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"Buchignani's deceptively simple looking robot, Hazard, is BattleBots' number one ranked middleweight."
BattleBots: The Official Guide

Hazard was a middleweight robot built by Tony Buchignani and Dan Danknick of Team Delta, which competed in all but one season of Comedy Central BattleBots. Following Danknick's departure, Buchignani entered as Team Hazard.

It was a four-wheel drive, box-shaped robot armed with a top-mounted, 24.5lb hardened S7 tool steel blade, spinning at over 2000rpm and measuring 40" in length. The weapon's span meant Hazard was a danger from any angle as the bar was twice as long as the main frame of the robot, which was made from 5" 7075-T6 aluminum and protected with 3/8" thick Lexan.[1] For its debut season, the blade was even longer, measuring 48" in total. Hazard also featured a 0.15" titanium wedge and, in a later iteration, skirts made of the same material and thickness to prevent opponents from upending it from the sides. Hazard was one of the most successful competitors of its time, winning the middleweight in its debut appearance.

Hazard in April 2023

Hazard in April 2023, under new ownership.

Following a brief sabbatical which saw it not competing in Season 2.0, due to the team having doubts over being able to rebuild Hazard in time. Team Delta instead fought with Evil Fish Tank in the lightweight division, built on Hazard's chassis. It did not achieve the same success, falling in the quarter-finals to Toe-Crusher.

Returning for Season 3.0, Hazard continued its dominant streak, winning the next two middleweight titles. During this time, the robot's design was significantly upgraded and its feats earned it a reputation in BattleBots as an undefeated competitor. Despite a further redesign for Season 5.0, which saw the addition of hinged side skirts, Hazard's reign was eventually broken in the semi-finals, where it was flipped over by T-Minus and defeated by knockout for the first and only time in its BattleBots career. Hazard ultimately retired with a 17-1 career record, making it among the most successful robots in the show's history.

Hazard remained under the ownership of Tony Buchignani until April 2023, when it was purchased by BattleBots collector Lars Bakker.[2]

Outside BattleBots[]

HazardSteelConflict

Hazard at Steel Conflict.

Following the end of the Comedy Central run, Hazard also briefly competed at the 2002 Steel Conflict event though it was unable to replicate the same level of success it achieved in BattleBots. After defeating Mow-Blow in the first round by knockout in just 52 seconds[3], it ultimately lost out to Max Wedge and fell into the loser's bracket.[4] There, it would earn revenge over Max Wedge[5] before losing again to an unspecified opponent.

Hazard RoboNerd 2023

Hazard at RoboNerd 2023.

In 2023, Hazard was purchased by Dutch combat robot collector Lars Bakker, who brought it with him to the annual RoboNerd event in Wolverhampton, the United Kingdom, on September 2. This marked the robot's first public appearance outside the United States, displayed alongside competitors from Robot Wars, BattleBots, This is Fighting Robots and the UK live circuit.[6]

Robot History[]

Season 1.0[]

Hazard vs. Pegleg

Pegleg vs hazard

Hazard slashes Pegleg.

In its first ever match, it fought against Pegleg, a rookie walker robot with no weapon. Hazard easily destroyed the helpless Pegleg with one hit by ripping out its batteries and Pegleg was counted out at 31 seconds. Hazard won by KO and advanced to the quarter-finals.

Hazard vs. Turtle Road Kill

Hazardvsturtle sf00

Hazard hits Turtle Road Kill and gets sent flying by the killsaws.

In the quarter-finals, Hazard took on Turtle Road Kill. The two bots danced around for a while, with Turtle Road Kill retreating from Hazard's deadly blade. Finally the two bots collided and Turtle Road Kill was sent flying across the BattleBox. At that point, the match became a shoving match, as Hazard's blade stopped working. The match however was still in Hazard's favor because of its wedge was lower. Turtle Road Kill was hit by the killsws and sent flying once more. The match played out with Hazard slamming Turtle Road Kill into the spikestrip a few times. Hazard won on a unanimous 9-0 judges' decision and continued on.

Hazard vs. Spin Orbiting Force

HazardvsSOFO sf00

Hazard rips the motor off of Spin Orbiting Force.

