Atomic Wedgie

**Atomic Wedgie** was a superheavyweight robot built by Robert Everhart of Team Half-Life. It competed in four seasons of Comedy Central *BattleBots*, becoming a finalist in Season 2.0. It was a tracked, ramp-shaped robot which would run both ways up. Four sets of tracks in total were used in Atomic Wedgie's design: two sets on both the top and bottom. Atomic Wedgie was always armed with some form of spinner as its main weapon. In its rookie season, Atomic Wedgie sported two tri-foil shaped blades with one tooth on each point of the blade, mounted on the flanks and resembling shurikens. Atomic Wedgie had a successful rookie season, finishing as the runner-up in the superheavyweight championship of Season 2.0, taking out defending champion Minion and heavy favorites Toro en route to its second place finish.

Returning for Season 3.0, Atomic Wedgie also added a variety of spikes in between its tri-foil blades for this competition only. Due to its prior success, Atomic Wedgie advanced automatically to the televised rounds, but lost its opening battle to Techno Destructo. Team Half-Life entered a lightweight version of Atomic Wedgie, known as Skid Mark, into the lightweight championship. Skid Mark was built using a similar weapons system to its superheavyweight counterpart, utilizing tri-foil blades for weaponry. The team entered a middleweight named Booby Trap this season too, which made the Round of 64. Atomic Wedgie sported a much larger, three-toothed disc for Seasons 4.0 and 5.0. Despite the weapon changes, it retained the classic ramp shape and tracks. Entering Season 4.0, Atomic Wedgie was again allowed to skip the preliminary rounds, but lost in its first televised bout to Ogre. In Season 5.0, Atomic Wedgie won its opening fight before losing to Maximus in the Round of 16.

According to the team, Atomic Wedgie's original design was planned to be a full-body spinner with counter-rotating sides, but this was deemed too complicated and expensive to build, so the design never materialized.

Robert Everhart attempted to submit an updated Atomic Wedgie called **Atomic Wedgie - Accelerator** for *BattleBots World Championship II* in 2016, but was denied entry, likely due to retaining the original robot's ramp shape, which the show was trying to move away from. This new version of Atomic Wedgie would have had the classic spinning tri-foils mounted on a moving arm. Following this, the team entered HellaChopper into the series, but the robot never competed after it caught fire and was forced to withdraw.

In September 2022, Robert Everhart auctioned Atomic Wedgie on eBay, as well as several lightweight robot kits.

## Robot History

### BattleBots Comedy Central Season 2.0

Atomic Wedgie's first ever fight in BattleBots was against Ripoff. Atomic Wedgie approached Ripoff, who was not moving, but its saw blade was spinning. Following this, Atomic Wedgie pushed Ripoff over the killsaws, then drove into Ripoff's side, flipping it over. Ripoff was then pushed towards the killsaws, and Ripoff started spinning around, using its saw to drive on the BattleBox floor. Ripoff was then driven into the killsaws again, and this time, Ripoff was fully flipped onto its back, blade still dragging it across the BattleBox floor. Atomic Wedgie finished off Ripoff by pushing it under the pulverizer, where the hammer beat on both bots until the time ran out. Atomic Wedgie won a unanimous 45-0 judges' decision and advanced to the Round of 16, where it faced superheavyweight champion Minion.

Both robots charged at each other at controlled paces, with Atomic Wedgie getting underneath Minion, but Minion escaped before any damage was done. Minion then drove into Atomic Wedgie but made contact with its opponent's tri-foils and they ripped the entire front lexan panel of Minion clean off. Minion then drove over Atomic Wedgie and nearly got flipped. For a while, both robots didn't show a clear edge, with a few rams and pushes until Minion drove itself backwards into the spikestrip, where its down spinning saw blade drove it upwards over the wall and got flipped onto its back. Minion was counted out and Atomic Wedgie won by KO at 1:07. This win put Atomic Wedgie to the superheavyweight quarterfinals, where it faced Toro.

