Razorback during World Championship II hero shots.
Returning for World Championship II, Razorback now sported red accents across its side panels, grabbing claws and lifter bracing, but otherwise appeared largely identical in design. Razorback was able to reach the Round of 16, defeating newcomer SawBlaze before getting the better of former semi-finalist Ghost Raptor. However, it was then beaten by Inertia Labs and Bronco.
Bieber teased the possibility of a new build robot in 2019,[1] but would not make his BattleBots return until the 2023 live show BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon. Specifically for the shows, he built a new heavyweight robot based on his iconic middleweight called Diablo.
Razorback did not return to BattleBots after the 2016 season.
Razorback in The Pits during World Championship II.
Razorback's plow configuration during World Championship I.
Razorback's plow configuration during World Championship II.
Razorback's spinning disk configuration.
Razorback's spinning drum configuration.
CAD of Razorback in its drum spinner configuration.
In its first round match, Razorback took on Marc DeVidts and Icewave. Zack Bieber stated he would adopt an aggressive drive style against its opponent, a strategy Kenny Florian agreed with pre-fight.
Icewave strikes Razorback's right side
Razorback immediately began on the defensive as Icewave struck its plow several times. Icewave then retreated to spin up its powerful bar spinner before slamming into the side of Razorback.
"Icewave's trying to get some distance... trying to get to speed. OH my goodness! Huge sparks with every hit from Icewave."
— Kenny Florian as Icewave gains the early advantage
Icewave tears the front wedge off of Razorback.
Razorback was attacked again, with Icewave's 300mph bar spinner this time leaving a noticeable gash in its armor. This was followed up by a strike which tore Razorback's plow away, revealing its lifting forks. A wounded Razorback reversed away from danger but Icewave gave chase, tearing the plow clean off and sending it towards the drivers' booths, prompting Marc DeVidts to flinch in response to the flying debris.
"There are robot parts everywhere right now in the BattleBox!"
— Kenny Florian
Icewave tears into Razorback.
Icewave's assault continued as it tore a chunk out of Razorback's right-front wheel before swiping against its front, breaking off the right fork. Its compromised wheel was now completely dislodged from the robot, sitting loose inside the wheel well before falling out. Another strike ate into the front of Razorback, who lay helpless near the screws.
Team Diablo watch on as their robot smoulders.
As Icewave drove underneath, smoke began to pour and a count-out mercifully began on Razorback. Icewave advanced at Razorback's expense, who was not given a wildcard and was eliminated as a result.
Razorback vs. Complete Control (Exhibition)
Razorback later had a grudge match against Complete Control. For this battle, Razorback was armed with its vertical spinner weapon.
Razorback destroys Complete Control's attachment.
In the beginning, both robots drove straight at each other and Razorback tore off Razorback's attachment. As this was happening, Razorback managed to push Complete Control under the pulverizer. Complete Control backed away and activated its flamethrower before getting hit by Razorback's spinning bar again. Complete Control then managed to flip Razorback onto its back with its lifting arm and Razorback pushed it onto the killsaws. Complete Control went straight at Razorback and lifted it toward the killsaws.
Complete Control lifts Razorback over the killsaws.
Complete Control got its clamping arm onto the left side of the flipped Razorback and tossed it back onto its wheels. Both robots went straight at each other again and Complete Control lifted Razorback again. Complete Control got its clamping arm onto the front of Razorback and both robots were being popped by the hellraisers. Both robots moved to the corner of the BattleBox and Complete Control drove itself under the pulverizer.
Both robots are disturbed by the hellraisers.
Suddenly, Complete Control stopped moving after this and was counted out by the referee. Razorback ultimately won the grudge match by knockout.
World Championship II[]
Razorback vs. SawBlaze
Razorback pre-fight.
Razorback's first fight of the 2016 season was against Jamison Go and SawBlaze. It was equipped with the drum spinner weapon for this qualifying battle.
SawBlaze was the fastest robot out of its starting square, immediately looking to scoop underneath Razorback and attack with its overhead weapon. Razorback's drum made contact with SawBlaze's dustpan wedge as it was pinned against the screws early on, stopping the arena hazard on impact. Though its saw was spinning, SawBlaze's arm did not swing over on this occasion.
Razorback is attacked by the cutting disk of SawBlaze.
