Maximus's challenges

Maximus defeated all of the challenges Commodus threw in his way making him the deadliest and most popular gladiator in the arena. In the arena Maximus was forced to fight what he thought was a one on one battle with another gladiator, but when the battle starts Roman men run out and grab chains connected to something, and all of a sudden tigers jumped up out beneath the sandy floor of the Colosseum on to Maximus’s back. This was not a fair fight, but Maximus killed the tigers and the gladiator that stood before him proving that he wasn't going to go down without a fight. Another example of how Maximus won over the crowd and gained more popularity is when he is battling another gladiator in the arena. Maximus hits the gladiator to the ground, and looks to Commodus for the thumbs up or thumbs down on whether or not he should kill him. Commodus gives the thumbs up signal to kill the beaten gladiator, but Maximus drops his weapon, showing the crowd he is not going to bow down to Commodus. Also showing the crowd that Commodus has no power or control over Maximus’s life anymore..
Maximus had a beautiful wife and son that he left at home while he was at war. Before the battle against the barbarians he was telling his troops to think of something they are looking forward to after the battle. He told all his troops he was looking forward to spending time with his family and planting his crops. But before he was able to do that his family was brutally murdered by Commodus. They were hung and then burned to death and left there on display.