As the match began, Atomic Wedgie's tri-foils were not spinning as team member Charlie Payne forgot to turn them on. Toro flew across the BattleBox at a fast speed and attempted to flip Atomic Wedgie, but only managed a small lift and Atomic Wedgie got its tri-foils spinning. This was followed up by a carefully timed flip which sent Atomic Wedgie flying onto its back, but because Atomic Wedgie was invertible, the fight went on. Toro continued trying to flip Atomic Wedgie once more, but kept missing. Both robots then squared each other off until Toro got in another flip. Atomic Wedgie then drove over the killsaws, but the tracks remained undamaged. Toro then managed to score a fourth flip against Atomic Wedgie shortly after. Toro then attempted yet another flip, but this time Atomic Wedgie was ready and waiting to score a hit, and got underneath Toro momentarily. Atomic Wedgie sliced a part of Toro's flipper extension with its tri-foils before pushing Toro into the spikestrip. Toro was held in the corner for a while, before Atomic Wedgie backed off and let Toro out. This allowed Toro to flip Atomic Wedgie twice more, scoring more points for Inertia Labs. Damage was clearly done to Atomic Wedgie's tracks, as it had trouble moving about the BattleBox. Toro attacked Atomic Wedgie before it uncontrollably drove itself into the spikestrip and was barely able to continue driving. Another flip from Toro rectified the problem to an extent, as Atomic Wedgie began driving in a linear direction once more. Toro positioned itself for yet another flip, but this time there appeared to be a problem, as Toro did not flip and was being pushed without resistance into the spikestrip. Atomic Wedgie almost incapacitated itself on the killsaws but continued pushing Toro into the spikes, before letting off. By this point, Toro had stopped moving as the impact jarred loose the battery and one of its wires leading to it. Reason Bradley tried to find the source of the problem, but was unable to before Toro was counted out. Atomic Wedgie won by a come from behind knockout and advanced to the superheavyweight semi-finals, where it faced Revision Z.

Both robots drove cautiously towards each other, but Atomic Wedgie managed a lift. Revision Z then went round the back of Atomic Wedgie and rammed it, before spinning around and hooking its tail on Atomic Wedgie's tri-foils, temporarily stopping them and allowing Revision Z to drag Atomic Wedgie across the BattleBox floor. Atomic Wedgie escaped and then drove its tri-foils into the side of Revision Z, causing minor damage. Atomic Wedgie then pushed Revision Z into the killsaws twice, but the repair made to Atomic Wedgie's treads had failed, leaving Atomic Wedgie to drive in circles, but was still able to fight as it got under Revision Z and pushed it into the spikestrip. Revision Z retaliated by pushing Atomic Wedgie onto the killsaws, further damaging its tracks. Both robots then spun around in circles before Revision Z hooked its tail back onto the spinning tri-foil of Atomic Wedgie and began dragging it around the BattleBox again. This allowed Revision Z to pull Atomic Wedgie onto the killsaws and cause more damage to the track system. The killsaws then began cutting into the front end of the wedge of Atomic Wedgie, and to the tracks as Revision Z kept dragging Atomic Wedgie from killsaw to killsaw. The time ran out and Atomic Wedgie won on a 27-18 judges' decision based upon one or more of the judges deeming Revision Z's tail weapon to be an entangler. This win put Atomic Wedgie to the superheavyweight finals, where it faced Diesector.

With the help of Team Scrap Daddy and Team Malicious, Team Half-Life was able to weld the damaged track back together for the superheavyweight final.

Diesector began the fight by charging at Atomic Wedgie, getting underneath with the jaws and then ramming Atomic Wedgie into the spikes. The tri-foils continued to spin, digging into the spikestrip and BattleBox floor and generating sparks. Diesector then positioned itself and attacked the rear of Atomic Wedgie and pushed Atomic Wedgie into the spikestrip again, before lifting Atomic Wedgie and attempting to pull it onto the killsaws. Atomic Wedgie escaped but the repaired weld from after the match with Revision Z broke again, leaving Atomic Wedgie unable to drive in a straight line. Diesector then drove over the killsaws and shaved a few sparks. Diesector then nearly impaled itself on the spikestrip but got itself free and backed off, allowing Atomic Wedgie to make an attack. This allowed Diesector to get underneath, but Donald Hutson's bot could not capitalize. Atomic Wedgie and Diesector then drove over the killsaws, with Atomic Wedgie seemingly taking more punishment from the hazard, as it could barely move from this point onward. Diesector slammed into Atomic Wedgie and pushed it onto one of the entrance ramps in the corner of the BattleBox, and then trying to lift it up, but yet again failing to lift it enough to flip it over. Atomic Wedgie bumped into Diesector and pushed it into the area of the pulverizer, which came down and struck one of Diesector's hammers twice, forcing it down to the BattleBox floor. Diesector tried to push Atomic Wedgie into the pulverizer, but then its crippled hammer became stuck in a killsaw slot, where the killsaws began cutting into the hammer's arm near the pick-axe head. Atomic Wedgie continued driving around in circles, and eventually one of its spinning blades came into contact with Diesector's stuck hammer, severing the pick-axe head and freeing Donald Hutson's machine from the killsaws. Diesector tried to lift Atomic Wedgie but time ran out. The judges viewed Diesector as the more dominant robot and awarded it a 31-14 decision and the superheavyweight title.

