The only male contender to take on the Gladiators during Season One and live to tell the tale, Rocket explodes with blazing speed every time he’s launched into the Gladiator Arena. This is one ruthless competitor who will charm you with a blinding smile right until the moment he roars up beside you like lightning, to toss you to your doom.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Evan Dollard, what’s up buddy?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I am doing well man, things are good.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: What’s it like to be doing interviews as an American Gladiator as opposed to a contestant.

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I love it, I have wanted to get into the industry for a while now. It is everything I expected and then some.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Talk with us about what started this journey for you, and how did you end up applying to be on the show?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: My roommate actually ran across an open casting call notice online so we decided to go check it out. I ended up waiting six hours before it was my turn to audition.

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Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Did you physically prepare yourself before you went to the open casting call?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I have always maintained a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and physical activity but I kicked my workouts up a notch before I applied and auditioned.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: How did you get dubbed “Rocket”? Did you have any input into your name or was it handed to you?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I did get to chat with the producers about a name that we all felt would fit my stature and speed.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Can you tell us a name or names that didn’t make it?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: “RipTide” was another idea I had, since I felt it also fit my agility and speed, but “Rocket” stuck and fit a bit better.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: What’s it like to go from contestant to cast and what surprised you the most now that you’re on the other side of the fence so to speak?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: It is a whole new world and it has been filled with surprises. The biggest surprise was getting to know the people behind the characters they play on American Gladiators.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Can you give us an example?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: For example, all I knew about Wolf was that he talked a lot of trash and sniffed my ear when I was a contestant. After I became a gladiator we hit the gym together and he has helped me with my character development.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: We have fans on our site who want to be contestants, talk to us about what it’s like to compete on the show? Is it really hard or is it staged a bit like wrestling.

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: If it helps to talk about examples from last season, we had two guys go down with torn ACL’s, this is a legit and difficult competition. I would tell would be contestants not to try and bulk up before the show, speed and agility are going to be your best allies.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Who was the toughest American Gladiator you faced as a competitor?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I didn’t go up against him often but when Tor and I faced off I knew I was in for some trouble. He is one of those guys who is very muscular but also very fast, it is a lethal combination.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: From what I read you’re 5’10 and about 160. Have you been bulking up or will you bulk up a bit more?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I did start hitting the gym with Wolf and started doing heavier weight training and isolating body parts. I also increased my calorie intake to help build more mass. I am now about 172 pounds.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Do you want to put on more mass or are you happy with where you are now?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: I would love to be a solid lean 180 pounds.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Thanks for chatting with us today, American Gladiators premiers tonight, can you give us an idea of what to expect this season?

A. Evan Dollard aka Rocket From American Gladiators: You’re going to see a bunch of new events, new gladiators and challenges. Rocket ball is awesome. You will see two people flying 30 feet up into the air, its going to be crazy.


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