ABC reviving and re-inventing 'Battlebots'

ABC recently announced it will revive "Battlebots," a robot fighting tournament that aired in the early 2000s, for six episodes in summer 2015.

The original series, which ran five seasons from 2000 to 2002 on Comedy Central, pitted homemade robots against one another in blunt and destructive combat. Each single-elimination tournament led to one champion.

The new series will do the same but erases weight-class distinctions and will place more emphasis on back stories about the designs and builds -- newer and better in 2015.

Cash prizes will be awarded to finalists.

Whalerock Industries is in a development deal with MGM Studios to internationally distribute the program.

Executive producers include the original Battlebots franchise creators, Ed Roski and Greg Munson, as well as Chris Cowan and Whalerock Industries owner Lloyd Braun.