Despite being declared the runner-up, Atomic Wedgie did not participate in the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament for unknown reasons, though it's likely because of the damage it sustanined.

### BattleBots Comedy Central Season 3.0

Atomic Wedgie received minor adjustments for Season 3.0, adding some rear-mounted entrapment spikes similar to the shape of Diesector's rear wedge and wider, tougher tracks. Atomic Wedgie was not as lucky in this season however, losing its first fight against Techno Destructo in the Round of 16 and getting dominated, being flipped around the BattleBox while it could do nothing to attack as it was having traction problems. It even managed to lose one of its spinning tri-foils at one point in the bout. In the end, Techno Destructo won on a 35-10 judges' decision and Atomic Wedgie was eliminated from the tournament again.

Advancing to the Royal Rumble, Atomic Wedgie spun in the middle of the BattleBox before eventually moving onto Anubis. Atomic Wedgie then lost one of its tri-foil spinners (probaly the same one) and turned on The Judge. It bumped into Diesector and spun up its one remaining spinner, reversing into Diesector as it became high-centered momentarily. Atomic Wedgie took advantage of The Judge self-righting to get underneath it, but the hammerbot freed itself. Toro flipped it up, but Atomic Wedgie landed on Inertia Labs' bot's side and turned its attention elsewhere. It appeared to no longer be moving, and lay dormant between the floor spinner and Anubis, where it remained for the rest of the rumble, which was ultimately won by Toro.

### BattleBots Comedy Central Season 4.0

For being a previous finalist, Atomic Wedgie was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 4.0, where it eventually faced Ogre. In the beginning of the match, both robots collided into each other in the center of the BattleBox. Atomic Wedgie turns around and scratches the side of Ogre with its spinning disc. Ogre tries to get under Atomic Wedgie with its lifting spikes, but every time it tries, the spikes don't slide under, instead bending downward on the hinge and raising Ogre's front wheels into the air. A couple more hits from Atomic Wedgie's spinning disc deflect off the piece of metal protecting Ogre's tires. After this, Ogre was still trying to get underneath Atomic Wedgie with its lifting spike. After this, Atomic Wedgie was having steering problems and Ogre pushed Atomic Wedgie under the pulverizer multiple times. After this, the time ran out and Ogre won on a 37-8 judges' decision. This meant that Atomic Wedgie was eliminated from the tournament again.

Atomic Wedgie again participated the Superheavyweight Consolation Rumble at the end of the tournament. It is unknown how well it performed but it did win alongside Odin II.

This win put Atomic Wedgie through into the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble. Although it's unknown how well Atomic Wedgie performed, it lost overall to The Judge.

### BattleBots Comedy Central Season 5.0

Due to its seeding, Atomic Wedgie was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 5.0, where it eventually faced American Justice. Atomic Wedgie got its spinning disc on the front wedge of American Justice and it eventually stopped moving. American Justice was now being counted out and Atomic Wedgie won the match by TKO. This win put Atomic Wedgie to the Round of 16.

In the next round, Atomic Wedgie faced Maximus. Both robots went straight at each other and Maximus slammed Atomic Wedgie against the arena wall, flipping it onto its back. Maximus then slammed Atomic Wedgie against the spikestrip right near the pulverizer. Maximus pushed Atomic Wedgie toward the screws and Maximus gets caught on the killsaws, lifting the front wedge from the impact. Atomic Wedgie got its spinning disc on the rear of Maximus for a brief moment and Maximus pushed Atomic Wedgie against the spikestrip again. After this, Maximus drove itself on the killsaws and gets tossed onto its back. Atomic Wedgie was having control problems as the left track stopped moving. Atomic Wedgie then managed to tear into one of Maximus' wheels and Maximus drove itself on the killsaws again. Atomic Wedgie was only moving in circles and Maximus pushed Atomic Wedgie against the base of the screws. Maximus moved to the center of the BattleBox and started spinning victoriously. Atomic Wedgie was now being counted out and Maximus pushed Atomic Wedgie onto the screws before the countdown was finished. Maximus won by KO at 2:26 and Atomic Wedgie was eliminated from the tournament once again.