So you want to say that Gladiator lost his fight against these opponents because he threw the fight and let them KO him?
How about this, Tyrant wouldn’t have two pieced Superman. I’m basing this upon the actual damage that he has withstood from similar forces. They both have low showings I get that, but in Gladiator’s case, his losses outshine his wins. When placed up against similar opponents that Superman regularly faces, his track record mirrors how well he’d do if he were to replace Superman in fights.
Gladiator was the one that was injured and on the run from Supreme, not the other way around, while Superman has smoked Darkseid avatars, defeated Rogol Zaar, who would tear Gladiator up as badly as Anni-Hulk did. These are those times that we can’t unsee, or claim that Gladiator jobbed. Any one member of the Phoenix Five would wreck Gladiator. A Star Brand wielded would choke the life out of him as well. Superman has defeated guys on those levels.
This isn’t even close. If they ever met, Gladiator would become Superman’s side kick.