First NHRL Event of the Season

Here is a recap of the NHRL 2026 Season Opener event, including the winners, major storylines, and top moments from the day.

Event Winners (Golden Dumpster Winners)

• 3lb Division: The Wall Part 2 (Hammer Saw)

  • Defeated Colossus in the final. The Wall Part 2 used a controversial "literal wall" configuration (a giant plastic sign) which got shredded but ultimately helped secure a judges' decision victory.

• 12lb Division: Buzzkill (Undercutter)

  • Defeated Caldera 12 in the final. In a battle of horizontal spinners, Buzzkill's undercutter chewed up Caldera's wheels, leading to a tap-out.

• 30lb Division: Kazadi Light (Flamethrower Multibot)

  • Defeated Gourd in the final. The reigning world champions dominated with their dual flamethrower setup, overheating Gourd until it tapped out.

Major Stories

• The "Godzilla" of 30lbs: Kazadi Light, the reigning world champion, continued its reign of terror. The flamethrower multibot remained undefeated and looked nearly unbeatable, cooking opponents internally and earning the nickname "Godzilla" from competitors.

• Crab Rangoon's Historic Walk: In the 3lb class, Crab Rangoon became the first "True Walker" (legs, not shufflers) to win a fight in NHRL history. The crab-shaped robot was a fan favorite, winning a match while upside down and dancing its way into the hearts of the crowd.

• Pro Tour Announcement: The event kicked off the new 2026 season with the announcement of the NHRL Pro Tour, a new series of high-stakes tournaments leading up to the World Championships. The top 8 bots from this event qualified for the first Pro Tour stop in May.

• Rise of the "Big Wheels": The "Big Wheel" robot archetype (robots with massive wheels that act as armor/weapons) had a massive showing, with robots like Colossus (3lb) and Above Average (3lb) making deep runs. Colossus nearly took the Golden Dumpster, falling only in the final.

• The "TPU" Surprise: In the 12lb class, a fully 3D-printed TPU lifter robot named That's A Lot of TPU shocked everyone by scoring multiple knockouts against deadly spinners. It defied the expectation that control bots would struggle under the new aggression-focused rules.

Top Moments

• Flying Fireball: In the 12lb fight between Xenomorph and Benny Arjam, a massive hit ejected Benny Arjam's battery, which burst into flames in mid-air, creating a "confetti" of fire across the cage.

• Clyde Becomes a Candle: During the 3lb fight between Clyde (flamethrower) and Colossus, Clyde's front armor was ripped off, exposing its flamethrower mechanism. It turned into a "candle," dripping unrestricted liquid fire onto the arena floor in a beautiful but destructive display.

• Crab Rangoon's Debut: The true walker Crab Rangoon made its debut, showing off its unique walking mechanism and winning its first fight decisively, proving that walkers can be competitive.

• The 30lb Final: Kazadi Light put on a masterclass against Gourd. They pinned Gourd between their two bots and unleashed a "flame tornado," cooking the robot until it stopped working.

• The "Wall" Configuration: In the 3lb final, The Wall Part 2 entered the arena with a massive, comically large plastic sign attached to its front to counter Colossus. The sign was shredded into hundreds of pieces, littering the arena with debris in one of the messiest fights of the night.

• Strawberry Smash: The event featured a Valentine's Day-themed rumble where three robots destroyed giant strawberry piñatas filled with smaller strawberries and chocolates.