted a second time, with the same result. A third attempt finally managed to open the pit as Dominator tried to push underneath it. It missed an axe blow and The Executioner drove away, but as Dominator gave chase, the newcomer suddenly turned around and drove straight into the desending pit. "Well it took them long enough to activate the pit release, and as soon as they did they went straight down!"

- Jonathan Pearce on The Executioner's appaling driving

At about 16-18 seconds, it proved to be the quickest battle in either series of Robot Wars Extreme.

Winner: Dominator 2

Panic Attack vs Axe-Awe
"You've got one shot and make it a good one, because it's the only one you're gonna have"

- Kim Davis' message to Axe Awe

Despite both robots low speed of 8mph, the battle started quickly. Axe Awe spun around, revealing its rear to Panic Attack, but the former champion did not capitalize. The two eventually charged at each other front on, but clashed slightly to the side, resulting in Axe Awe missing an attack with the axe. Axe Awe then tried to use its flipper, but missed and Panic Attack reversed away. Axe Awe tried another attack with its flipper, and managed to lift up one of Panic Attack's skirts. Panic Attack came back strongly by lifting up Axe Awe from the side, meaning it was unable to use its axe properly. Panic Attack then rolled Axe Awe over, but the Wild Card quickly righted itself using its axe. It spun again, exposing its back to Panic Attack, and this time the veteran took advantage, ramming it into the side wall and lifting it up onto its top, keeping Axe Awe's wheels off its body using its lifting forks. "This is all rather inevitable, isn't it?"

- Jonathan Pearce, realizing what Panic Attack has in mind

Axe Awe was powerless to do anything as Panic Attack pulled off its signature move, carrying its opponent towards the pit release, then dropping it into the pit. "Axe Awe in awe of an ex-UK champion!"

- Craig Charles after the battle

Winner: Panic Attack

Hypno-Disc vs TX-108
30 seconds after the battle began, Hypno-Disc broke down and TX-108 was declared the winner and the only robot to triumph over a veteran. However, the battle was never aired on television, leaving many viewers with the impression that none of the newcomers won a battle.

Winner: TX-108