An internet star has been left with a broken wrist after going toe-to-toe with a six-foot killing machine that looks like it just walked off the set of The Terminator.
Frankie LaPenna thought he was filming another wild stunt. Instead, he discovered that when a remotely piloted humanoid robot decides to kick you, even a padded vest isn't enough.
The shocking footage, which exploded across social media on Monday, shows the silver T-800-style machine, complete with glowing red eyes, stepping into a plexiglass cage in San Francisco last Friday. Within seconds, it was landing heavy kicks that sent the influencer flying across the mat and slamming into the walls.
LaPenna, known for his high-risk content, managed a few punches of his own. Then the robot answered. One kick drove him into the barrier. Another sent him sprawling. He struggled to get back up. The protective gear he wore did little to stop the damage. Reports confirm the robot broke his wrist.
REK, the San Francisco company behind the spectacle, billed it as the “first Human vs Terminator robot fight” and a “turning point in history.” They later claimed LaPenna “gave it his all” and even “defeated this robot” by refusing to stay down. Generous. The machine still walked away without a scratch.
The robot itself is an EngineAI T800, the first of its kind in the United States. It is not fully autonomous. A human pilot controls it remotely while onboard AI keeps it balanced. That does not make the kicks any softer. Earlier this year, REK boasted the machine can punch four times harder than Mike Tyson. Friday’s fight suggested they weren’t exaggerating.
REK has already teased that this particular robot “wasn’t even the final boss.” More footage, they promise, is coming. The internet’s reaction has been exactly what you’d expect: a mix of “this is how Skynet starts,” “put an actual fighter in there,” and dark jokes about the machines finally fighting back.
What started as content has become something closer to a warning. A 6ft metal opponent just put an influencer in a sling in front of a live crowd and a million cameras. And the company that built it is already planning the sequel.
Humanity 0. Robots 1. They’re only getting started.
A note on comments: Our advertisers enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy on racism, hate speech, and threats of violence. Any comment that crosses that line will be removed and the account permanently banned — no warnings. Debate hard, but keep it civil.
A note on comments: Our advertisers enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy on racism, hate speech, and threats of violence. Any comment that crosses that line will be removed and the account permanently banned — no warnings. Debate hard, but keep it civil.