Gable Steveson, Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA wrestling champion, has decided to return to the University of Minnesota wrestling team for a fifth season. This follows brief stints with WWE and the NFL, both of which ended earlier than expected. During a recent press conference, Steveson shared insights into his decision and reflected on why his WWE journey didn’t pan out as planned.
Steveson acknowledged that his time with WWE wasn’t the right fit at the time. Despite being seen as a promising prospect, he admitted the competition in WWE was intense, and the timing simply wasn’t ideal. However, he harbors no resentment and remains open to a potential return down the line.
“I think WWE just wasn’t the right time,” Steveson said. “I had a lot of competitive edge to me, and they knew that. It was just not the time for it, and so maybe one day if the stars align, it’ll be a great opportunity to do it again. I have no bad feelings with it, I have no bad blood with it, and I would like to keep moving forward with everything.”
Steveson’s foray into the NFL was also a learning experience. Signed briefly by the Buffalo Bills, he acknowledged that his lack of prior football experience posed significant challenges.
“I got a few tackles and a couple of games and a few QB hits,” Steveson explained. “I had a few other teams reach out to me previously before coming back here, so maybe after the season, it’s another opportunity.”
Though his NFL stint ended before the regular season, Steveson remains optimistic about future opportunities in both sports entertainment and football.
Now back at the University of Minnesota, Steveson’s return has been warmly embraced by the wrestling program. As he prepares for his fifth season, he remains focused on his immediate goals while leaving the door open for new opportunities in the future. Despite the setbacks, Steveson’s confidence and drive to succeed remain unshaken.
Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA wrestling champion Gable Steveson is returning to the University of Minnesota wrestling team for a fifth season, utilizing an NCAA waiver that allows him extra eligibility from an Olympic redshirt and a COVID-19 eligibility extension.
The announcement, confirmed by head coach Brandon Eggum, sees Steveson, one of the program’s most decorated athletes, resuming his collegiate wrestling career with an 85-2 record and a 52-match winning streak.
Gable Steveson commented on his return, saying:
“I am excited to return to the University of Minnesota and compete with my teammates for one last season. I look forward to putting on a show for the fans and going out with a bang.”
After briefly joining the WWE and the NFL’s Buffalo Bills practice squad, Steveson will make his season debut on November 24.
WWE Superstars join the promotion from all walks of life, with some coming from an athletic background in an entirely different sport. Delicious Orie has already established himself in the world of professional boxing, and the Olympian is interested in taking the WWE by storm.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Orie, who competed in this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris, shared his love for pro wrestling after attending the September 24, edition of WWE NXT.
“I started watching it when I moved to the UK. I used to watch the likes of John Cena, The Undertaker while there was the odd appearance from the older legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. Me and my friends would do the moves.”
Orie added that it was “crazy” to get the chance to meet Michaels at WWE NXT’s final show on the USA Network, and was also pleased to meet Booker T. When asked about a potential future in WWE, Orie shared that it is something
“It’s something we could think about. I want to be an inspiration for people. I know wrestling would increase my profile so much and I want to be a global star. That’s the aim, to be known all over the world.“
Orie represented Great Britain in this year’s Summer Olympics and while he didn’t take home a medal, he’s seen plenty of success. In the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Orie took home gold in Birmingham when representing England and again won gold in last year’s European Games in Kraków and Ma?opolska, Poland.
WWE’s Olympians
WWE’s first Olympic Gold Medalist was Kurt Angle who had an incredible career from 1999 to 2006 which included five reigns as a WWE World Champion. It wouldn’t be until 2021 that WWE signed its second gold medalist, Gable Steveson, though his underwhelming WWE run ended this year. Currently, Tyra Mae Steele, aka Tamyra Mensah Stock, has been honing her skills at WWE NXT live events as well as on NXT Level Up.
Chad Gable competed at the 2012 Summer Games in London, England, before turning his attention to the world of pro wrestling and debuting in WWE NXT three years later. Clearly, WWE has become a hotbed for Olympians looking to forge a new chapter, and could Delicious Orie be next? Time will tell…
Michaels comments on the departure of Gulak and Stevenson from WWE.
The WWE roster is going through some significant changes this year. Several notable talents featured prominently on TV have either become free agents or are getting close to their contracts expiring. One of the recent talents to depart from WWE is Ricochet, who reportedly chose not to re-sign with the company.
In the case of Drew Gulak and Gable Steveson, their departure from the company in May has left fans wondering why. The reason for the former Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler has been unclear, as he only had one match against Baron Corbin for NXT that fans didn’t receive well. However, it has been reported that he could’ve been let go because of the lack of progression as a talent on the roster.
