Near Lake Nemi in Italy, there was a priesthood called the rex Nemorensis. It is said that once, a runaway slave came, killed the existing priest, and took over his job. From then on, that's how it was done: you got the job by murdering the previous priest.
Strabo comments, "the people set up as priest merely a run-away slave who has slain with his own hand the man previously consecrated to that office; accordingly the priest is always armed with a sword, looking around for the attacks, and ready to defend himself." I can see why the presiding priest might have something to worry about. Ovid notes that the rex Nemorensis "holds his reign by strong hands and fleet feet, and dies according to the example he set himself." I guess that's a really nice way of putting it. Ancient sources seem to agree that this was a very unusual form of human sacrifice, and perhaps, the runaway slaves who challenge for the position must be very desperate men indeed.
Still, I'm imagining priests going at each other WWE-style (technically incorrect, since they apparently had swords), with some priestess of Diana sitting there shouting them on. Because I like pictures, here's Lake Nemi from a 19th century engraving:
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