Now in the semi-finals, Hazard fought Spin Orbiting Force. As soon as the buzzer sounded, Spin Orbiting Force rushed out of its square toward Hazard and stopped Hazard's blade from reaching full speed. Hazard quickly attempted to retreat to get its blade up to full speed, but Spin Orbiting Force stayed hot on its trail. The two bots drove around for a few seconds and then Spin Orbiting Force made a move. It charged Hazard, but missed and became wedged under the spikestrip. Spin Orbiting Force tried desperately to get free but Hazard began attacking, hitting it full force with its blade, knocking a motor off of Spin Orbiting Force and incapacitating its saw. Hazard then drove around and attempted to wedge Spin Orbiting Force even further into the spikes. After an off-kilter hit, Hazard accidentally freed Spin Orbiting Force from the spikes. Hazard then hit Spin Orbiting Force with its wedge and drove it into the spikes once more. The match once again became a shoving match with Hazard slamming Spin Orbiting Force into the arena walls. After one particular slam, Spin Orbiting Force became stuck on the spikes yet again but it managed to free itself. The bots spent the rest of the time driving around and Hazard got one last smash before the time ran out. Hazard won on a 7-2 judges' decision and moved on.

Hazard vs. Deadblow

Hazardvsdeadblow sf00

Hazard hits Deadblow, sending it flying.

Hazard took on Grant Imahara and Deadblow in the middleweight final. Both bots drove out and met each other in the middle of the BattleBox. Hazard's blade struck Deadblow once, then a few seconds later Deadblow retaliated with a few strikes with its pickaxe. Hazard then struck Deadblow with a lethal hit to the side, puncturing its paneling and incapacitating Deadblow and its battery. Deadblow was counted out by the referee and Hazard took the championship with a KO after just 53 seconds.

Middleweight Royal Rumble

Hazard rumble 1
Hazard also competed in the Middleweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. It performed well, mostly pushing robots with its front wedge and hardly using its blade. It did, however, land a strike near the very end against Bad Attitude. It was one of three robots still standing and was declared winner of the rumble.

Season 3.0[]

Hazard vs. Fusion

Hazardvsfusion sf01

Hazard hits the top of Fusion.

Season 2.0 ended, Tony Buchignani and Team Delta decided to bring Hazard out of retirement. Due to being a former middleweight champion, Hazard was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 3.0, where it eventually faced Team Saber's Fusion. Hazard went straight at Fusion and Hazard's blade caused damage to the front of Fusion. After Hazard pushed Fusion on the killsaws, Hazard pushed Fusion against the spike strip. Fusion was being counted out and Hazard won by KO. This win put Hazard to the Round of 16, where it faced Zion.

Hazard vs. Zion

Zionvshazard sf01

Hazard and Zion collide.

Immediately, Hazard brought its blade up to speed and ripped the top plate of Zion quite easily. Zion got underneath Hazard from the back and managed to tip Hazard to one side but Hazard's blade kept it upright when it returned to the floor. Hazard then began chasing Zion before Zion drove himself onto the Ramrods. Zion retaliated by ramming Hazard across the BattleBox, but suffered a nasty gash on the front wedge. The fight continued with Hazard causing consistent damage to Zion but not enough to immobilize it. Towards the end of the fight, Hazard's weapon motor began tiring out which allowed Zion to push Hazard towards the pulverizer but narrowly missed. Zion was ripped up but not killed and Hazard won on a 34-11 judges' decision. This win put Hazard to the middleweight quarter-finals again, where it faced F5.

Hazard vs. F5

Hazard vs f5 3

Hazard slams into F5 after driving it onto the piston to immobilize it.

In the match, Hazard used the arena piston to put F5 on its side and Hazard delivers another blow on the flipped F5. F5 was being counted out and Hazard won by KO at 1:16. This win put Hazard to the semi-finals, where it faced T-Wrex.

Hazard vs. T-Wrex

Hazardvstwrex sf01

Hazard and T-Wrex collide.