For Gulak, he was let go after spending nearly eight years in WWE and was being featured on NXT. The timing was also interesting as it came after former WWE superstar Ronda Rousey shared that Gulak had inappropriately touched her pants’ drawstring in 2022. In addition, after Rousey spoke out about Gulak, he was noticeably removed from TV until his departure. However, Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque(AKA Triple H) noted during the Backlash post-conference on May 4 that Gulak’s exit from the company was due to his contract expiring.
In a media call ahead of NXT Heatwave, POST Wrestling’s John Pollock asked Shawn Michaels about the departure of both Gulak and Steveson. Michaels shared that both talent contracts were set to expire, and the company chose not to keep them on the roster.
“…From my understanding, nothing on anyone’s part other than contracts being up, certainly in the place of Drew Gulak, and from a company’s standpoint, they’re not being anything from a main roster standpoint that they were going to be using him in and that’s certainly as we, here in NXT, over the last year and a half, two years, we’ve been trying to again get into a process of really keeping it fluid,” said Michaels.
He then touched on NXT’s shift towards deciding to let go of talent they believe isn’t progressing enough to be on the main roster.
“…It’s all about getting, I guess, to the main roster when everything is said and done, and if in two or three years that doesn’t happen, we have to see, you know what I mean, either bringing other people in or see if we’re ready to move on,” said Michaels.
He also congratulated Steveson on his transition to the NFL and wished him the best. That said, he echoed the new direction WWE is taking of letting go of talent they believe doesn’t have a place on the main roster or NXT.
What’s Next For Drew Gulak?
While Steveson is set to begin his career with the Buffalo Bills, Gulak is looking for success on the independent wrestling scene. He accepts bookings and trains wrestlers at Catchpoint Philadelphia alongside All Elite Wrestling superstar Wheeler Yuta and ‘Hot Sauce’ Tracy Williams.
WWE’s new stance may lead to more superstars being let go on the main roster and NXT, as they’ll evaluate when the talent contract expires. That said, there are still opportunities on the indie scene and from other promotions where talent can succeed.
Gable Steveson‘s WWE run ended like a disappointing mid-season NFL halftime show, overhyped by the network and met with apathy.
While that might come across as a bit harsh, there truly isn’t much else to say when it comes to Steveson’s time in WWE. The Gold Medalist was introduced to fans at WrestleMania 38 and ended his career with a handful of dark matches before being released earlier this month.
One of the few Superstars who had a chance to work with Steveson was former NXT standout Trevor Lee, known to the WWE Universe as Cameron Grimes. Of Gable Steveson’s five main roster Dark Matches, Lee competed in two of them, and it seems like the experience wasn’t exactly something that
Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, is signing with the Bills, per his agent Carter Chow.
Steveson now will try to join Bob Hayes as the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. pic.twitter.com/TfJn4Cd7B1
Today news broke that Steveson was signed by the NFL team Buffalo Bills, drawing various reactions from fans, media personalities, and others alike. In response to a post from former WWE media personality, Kazeem Famuyide, who asked “what position” Steveson would play, Trevor Lee gave what could only be described as a blunt answer:
“Whichever one requires the least amount work and has other people make him look good I’m assuming? Wait wrong sport….”
Gable Steveson’s only televised match in WWE came via its developmental brand’s Great American Bash PLE in 2023. When the 24-year-old Indiana native took on Baron Corbin in one-on-one action. During the match, it was clear that Steveson still had a lot of work to do. The crowd in Austin, Texas turned on the young star and was cheering for the clear heel in Corbin.
Although becoming a WWE Superstar wasn’t in the cards for Steveson, the National Football League may be the environment he needs. There is no doubt that he’s an incredible athlete, and with the right training, an NFL career could work out very well for the University of Minnesota alumni.
Gable Steveson’s WWE release came as a surprise to many fans, as the company was expected to give him a major push. Now, he is pursuing a different career path.
According to Adam Schefter, Steveson is signing with the Buffalo Bills, as confirmed by his agent, Carter Chow. Steveson will now aim to join Bob Hayes as one of the few athletes to win both a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal.
There had been previous reports of NFL interest in Steveson, and it appears the Bills have officially secured his services.
Gable Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, but he has never played organized football.
Steveson’s crossover to football is particularly notable because he never played high school football. This move highlights a trend where NFL teams, similar to WWE’s Next In Line program for collegiate athletes, are recruiting players with little to no prior experience.
