The 2000s were the lowest ebb for the Los Angeles Thunderbirds, a decade defined less by triumphs than by failed revivals, tarnished legacies, and the passing of the man who had shaped the team’s glory years.

The attempted comeback began in 2004 with Bob Sedillo’s “Duel in the Desert” exhibition at Glendale Arena in Phoenix. The matchup pitted an aging Thunderbirds women’s team against the much younger Phoenix Landsharks. From the start, it was a disaster. The banked track was in disrepair, with no guard rails, and the arena was nearly empty despite its 18,000-seat capacity. The Landsharks, trained in the modern “legit” derby style, overwhelmed the veteran Thunderbirds, many of whom were in their forties. By halftime, battered and humiliated, the Thunderbirds’ captain pulled her squad off the track, citing unsafe conditions. The game eventually resumed, but the final score—roughly 60-4—was a rout. Fans demanded refunds, and the “Phoenix fiasco” marked the Thunderbirds’ most embarrassing outing to date.

The timing could not have been worse. In 2004, ESPN Classic launched Cheap Seats, a comedy series that mocked obscure sporting events from the past. The show targeted mid-1980s Roller Games broadcasts, highlighting the low talent level and scripted antics of the league’s decline. For Thunderbirds loyalists, it was painful confirmation of what the public already suspected: roller derby’s once-mighty brand had become a punchline.

Still, Sedillo pressed forward. From 2004 through 2008, he staged a series of Thunderbirds games that became known as “Sedillo Slo-Mo.” These matches, often held at small venues like the Pomona Fairplex, were dominated by skaters who had started their careers in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. Many were in their fifties or sixties, skating more out of love for the sport than realistic competition. The action was slow and often awkward, sometimes veering into scripted fights that aging bodies could no longer convincingly pull off. Crowds were sparse, usually consisting of family members. While there were occasional bright spots—such as appearances by Ralphie Valladares’s grandchildren, Chris and Megan Martinez, who showed promise—the era was a pale shadow of the Thunderbirds’ former dominance.

A minor cultural footnote came in 2003 when T-Bird legend John Hall coached Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu for the roller derby scenes in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. But Sedillo’s live events drained money, drew little attention, and further eroded the brand. In 2008, Bill Griffiths Sr. sued Sedillo’s Pegasus Media Group for trademark infringement, effectively ending this chapter. Sedillo passed away the following year, having spent much of his life and resources trying to revive derby.

The decade closed with a symbolic loss. In 2015, William John Griffiths Sr.—the promoter who had built the Thunderbirds into the most famous roller derby team in the world—died at age 91. His passing underscored the finality of an era. While Griffiths left behind a legacy enshrined in the Roller Derby Hall of Fame, his creation had become dormant, remembered more for past glories than present relevance.

By the end of the 2000s, the Thunderbirds’ name was largely reduced to nostalgia. Misguided comeback attempts, humiliating defeats, and parody in mainstream media had drained the brand of its former power. What remained was history—an acknowledgment that the Thunderbirds had once thrilled millions, but their time had passed.