Bryce AbbeyTwo minutes, eight seconds.
That's the amount of time it took Bryce Abbey, four-time NCAA Division II All-American wrestler at University of Nebraska-Kearney, to be crowned champ on the CBS reality series "TKO: Total Knock Out" Battle Royale edition Friday night.
The episode featured the five fastest finishers from previous episodes of the Kevin Hart-hosted summer series where contestants tried to complete an oversized obstacle course while their opponents were actively trying to thwart their efforts. Abbey had the fastest time from the August 17 broadcast, earning $50,000... and the opportunity to compete in the season finale for a grand prize of $100,000.
Abbey, who wrestled for the UNK Lopers from 2002-05, was second of the contestants to compete on the TKO Battle Royale obstacle course, which the University of Nebraska-Kearney News website described as "where other contestants toss oversize Frisbees and large spikes, fire foam balls and swing giant hammers in an attempt to slow their opponents down."
Abbey completed the course in 2 minutes, 8 seconds... besting second-place finisher Brandon Beem of Iowa by just eleven seconds.
Another contestant finished in 2:33... while another took 4:09 to reach the finish line. (A fifth contestant was unable to finish because of a wrist injury.)
Abbey watched the broadcast with approximately 125 friends and family members, fully aware of the outcome -- the shows were recorded in Los Angeles earlier this summer -- but not wanting to ruin the surprise for everyone else.
Once Kevin Hart identified Abbey as the winner of the Battle Royale -- and a total of $150,000 ($50,000 for the first episode, $100,000 as Battle Royale winner) -- friends lifted Abbey in the air as the crowd at his VIP party erupted in cheers.
“Everybody was so excited. The intensity of the room was so awesome,†Abbey told UNK News. “I had trouble controlling my emotions, but I didn't want to let everybody know the outcome before the end.â€
“It's been so hard. I've been wanting to share it with so many people."
"Being part of this is so amazing,†Abbey continued. “My kids have been awesome. My family has been awesome. To get to do, and celebrate, something like this is indescribable.â€
Friends lifted the four-time 125-pound All-American in the air as the crowd at his VIP party erupted in cheers.
Abbey, who wrestled for the UNK Lopers from 2002-05, is one of just four wrestlers tor the D2 program to become a four-time All-American. Now an administrator at his alma mater, Abbey was welcomed into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame just last year.
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