Razorback fled from danger but was quickly captured by its opponent again. This time, SawBlaze's arm came over and delivered its saw into the top of the veterans' robot. The drum spinner of Razorback was still active during this pin and grinded against SawBlaze's dustpan scoop again, but caused minimal damage. Zack Bieber drove his robot away, narrowly avoiding the pulverizer before SawBlaze got underneath again. Razorback drove over the top of SawBlaze, whose spinning weapon appeared disabled.
Razorback is pinned by SawBlaze and the pulverizer.
After once again being scooped up by SawBlaze, Razorback was taken to the hazards and held in place by the pulverizer hammer. It continued to buffet against the scoop of SawBlaze, but it held firm and allowed the rookie robot to dictate the tempo of the fight.
The fight goes the distance.
With under a minute remaining, SawBlaze now took Razorback to the opposite corner before releasing in the middle of the arena. It then drove Razorback towards the pulverizer once more, but the hammer missed. Razorback's primary weapon stopped in the closing moments as SawBlaze remained the aggressor until time ran out.
Both robots separated and while Razorback drove back to the red square, SawBlaze swung its arm in celebration. A split decision was announced, with Fon Davis and Jessica Chobot casting in votes for Razorback and SawBlaze respectively. In a controversial twist, the decisive vote from Adam Savage went in favor of Razorback, who advanced to the Round of 32. However, this did not sit well with the live audience, whose booing was mainly cut from the televised edit.[2]
Post-fight, reporter Samantha Ponder labeled the decision as "controversial" ahead of Razorback's next fight, and Chris Rose stated Team Contraption Lab were "surprised" by the outcome.
In an April 2022 livestream, SawBlaze team captain Jamison Go upheld the opinion that, in line with the 2016 Tournament Rules, SawBlaze should have won the fight, but regretted not showcasing to weapon functionality to the judges.[3]
Razorback vs. Ghost Raptor
Entering the Round of 32 as the No.15 seed, Razorback's took on the No.18 seed Ghost Raptor. For this fight, Razorback went with its lifting jaw configuration.
Razorback grapples Ghost Raptor.
Immediately, Razorback charged down the stationary Ghost Raptor, which tried to get its bar up to speed from the off. The box-rush initially proved successful as Razorback halted Ghost Raptor's bar and then turned it around, preventing it from spinning. As Chuck Pitzer's robot escaped the corner, Ghost Raptor was able to land several attacks and tore a chunk away from Razorback.
Razorback then clamped down on the end Ghost Raptor's bar, lifting and then throwing Ghost Raptor over in an impressive suplex maneuver. This attack resulted in both robots being inverted, with Razorback quickest to recover. Ghost Raptor, meanwhile, lay stranded on its bar and let out a small puff of smoke.
Razorback drives Ghost Raptor into the screws.
Ghost Raptor remained upside-down as Razorback took it to the screws. The Pitzers' robot was hauled atop the rotating augers before dropping onto its wheels. However, the weight of Ghost Raptor's blade saw it fall onto its back again and Razorback capitalized, slamming it into the awaiting pulverizer.
"It's gonna have a tough chore showing up for work in the morning after getting hammered like that!"
— Chris Rose as Ghost Raptor is repeatedly struck by the pulverizer
Ghost Raptor is counted out beneath the pulverizer.
The hazard continued to rain down blows on the immobile Ghost Raptor, with the referee's count following soon after. Razorback won by knockout and continued on in the tournament.
Razorback vs. Bronco
Now in the Round of 16, Razorback took on another veteran team - Inertia Labs and the No.2 seed Bronco. Razorback again opted for its drum spinner.
Razorback tried to get its drum into play from the start, but as Bronco led with its rear, it negated Zack Bieber's early attacks. Bronco kept its plow pointed at Razorback, as the drum spinner looked to get to its exposed wheels. The second seed then got underneath and drove Razorback across the arena as its spinner made contact with the floor.
Razorback rides up Bronco's wedge and is flipped.
Bronco slid its plow underneath again, causing Razorback to deflect against the arena wall and onto its flipper arm. The Inertia Labs bot fired its weapon, using it like a front-hinged flipper as it threw Razorback into the screws. A mistimed charge saw Razorback drive into the hazard again before attacking and then driving over Bronco.
Bronco's final flip.
As it tried to chew at the plow again, Bronco delivered an uppercut to Razorback which saw it overturned once more. This attack also appeared to disable its primary weapon. The pair separated and as they collided one final time, Razorback was sent twisting through the air. Bronco followed this up with a punch which saw Razorback land on its side.
Razorback is counted out.
Unable to self-right from this position, Razorback was counted out and eliminated from the tournament.
