Siren: Valerie WaugamanAt the Ironman pro in Los Angeles this past weekend, Valerie Waugaman ("Siren" on "American Gladiators") announced her retirement from IFBB figure competitions.

"I don’t want to go on the stage and be anything less than spectacular," Wauagaman told Allan Donnelly of FlexOnline. She also said that:

The sport has brought me to a new opportunity in the entertainment business. Right now, I feel the opportunity is large for me to be able to influence children and adults in a positive way in terms of health and fitness and wellness.

I have it on good authority that all the competitors who partied at Son Nguyen's house last night were there because they had been disinvited from the official "American Gladiators" party.

I don't mean "uninvited"; I mean "disinvited". Which is to say the competitors were initially invited, but at the last minute they were told not to come. That would be rude and bad if all of them lived in Los Angeles, but it's much worse when you consider that a number of the competitors flew in to make the party.

What kind of jerk treats people like that? It's such a dick move.

Unofficial Finale PartyA bunch of the competitors got together last night at Son Nguyen's house outside Los Angeles for a "wrap" party. I'm not clear on why they weren't at the big "American Gladiators" wrap party (shown on YouTube here and here), but I'm digging in to it. (Click the photo for a larger version.)

I have another picture showing the ladies at right, a bunch of the male competitors and also Belinda Gavin, who's not in the photo at right. I'll add the link to that photo after I have a chance to resize it - it's too big to post right now and I'm using a laptop that doesn't have photo editing software.

Seriously - don't you wish you were there? Just look at those gorgeous girl jocks!

Update: Here's the second pic, as promised!

NBC pimped out trotted out "American Gladiators" champ Monica Carlson on this morning's "Today" show, and during her interview segment Monica is reported to have admitted that she hasn't been able to come up with a good gladiator name. Commenter Ray Sword suggests Tsunami, which is good. I have a few suggestions, also:

• "Overthrow" - For tossing Stealth off the "Pyramid" (and into physical therapy).
• "Pinball" - Referring to her speedy, careening style.
• "Red Rover" - References the childlike glee she exhibits in competition.
• "Soccer Mom" - That's what "American Gladiators" producers like to call her.
• "Whoops!" - Her theatrically phony slips from the hand bike on "Eliminator" were a high point of the show for me.
• "Tomboy" - Obvious.

Add your own in the comments!

Monica CarlsonI hope Monica Carlson enjoyed Costa Rica following her win on "American Gladiators". As predicted by 94% of American Gladiator Girls readers, Monica Carlson took the gold in tonight's competition, soundly defeating Shanay Norvell.

Shanay was a much stronger competitor in the finals than she seemed to be during the preliminaries. Monica Carlson, conversely, seemed almost superhuman in her initial appearance but wasn't quite so impressive in the later stages. Still, Monica was able to outperform Shanay and presumably will appear as a gladiator next season.

Congratulations to Monica Carlson!