We here at Reimaru Files are huge fans of both Japanese mecha and professional wrestling, so when someone tells us there are actual fighting robots performing missile drop kicks on other fighting robots, you’d best believe we’re all over it.
I was browsing my Facebook feed when I ran into this gem of a video by RFL 台灣機器人格鬥聯盟. While I knew robot battles were a thing, prior to this video the only kinds of robot battles I was actually aware of were Battlebots, which look more like angry RC cars than mechs, and the Real-Steel-but-not-really Robot Combat League. Both were entertaining enough, but neither had the Japanese mecha flavor we were looking for.
Look at that. Just look at that. These are real humanoid-framed robots with four working limbs. They walk into the ring to music. They pose and taunt their opponent. Around the 6:40 mark the white robot crouches and shoots for the silver one’s legs and performs a beautiful German suplex. Fights aren’t as gruesome as in Battlebots where things are smashed, burned and exploded on a regular basis, but matches remain strangely exciting. Each robot has unique moves and body types that actually mean something in a fight versus the Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots fare of Robot Combat League. Take this gallery of oddballs, for example:
A robot shot its head at its opponent! Robotic fisticuffs between robo granny and kung-fu penguin! It’s Gundam Build Fighters made real, everyone. What a wonderful time to be alive.