Following this week’s announcement by the International Olympic Committee that wrestling will no longer be an Olympic sport starting at the 2020 summer games, Sport Illustrated caught up with several WWE superstars to get their reactions to the news. Here are some highlights of what the following WWE superstars said:
Cody Rhodes “I’m very disappointed with the fact that they’re even considering it. This is freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. This has a rich tradition in the Olympics. I don’t even want to disparage some of the sports that they’re keeping, you just don’t do away with wrestling.”
Dolph Ziggler: “It’s hitting close to home more than usual. I know it’s not 100 percent yet but there are so many Olympic events, it’s unfortunate they’ve chosen a legitimate sport and one of the original sports ever. It’s mind-blowing that it’s even on the chopping block.”
Jack Swagger: “[Wrestling] teaches you so much about life and that’s what makes it the best sport. It teaches you discipline and dedication and how to work hard and how to sacrifice for your goals. Those are things you can apply to any area of your life, whether it’s your education or your career. Honestly, it turned me into a man.”
