With the first season of the new American Gladiators about to wind down on Sunday, February 17, we found American Gladiators Siren and Wolf on a recent conference call where they let their guard down long enough to talk about their own lives, what it's like to be an "American Gladiator", their favorite events, and how they deal with trash-talk from the competitors.

Wolf and his previous run-ins with animals:

"Well, I’ve been a professional rodeo clown/bull fighter for 23 years. So for all that time, I’ve been traveling all over the country protecting bull riders and also just freestyle fighting 2000 pound animals that their only purpose in life is to try and hurt somebody, and try to kill them. And I’ve had my share of injuries. I’ve had over 130 broken bones, three knee surgeries. My Achilles tendon ruptured and then I got gored in '06, and they had to do emergency surgery to save my life. And I've come back from every injury stronger and better, and faster just like the American Gladiators."

Siren on the Gladiator locker room vibe before each competition:

"The vibe is - it’s like being on a team sport. We’re like professional athletes that share a locker room - it’s a tight environment. So you have to have good energy in there. And there [are] some times when you want to really prepare and get into the mindset for your event, which is hard to do around a bunch of people. So often we would just put our headphones on and listen to pump-up music and - or we’d walk into the set in an area where we could warm up and get into the zone. But it was 100% supportive. Whoever was getting ready next, we would pump each other up and try to give advice, and just be there to support each other. And then when we came back into the locker room it was high-five'ing and cheering. And if we lost, we’d talk it through like. 'Oh hey, maybe try this next time.' So the vibe - we had our locker rooms right next to each other so we were often in each other’s locker rooms... of course, when we were dressed. And all the girls and the guys, we’re just like a family so the vibe was great."

Siren on whether the Gladiators are competitive with each other over the players:

"No, not at all. No, you can’t - you've got to let your ego go in this kind of a sport. We all made it this far. It’s like being on a professional sports team. If you let your ego get in the way and you want to be the star on your team, then you’re really not a team player and your team is not going to go as far. So what’s the point? It’s just not worth it. We were so supportive of each other, probably more than anyone thinks that we would be. But that’s who we are as people."

Wolf on what's it's like to hear trash talk from the players:

"You know, we are a family and we do have each other’s backs. And so yeah, when you do see somebody doing something like that, it does get under your skin and hurts you for the other person. You know, that’s like one of the girls was grabbing the girls in the Gauntlet by their necks and by their heads. And it was like, 'Okay, we’re trying to play by the rules and she’s not,' you know. And Siren is a lot nicer than me. And if some guy is going to come out and he’s going to start doing cheap shots like that - if he wants to trash talk, that’s fine. I can trash talk with the best of them. If he wants to start doing cheap shots, if he wants to go that route, the Wolf will go that route with him, and I will win."

Siren on bonding with Wolf:

"We definitely bonded on the set and helped each other - showed each other kind of our own process - we shared some of the books that we were reading together that are motivational books and just our own process. I actually write my goals down on note cards and, as well as motivational and affirmation type of passages that we use - and I wrote one for Wolf when he was going through a tough day. We use these things to help us stay positive because you’re on national television in front of millions of people. Although you can’t see them, you know that’s what’s going to happen when it airs. And you have to be on your A-game all the time. There is no, 'poor me' or 'I don’t feel like it right now,' or 'I had a bad day.' You have to have a good day every day, and there’s no other way to do it but to power yourself up with positive affirmations, and to focus on your ultimate goals and purposes. Like when I lost in the Joust that first time, I was really, really mad about it."

Wolf on whether he was a fan of the original American Gladiators:

"Huge fan of the show in the 80's... I had a few different favorites. Just in the male category - Nitro was one of my favorites because he was very intense. I mean, he was very serious about his job and I liked that. You know, he had a lot of drive. And then when it came to the women, of course Ice - she was a phenomenal athlete, beautiful girl and she also took her job very serious and she would hurt you if it came down to it."

Hanging Tough with American Gladiators Siren and Wolf Page 2