Both robots began the fight timidly approaching one other, before Hazard managed to score a hit on the front end of T-Wrex. It then began spinning and hit Hazard, who was sent reeling from the impact. Hazard then waited patiently for T-Wrex to slow down, and hit T-Wrex on the side panel. Hazard pushed T-Wrex onto the spikes and impaled it, but Hazard decided to free him and continue the fight. However, severe damage was caused to the side of T-Wrex and affected the steering of the opponent. Hazard sent more pieces of T-Wrex flying across the BattleBox, but T-Wrex was seemingly unscathed. Hazard got its blade up to top speed and hit T-Wrex once more, sending him flying. T-Wrex continued to fight, and managed to damage Hazard's front skirts. Hazard retaliated and pushed T-Wrex into the spikes twice. The fight went the distance, and Hazard advanced on a 27-18 judges' decision.

Hazard vs. Little Drummer Boy

Hazardvslittledrummerboy sf01

Hazard hits Little Drummer Boy.

Hazardvsdrummerboy sf01

Hazard pushed Little Drummer Boy under the pulverizer.

Awaiting Hazard in the middleweight title decider was Little Drummer Boy, who kicked off the fight by ramming Hazard, before Hazard attacked Little Drummer Boy's drum and debilitated it. Hazard then made several rips and dents in Little Drummer Boy's shell before pushing it onto the ramrods. Hazard continued to push Little Drummer Boy across the BattleBox before driving him into the pulverizer. Little Drummer Boy suffered further blows from the pulverizer, which caved in its top panel. The fight then turned into a pushing match, with Little Drummer Boy suffering the majority of the attacks. Hazard then scored a lucky shot against Little Drummer Boy which completely took out the left drive-train and sent Little Drummer Boy spinning in circles. Hazard struck Little Drummer Boy a few more times until it was no longer moving. Hazard had won by way of knockout and in doing so, earned a second Giant Nut.

Middleweight Royal Rumble

Badattitude MWRumble2 sf01
Hazard returned for the Middleweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. It was being attacked by Zion at one point, but Hazard managed to get away and start its blade up, only to be attacked again by Zion. It then approached an already-immobile Instigator before knocking into Double Agent, then tackling T-Minus. Hazard was then being attacked by Bad Attitude, who pushed T-Minus on top of Team Delta's bot. Hazard took advantage of this and was carrying T-Minus until it managed to escape. Hazard turned its attention to Bad Attitude, who shoved it into the wall but could not turn it over. Hazard was quiet for the remainder of the rumble, hitting Zion just as the buzzer activated. Hazard was one of few robots still moving in the end, but it lost overall to T-Minus.

Season 4.0[]

Hazard vs. Timmy

Hazardvstimmy sfb01

Hazard rips the front panel off of Timmy.

After reclaiming the middleweight Giant Nut, Hazard was heavily upgraded as it looked to defend its title. New wheels, a lower profile body, stronger front skirts, a faster weapon motor and an angled blade all helped Hazard to be more destructive than ever before. Its first fight in Season 4.0 was against Timmy. Timmy drove cautiously across the BattleBox floor but Hazard scored a hit on Timmy's front panel, causing a hole. Hazard then maneuvered Timmy around for a while, before ramming Timmy into the spikestrip. Hazard then brought its blade back up to speed and ripped the entire front panel of Timmy clean off, sending it flying across the BattleBox. Timmy was struck once more, taking off one of the front panel supports. Timmy began driving in circles before Hazard charged in again and took the rear panel of Timmy off, incapacitating it. One last blow from Hazard spun Timmy into the pulverizer, where it was hit several times before being counted out. Hazard won by KO at 1:23 and advanced to the Round of 16, where it faced SABotage.

Hazard vs. SABotage

Hazardvssabotage4

Hazard destroys SABotage's back panel.

Both robots drove around the BattleBox with SABotage taking a shot from the killsaws. The initial hit from the two middleweights was destructive, with Hazard taking part of SABotage's lifting arm off, causing a dent in the front left panel and bending its lifter to the left. The next hit didn't do much, but the hit after that ripped SABotage's wheel, leaving it to spin in circles. Hit after hit, Hazard kept causing more and more destruction, eventually bending both of SABotage's front panels towards each other, ripping the rear panel clean off and leaving it to smoke on top of the killsaws. SABotage was counted out in 1:07, putting Hazard through to the quarter-finals against Season 2.0 runner-up El Diablo.

