Ep 22. Robots Versus Wrestlers

In How I Met Your Mother season 5 episode 22, titled "Robots Versus Wrestlers," the gang gets together to attend the annual Robots Versus Wrestlers event. The episode opens with Marshall, who has been excited about the event for weeks, giving an enthusiastic rundown of the history of the competition. He explains how the event is a battle between two groups of enthusiasts, one in favor of robots and the other in favor of wrestlers. Ted, Barney, and Robin listen politely but are less than impressed.

When the gang arrives at the event, they find an arena filled with fans dressed up in dramatic costumes, chanting and cheering wildly for their chosen side. The robots supporters are all decked out in metallic attire, while the wrestling fans sport leotards, tights, and masks. Marshall is in seventh heaven, and Barney is excited to spot a group of women dressed up in skimpy wrestling gear.

The first match is about to begin when Lily shows up in a tizzy, explaining that she had a flat tire and had to take a cab. Marshall is dismayed that they won't be able to get good seats, but Barney reassures him that they will still have a great time. During the match, Marshall gets into a heated debate with one of the wrestling supporters, and the two end up getting into a fight.

Meanwhile, Lily tries to convince Ted and Robin to leave the match and head to a wine tasting event instead. She tells them that the tasting involves a rare and expensive vintage that she was able to secure through her job as an art consultant. Robin is intrigued, but Ted is hesitant, knowing how much the Robots Versus Wrestlers event means to Marshall.

The night continues with more matches and more fights, and the gang starts to get tired and antsy. It is then that Barney suggests they switch sides and become wrestlers. He pulls out a bag filled with wrestling gear, and the gang excitedly agrees to his plan. They change into the costumes and take part in a wrestling match themselves.

Eventually, the match ends, and the group agrees that they had a lot of fun. Lily teases Marshall for his obsession with the Robots Versus Wrestlers event, and Ted admits that he is glad they came. He also mentions that the wine-tasting event would have been boring in comparison. Marshall agrees, saying that he would rather fight for something he believes in and have a good time than grow bored and disinterested.

The episode ends with the gang walking down the street, each carrying a piece of the wrestling gear they had just used. They pass a group of robots supporters who stare aghast as they go by. Ted waves and smiles, cementing the idea that the gang is happy to be who they are and do what they love.