Original Gladiators star Wolf has slammed new star Viper for trying to take his place as the show villain, insisting: ‘There’s only one Wolf’.
Michael Van Wijk, otherwise known as Wolf, appeared on the hit show for all eight series between 1992 and 2000 and was one of the most popular gladiators.
The 71-year-old was known for his mean persona, and soon became the resident ‘baddie’ of the show.
Gladiators returned to screens last month after 24 years, with a whole new cast OF superhuman-like athletes challenging members of the public to take them on in gruelling physical challenges.
Original Gladiators star Wolf has slammed new star Viper for trying to take his place as the show villain, insisting: ‘There’s only one Wolf’ (pictured in 1995)
Michael Van Wijk, otherwise known as Wolf, appeared on the hit show for all eight series between 1992 and 2000 and was one of the most popular gladiators (pictured in 2019)
The 71-year-old was known for his mean persona, and soon became the resident ‘baddie’ of the show (pictured in 1995 with Brian Conley)
One viewer tweeted: ‘Viper is what you get when you try to order “Wolf” through wish’ while another quipped: ‘Viper is just a BTEC Wolf’.
A third echoed: ‘It’s obvious Viper is trying so hard to be the new Wolf. But he just isn’t’ while a fourth penned: ‘Viper there is only one Wolf Man!!!!!!!!!!’
Now the star himself has spoken out, agreeing that Viper is trying to imitate him and insisting ‘the original is always the best’.
Speaking to The Sun, Michael said: ‘There’s only one Wolf. He’s a carbon copy of me but the original is always the best.’
Viper, who is a fitness model and practicing boxer, was also slammed last week by viewers for ‘cheating’.
In the Duel challenge, Viper took on contestant Ash as they attempted to knock each other off a podium.
But Viper lashed out before the whistle was blown to signal the start of the game, prompting the referee to disqualify him for breaking the rules.
Viper was left very unimpressed and looking like he was going to attack the umpire, but fans at home weren’t convinced.
Gladiators returned to screens last month after 24 years, with a whole new cast, but star Viper – whose real name is Quang Luong – has received a very lukewarm reception (pictured)
Many fans accused him of trying to be Wolf, calling him the ‘ Poundland version’ and insisting he would never be able to live up to the legend
Now the star himself has spoken out, agreeing that Viper is trying to imitate him and insisting ‘the original is always the best’ (pictured on show)
Some said he should be removed from the show for breaking the rules while others insisted it was a ‘scripted’ performance, branding the programme ‘pantomime’.
It comes after Michael claimed he contacted the BBC to offer his services for the reboot and was snubbed, saying he still believed he could compete on the show.
Speaking to GB News last month, the father-of-four said: ‘I really enjoyed doing it and to be perfectly honest with you, all joking aside, I could do it right now. I’m 71 years old. I’m 71 years old and fit. I’m strong. I’ve never stopped training.
‘I wanted to take part in some shape or form in the new series, or even be a co-host, but when I contacted them, I got no reply.
‘I think they basically wanted to get away from everything to do with the original show and just do it their own way, which is understandable.’
Despite the snub, Michael was enthusiastic about the reboot, adding: ‘I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s going to be a lot harder for them this time around because of Netflix and Prime and there’s a lot of competition. Whereas before we didn’t have all that.’
It comes after Michael claimed he contacted the BBC to offer his services for the reboot and was snubbed, saying he still believed he could compete on the show (pictured in 2019)
‘I couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t even go to a shopping mall. I’d be mobbed. I never envisioned it was going to be that big. You just don’t realise the power of television.’
Speaking about playing the bad guy role he said: ‘It was my idea but, because when they said to me your name is going to be Wolf – they chose the names, we had no say in that.
‘It was fantastic for me because the character was so strong. They kept me on the show for the whole eight years.’
Michael now runs a chain of gyms in New Zealand and is the father of four children, while he has been married to wife Paula Keen since 1997.