Hazard vs. El Diablo

HazardvsElDiabloBB4

Hazard tears off El Diablo's drum.

The very first hit debilitated El Diablo's drum, stopping it but not causing any damage to the robot itself. Hazard charged at its drum again, before driving off and taking a shot at El Diablo's right side tread, destroying it. El Diablo was left spinning in circles, before Hazard finished it off by taking chunks out of El Diablo's Lexan track cover and wrecking its drum even more. A KO in 45 seconds pushed Hazard into the middleweight semi-finals against Heavy Metal Noise.

Hazard vs. Heavy Metal Noise

Hazardvshmn4

Hazard rips off one of Heavy Metal Noise's wheels.

This fight was over quickly, as the initial blow between the two robots incapacitated Heavy Metal Noise, leaving it pointing in the opposite direction. Another hit pushed Heavy Metal Noise slightly across the BattleBox, but doing minor damage. One more strike sent Heavy Metal Noise's right side wheel flying across the BattleBox into the Lexan wall, whilst one last hit took Heavy Metal Noise's rear panel off, and was hit so hard that its single blade was left seriously damaged. Heavy Metal Noise was counted out soon after, meaning Hazard advanced to the finals again.

Hazard vs. Complete Control

Hazardvscompletecontrol4

Hazard destroys Complete Control.

In the final, Hazard fought Derek Young and Complete Control. For the fight, Complete Control had welded a titanium skirt on the rear in an attempt to deflect the blows from Hazard's deadly spinning blade, and was planning to keep reversing into Hazard until the blade was hopefully stopped. The fight began fairly well for Complete Control, despite the fact its left skirt had been loosened by Hazard's blade. Sparks were emitted, but Complete Control was able to push Hazard across the BattleBox for a while. Hazard eventually escaped, and this time pushed Complete Control into an exposed arena wall, tearing the sticker on the back of Complete Control and causing more sparks, before allowing Complete Control to back out. Hazard continued to grind away, before the inevitable happened. Hazard tore off Complete Control's loose left rear panel, and then turned around before taking off Complete Control's titanium skirt completely. Hazard then charged at Complete Control once more, sending more pieces flying. Complete Control attempted to grapple Hazard with its weapon, but Hazard tore into its arm, leaving it bent and useless. At this point, smoke began emitting from Complete Control and was debilitated in the middle of the BattleBox. Hazard drove towards Complete Control's loose panel and sent it flying upwards, tearing apart the chassis. Hazard then went to the opposite side of Complete Control and did the same to its opposite skirt, only this one was torn off. Complete Control had been completely destroyed, with its thumb slowly lowering down as it was counted out. Hazard won the match by KO at 1:16 and won its third championship.

Season 5.0[]

Hazard vs. Misty the Wonderbot

MistyandHazardCollide

Misty and Hazard collide.

HazardvsMisty sf02

Hazard tears a wheel off of Misty.

In pursuit of a record fourth title, Hazard's first fight in Season 5.0 was against Misty the WonderBot. In the fight, Hazard got its bar up to full speed and attacked Misty, causing sparks before tearing off one of the teeth on Misty's spinning bar, leaving Misty to twitch as its weapon spun down. Hazard then slammed into Misty again, causing plenty of sparks. Hazard's next hit ripped off one of Misty's wheels, leaving Misty's mobility very limited. Misty spun its weapon back up before having its remaining wheel removed and what was left of its body pushed into the spikestrip and the pulverizer to be counted out.

Hazard vs. Blade Runner

Bandicam 2020-10-23 16-50-16-512

Hazard Rips off one of Blade Runner's wheels.

Bladerunnerdestroyed

Hazard completely destroyed Blade Runner.

