AHC: Revive Gladiatorial Combat After Fall of Rome

Although there have been many blood sports in history (bear-baiting being particularly popular in Britain once), Roman gladiatorial combat is the most infamous. Historically, gladiator games were abolished due to Christian moral outrage at the practice and increasing military costs. Which kind of post-Roman society do you think might have had a chance to bring back the idea of humans killing other humans for entertainment? Why didn't it seem to exist in other ancient societies besides Rome? Why did it arise in Rome in the first place if it wasn't common in other contemporary cultures? Bonus points if these new gladiatorial games last long enough for it to be broadcast on TV/radio like the Hunger Games's Panem.

For the purposes of this challenge, it does NOT have to be a Western society.

(Yes, I know that many gladiator games did not end in death in practice, but the idea of not trying to avert death or serious injury like modern martial arts sports is key)
 
The Aztecs were bloodthirsty enough for the challenge. I'm embarrassed for not immediately thinking of them as a possible candidate! :eek:

Well the Aztecs aren't who you would think of as a post-Roman society. I'd think of European nations and societies, like the Byzantines, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths or later nations. Maybe one of the Christian nations could revive the practice during the Crusades, for captured Muslims? Considering how far the Church went to dehumanize their Muslim enemies, I can see something like the Coliseum games being revived.
 
Well the Aztecs aren't who you would think of as a post-Roman society. I'd think of European nations and societies, like the Byzantines, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths or later nations. Maybe one of the Christian nations could revive the practice during the Crusades, for captured Muslims? Considering how far the Church went to dehumanize their Muslim enemies, I can see something like the Coliseum games being revived.
Wasn't the Coliseum a religious site?
 
I think the Aztecs might have a shot. Maybe it could be a religious thing, a substitute for industrial-scale human sacrifice.

The Aztecs did use it as a form of human sacrifice. But it wasn't exactly a challenging fight (they pitted a fully decked out jaguar warrior against an enemy POW who was shacked to a post and armed with a feather sword.

Well the Aztecs aren't who you would think of as a post-Roman society. I'd think of European nations and societies, like the Byzantines, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths or later nations. Maybe one of the Christian nations could revive the practice during the Crusades, for captured Muslims? Considering how far the Church went to dehumanize their Muslim enemies, I can see something like the Coliseum games being revived.

OP said it didn't have to be Western. For the record, maybe the Māori could have a sport like it.
 
Didn't OTL medieval military games and tournaments actually fit your OP?
They were quite far from gladiatorial fight per se (especially the, really technical, religious ground) and certainly not in the idea of "blood for blood throne" (but neither were gladiatorial fight).

However, they bear many similarities :
- Actual fight, since carolingian military games (pursuit and melee fight) up to really violent fight if not death.
- Gain of not only wealth but legitimisation from it (remember than some roman emperors took on themselves to fight for this reason)
- More important ritualisation as times goes, but bearing sort of self-parody as well in some occasion
 
Top