Gable Steveson’s WWE Tenure
Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future in WWE. To support his development, WWE established a remote training facility for him while he completed his studies at the University of Minnesota. Despite being featured in significant WWE events like WrestleMania 38, fans did not connect with him as expected, often resisting the Olympian’s rapid push.
In 2022, Steveson underwent a heart ablation to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and took time off to recover before resuming training. As WWE’s first NIL signing, his struggle to succeed highlights the unique skills needed in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash underscored these challenges, with the crowd’s “You’re Not Angle” chants, so fans were not eager to latch onto him.
Gable Steveson getting “You’re Not Angle” and “Bullshit” chants from the crowd in his debut pic.twitter.com/jfcsledaXP
We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his new career with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Ironically, he may be a part of games that directly compete with WWE RAW as part of Monday Night Football.
Gable Steveson’s release from WWE may have been a shock to some, but reportedly not to those working with him in WWE NXT.
Steveson’s exit came less than three years after his high-profile signing to WWE in 2021. That same year, Steveson won Olympic Gold in freestyle wrestling at the Tokyo Summer Games, making him the second-ever gold medalist to sign with WWE (after Kurt Angle over two decades earlier.) Shortly after his signing, Steveson was selected by Raw in that year’s Draft, becoming the first draft pick chosen without a single match to his name.
Despite his high-profile standing outside of WWE, Steveson’s departure wasn’t a surprise to those in the company. One NXT talent who spoke to Fightful Select noted the difference in development between Steveson and his brother Damon Kemp. The two brothers joined WWE around the same time and in stark contrast to his Olympian sibling, Kemp has quickly found a place for himself on TV.
Steveson’s progression in WWE was slow with reports coming out in 2022 that he was nowhere close to showing the skill set WWE had hoped to see by that point in time. NXT talent believe it was his lack of progression and not his previous trouble with the law that factored into his WWE release.
Steveson and a university teammate were arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual misconduct in 2019 but they did not face criminal charges due to a lack of adequate evidence. At the time though, the county attorney pointed to a lack of a law in Minnesota (where the alleged incident happened) that would’ve given them a broader discretion in charging sexual assaults against intoxicated victims.
Steveson competed just one time on WWE TV.
What’s Next for Gable Steveson?
Steveson’s days in WWE are over but his days competing are far from finished. The ex-Superstar recently had a tryout for the Buffalo Bills and is expected to meet several NFL teams. There had been speculation that Steveson would go to the NFL after his victory in Tokyo before he signed with WWE.
Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson may be headed to the National Football League. The former WWE Developmental prospect was quietly released from his contract last month after his wrestling career failed to launch.
Steveson recently met with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and even had a tryout for the team, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He’s expected to meet with several other NFL teams in the weeks and months ahead.
This crossover to the gridiron is especially notable because Gable didn’t even play high school football. However, he wouldn’t be alone there, as never even played high school football. WWE has been scouting collegiate athletes through its Next In Line series program, but now we’re seeing NFL teams recruiting players with little-to-no prior experience as well
Gable Steveson’s WWE Journey
Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future ahead of him in WWE. To support his development, the company even established a remote training facility, allowing him to hone his skills while completing his studies at the University of Minnesota.
He was given a few big-time spots during WWE premium live events, including WrestleMania 38, but fans didn’t latch onto him as expected. Instead, they seemed to push back against the Olympian’s forced push.
In 2022, an ablation was performed on his heart to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White, and Gable took time off to recover, but he soon got back to training. He was given all the tools to succeed, but they couldn’t put things together and make them work.
As WWE’s first-ever NIL signing, Steveson’s struggle to succeed in the company underscores the unique and demanding skill set required to thrive in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash highlighted this challenge, as the crowd’s chants of “You’re Not Angle” referenced the frequent comparisons made between Steveson and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. These chants served as a reminder of the high expectations and distinct abilities needed to excel in the wrestling world.
We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his future NFL ventures, or wherever his path takes him.
WWE has parted ways with Olympian Gable Steveson, three years after the Gold Medalist signed with the promotion.
Steveson, who captured gold at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games, signed with WWE that same year and was drafted to Raw near the end of the year. His release was first reported by F4WOnline and is said to be part of the recent cuts to the WWE NXT roster.
Steveson’s career in WWE had a shaky start after initial reports stated that he had not shown the level of improvement at the Performance Center that higher-ups hoped to see. His debut match came at NXT Great American Bash 2023 and saw the Olympian have a count-out draw with Baron Corbin. Following this, he completed at WWE NXT live events as well as in dark matches before SmackDown.