Hazard advanced to the Round of 16, where it faced a newly redesigned Blade Runner. Before the fight, the Blade Runner team had added a special extension that in theory would stop Hazard's blade. In the fight, Both robots came out with nerves of each other. Hazard decided to back into Blade Runner, but Blade Runner took this opportunity to get under Hazard's wedge skirts. Hazard brought its front to Blade Runner and tore off a wheel before its weapon spun down briefly. It wasn't long before Hazard's weapon was at full power and Hazard took off any remaining mobility Blade Runner had left, leaving Blade Runner to be counted out. Hazard won by KO after just over a minute.

Hazard vs. Zion

HazardvsZionBB5

The impact between Hazard and Zion.

Hazard was now in the quarter-finals in a rematch against Zion. In the fight, Hazard got its bar up to speed and began to slice into Zion, who rushed out of its corner to stop Hazard's bar getting up to speed. With this being ineffective, Zion's only tactic was to get under Hazard, where it managed to do so but not before Hazard managed to cut and rip off Zion's front plates to the lifting arm. Once again Zion survived the three minute bout, but it lost to Hazard in a 43-2 judges' decision.

Hazard vs. T-Minus

T-Minus Hazard hit Season 5

Hazard's bar becomes jammed.

Once again, Hazard was in the middleweight semi-finals, this time against T-Minus. Before the fight, Inertia Labs had modified their robot with a flipping arm extension. In the fight, Hazard approached T-Minus with its bar spinning up to full speed. Hazard went to slam into T-Minus but backed away as it threatened to land a flip. T-Minus then got under Hazard's front wedge, jamming one of its front skirts into the path of its own weapon. With its devastating weapon now a non-factor, T-Minus drove to Hazard's back end without fear and flipped it over. With Inertia Labs ecstatic, T-Minus ended Hazard's winning streak and it was eliminated from the tournament. This proved to be the only loss in Hazard's BattleBots career.

Competitive Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 17
  • Losses: 1

Exhibition Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 1
  • Losses: 1

Total Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 18
  • Losses: 2
Competition Wins Losses
Season 1.0 Pegleg
Turtle Road Kill
Super Orbiting Force
Deadblow
None
Season 3.0 Fusion
Zion
F5
T-Wrex
Little Drummer Boy
T-Minus (Rumble)
Season 4.0 Timmy
SABotage
El Diablo
Heavy Metal Noise
Complete Control
None
Season 5.0 Misty the WonderBot
Blade Runner
Zion
T-Minus

Honors[]

HAZARD
Season 1.0
Giant Nut
Middleweight Royal Rumble
Season 3.0
Giant Nut
Season 4.0
Giant Nut

Mark Beiro Introductions[]

"He's a helicopter from hell who will make your brain swell. Lock up the young ones, it's HAZARD!"

"He is warm, tender, cuddly little ball of evil violence and hate. Give it up for HAZARD!"

"Ready to use his hardened steel blade of death to carve his opponents like metal turkeys. Here is HAZARD!"

"He's looking to be the first BattleBots champion ever to reclaim his title. His ultimate goal is to raise the robot death toll. Here is HAZARD!"

"The two-time champion is stronger than nukes. Losing is inevitable so put up your dukes. Here is HAZARD!"

"4 out of 5 dentists agree this two time champion is bad for your teeth and your head and your whole damn metal body. Here is HAZARD!"

"This former champion came out of retirement to reclaim his middleweight crown. That's not adrenaline coursing through his veins, its jet black liquid hate. Go! Save yourself. Its HAZARD!"

"Here is two-time BattleBots world middleweight champion, HAZARD!"

"Your vision is blurred. Your speech is slurred. You look like a nerd after a beating from HAZARD!"

"This bot is so good, so efficient and he wins so often that frankly, its getting a little annoying, but you gotta hand it to the defending middleweight champion, HAZARD!"

Merchandise[]

Any appearances by Hazard in merchandise are listed below:

Trivia[]

  • Curiously, despite Hazard being one of the show's most successful robots, its only appearances in merchandise came in video games.
  • Hazard cost approximately $5000 to build, according to its team.
  • The only time its bar was disabled in battle was against Turtle Road kill.
  • The only robot Hazard got to fight more than once in a tournament was Zion.

References[]

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