Designed and built by Zack Bieber of El Diablo fame, Razorback was armed with a grabbing jaw, which was interchangeable with a lifting wedge for battling spinners, and a vertical spinning weapon of its own. However, it was destroyed its first match of its debut season by Icewave. However, it won a grudge match against Complete Control after the tournament ended.
CAD of Razorback in its drum spinner configuration.
Bieber teased the possibility of a new build robot in 2019,[1] but would not make his BattleBots return until the 2023 live show BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon. Specifically for the shows, he built a new heavyweight robot based on his iconic middleweight called Diablo.
Razorback in the pits during World Championship II.
Razorback's plow configuration during World Championship I.
Razorback's plow configuration during World Championship II.
In its first round match, Razorback took on Marc DeVidts and Icewave. Zack Bieber stated he would adopt an aggressive drive style against its opponent, a strategy Kenny Florian agreed with pre-fight.
Icewave strikes Razorback's right side
Razorback immediately began on the defensive as Icewave struck its plow several times. Icewave then retreated to spin up its powerful bar spinner before slamming into the side of Razorback.
"Icewave's trying to get some distance... trying to get to speed. OH my goodness! Huge sparks with every hit from Icewave."
— Kenny Florian as Icewave gains the early advantage
Icewave tears the front wedge off of Razorback.
Razorback was attacked again, with Icewave's 300mph bar spinner this time leaving a noticeable gash in its armor. This was followed up by a strike which tore Razorback's plow away, revealing its lifting forks. A wounded Razorback reversed away from danger but Icewave gave chase, tearing the plow clean off and sending it towards the drivers' booths, prompting Marc DeVidts to flinch in response to the flying debris.
"There are robot parts everywhere right now in the BattleBox!"
— Kenny Florian
Icewave tears into Razorback.
Icewave's assault continued as it tore a chunk out of Razorback's right-front wheel before swiping against its front, breaking off the right fork. Its compromised wheel was now completely dislodged from the robot, sitting loose inside the wheel well before falling out. Another strike ate into the front of Razorback, who lay helpless near the screws.
Team Diablo watch on as their robot smoulders.
As Icewave drove underneath, smoke began to pour and a count-out mercifully began on Razorback. Icewave advanced at Razorback's expense, who was not given a wildcard and was eliminated as a result.
Razorback vs. Complete Control (Exhibition)
Razorback later had a grudge match against Complete Control. For this match, Razorback was armed with its vertical spinner weapon.
Razorback destroys Complete Control's attachment.
In the beginning, both robots drove straight at each other and Razorback tore off Razorback's attachment. As this was happening, Razorback managed to push Complete Control under the pulverizer. Complete Control backed away and activated its flamethrower before getting hit by Razorback's spinning bar again. Complete Control then managed to flip Razorback onto its back with its lifting arm and Razorback pushed it onto the killsaws. Complete Control went straight at Razorback and lifted it toward the killsaws.
Complete Control lifts Razorback over the killsaws.
Complete Control got its clamping arm onto the left side of the flipped Razorback and tossed it back onto its wheels. Both robots went straight at each other again and Complete Control lifted Razorback again. Complete Control got its clamping arm onto the front of Razorback and both robots were being popped by the hellraisers. Both robots moved to the corner of the BattleBox and Complete Control drove itself under the pulverizer.
Both robots are disturbed by the hellraisers.
Suddenly, Complete Control stopped moving after this and was counted out by the referee. Razorback ultimately won the grudge match by knockout.
World Championship II[]
Razorback vs. SawBlaze
Razorback pre-fight.
Razorback's first match of the 2016 season was against Jamison Go and SawBlaze. It was equipped with its drum spinner weapon for this qualifying battle.
SawBlaze was the fastest robot out of its starting square, immediately looking to scoop underneath Razorback and attack with its overhead weapon. Razorback's drum made contact with SawBlaze's dustpan wedge as it was pinned against the screws early on, stopping the arena hazard on impact. Though its saw was spinning, SawBlaze's arm did not swing over on this occasion.
Razorback is attacked by the cutting disc of SawBlaze.
Razorback fled from danger but was quickly captured by its opponent again. This time, SawBlaze's arm came over and delivered its saw into the top of the veterans' robot. The drum spinner of Razorback was still active during this pin and grinded against SawBlaze's dustpan scoop again, but caused minimal damage. Zack Bieber drove his robot away, narrowly avoiding the pulverizer before SawBlaze got underneath again. Razorback drove over the top of SawBlaze, whose spinning weapon appeared disabled.
Razorback is pinned by SawBlaze and the pulverizer.
After once again being scooped up by SawBlaze, Razorback was taken to the hazards and held in place by the pulverizer hammer. It continued to buffet against the scoop of SawBlaze, but it held firm and allowed the rookie robot to dictate the tempo of the fight.
The fight goes the distance.
With under a minute remaining, SawBlaze now took Razorback to the opposite corner before releasing in the middle of the arena. It then drove Razorback towards the pulverizer once more, but the hammer missed. Razorback's primary weapon stopped in the closing moments as SawBlaze remained the aggressor until time ran out.
Both robots separated and while Razorback drove back to the red square, SawBlaze swung its arm in celebration. A split decision was announced, with Fon Davis and Jessica Chobot casting in votes for Razorback and SawBlaze respectively. In a controversial twist, the decisive vote from Adam Savage went in favor of Razorback, who advanced to the Round of 32. However, this did not sit well with the live audience, whose booing was mainly cut from the televised edit.[2]
Post-fight, reporter Samantha Ponder labeled the decision as "controversial" ahead of Razorback's next fight, and Chris Rose stated Team Contraption Lab were "surprised" by the outcome.
In an April 2022 livestream, SawBlaze team captain Jamison Go upheld the opinion that, in line with the 2016 Tournament Rules, SawBlaze should have won the fight, but regretted not showcasing to weapon functionality to the judges.[3]
Razorback vs. Ghost Raptor
Entering the Round of 32 as the No.15 seed, Razorback's took on the No.18 seed Ghost Raptor. For this fight, Razorback went with its jaw configuration.
Razorback grapples Ghost Raptor onto its back.
The match began with Razorback rushing towards Ghost Raptor while it attempted to get its blade up to top speed. Razorback took a few hits before twisting Ghost Raptor over. As Ghost Raptor attempted to right itself, Razorback pushed it into the screws. Ghost Raptor landed back onto its base, only to be flipped back over and pushed under the pulverizer, where it was hammered on its base until it was counted out.
Razorback won by KO in 1:36 and advanced to the Round of 16.
Razorback vs. Bronco
Now in the Round of 16, Razorback took on another veteran team - Inertia Labs and the No.2 seed Bronco.
Razorback rides up Bronco's wedge and gets flipped.
Early on, Bronco decided to use its tail armor to fend off Razorback's drum. Razorback made multiple attempts to attack their six exposed wheels but Bronco kept its plow pointed at Razorback. Eventually, Razorback managed to attack but got far enough onto the back of Bronco to be launched into the air by its flipper.
Bronco flips Razorback onto its side.
After more maneuvering, Razorback again drove up the back of Bronco and was launched into the air, once again landing on its wheels. However, when this happened a third time, Razorback ended up on its side and was unable to move or self-right.
Razorback was counted out and Bronco won by KO at 1:21. This meant that Razorback was eliminated from the tournament again.