With Steveson’s WWE career over, questions remain as to his future in the Olympics. Steveson recently qualified for Team USA but it was reported that he wouldn’t be competing due to his WWE commitments. It remains to be seen if Steveson will pursue the upcoming games in Paris, France now he has been released.
SE Scoops will provide more information on Steveson’s release as it becomes available.
Gable Steveson and Tamyra Mensah-Stock have qualified for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team but that doesn’t guarantee that fans will see them in Paris this summer.
Both WWE signings have qualified for the upcoming games though neither are listed as competing, the Wrestling Observer Daily Update reports. It’s added that neither competitor was expected to compete given their WWE standings. While Mensah-Stock hadn’t shown any public interest in competing at the upcoming games, Steveson had suggested that he was seriously considering a role at the events in Paris, France.
Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 shortly after his gold medal victory at that year’s games in Tokyo. That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, becoming the first Superstar to be drafted without having a match.
After having no matches as a Raw Superstar, Steveson would eventually make his in-ring debut as part of NXT Great American Bash 2023. That show saw a much-criticized double count-out draw against Baron Corbin though he has been picking up wins at live events.
Training for the Olympics would have required the whole focus of Steveson and Mensah-Stock and would have put any WWE training or plans by the promotion on pause. By opting not to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, it appears both are making clear that they are committed to their roles as WWE Superstars in the making.
Steveson’s performance at the latest SmackDown received mixed reviews from those in attendance, with the consensus matching what we’ve heard from sources in the Performance Center. The general gist is that Steveson has a long way to go and is not picking things up as quickly as others with similar amateur credentials. He also has a notable lack of charisma.
Despite this, fans can expect to see Gable Steveson at upcoming episodes of SmackDown. The Olympic Gold Medalist is booked for the next few TV events, according to PW Insider. There is no word on him being used during the broadcast, and it is likely his role at these tapings will be in dark matches.
What’s Next for Gable Steveson?
Outside of these SmackDown appearances, Steveson is not factored into any upcoming creative plans. There’s always the possibility that he could be a part of the upcoming Men’s Royal Rumble match, where he would have the chance to be showcased while also protected. We should stress that this is not something we’ve specifically heard from WWE.
WWE’s second-ever Olympic Gold Medalist was in action before this week’s episode of SmackDown went on the air.
The January 5, edition of the blue brand was the ‘New Year’s Revolution’ episode of SmackDown and concluded WWE’s stacked first week of programming in 2024. In the main event, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight competed with the winner earning an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship opportunity. After Roman Reigns and The Bloodline interfered, Nick Aldis announced a fatal four-way at the Royal Rumble on January 27.
Gable Steveson at SmackDown
Before the show went on the air, the fans in Vancouver were able to see Gable Steveson in action. The Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics Gold Medalist faced Cedric Alexander and got the win over the Hurt Business alum. You can check out Steveson’s entrance in the video below.
Gable Steveson wasn’t the only name associated with WWE NT to be at this week’s SmackDown in Vancouver. For his tag-team match with Pretty Deadly, Butch had to find a tag-team partner, which turned out to be Tyler Bate. The Big Strong Boi and his fellow NXT UK Champion would get the win over Elton Prince and Kit Wilson.
Why is it unfair to compare Gable Steveson to Kurt Angle? Click here to check out what the WWE Hall of Famer has to say.
Gable Steveson’s career in WWE will likely face another delay given the young Superstar’s plans to return to the Olympics.
In 2021, weeks after winning Gold in Tokyo, Steveson signed with WWE putting rumors to bed that he could join the NFL, UFC, or even AEW.
That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, making him the first person in history to be drafted before having a professional match.
The Olympics
Steveson has been with WWE for close to two years, but he is yet to wrestle a match for the promotion.
In an interview with MMAFighting.com, Steveson said that he plans on competing at the Summer Games in Paris, France next year.
“I’m 22 and next year I’ll be 23 at the Olympic games. It’s definitely a blessing to be able to call yourself an Olympic gold medalist and to be able to have the WWE fans recognize you with that, but in my eyes, there’s always a next and there’s always a bigger show to accomplish. WWE is another show to accomplish, but being a two-time Olympic gold medalist is also on the top of my list.”
Gable Steveson.
It has been reported that WWE intended to ‘fast track’ Steveson to the main roster, but he has not shown the level of progress in training that was expected of him.
Steveson’s one and only offensive maneuver in WWE came at WrestleMania 38, when he suplexed (fellow Olympian) Chad Gable.
Debut
If Steveson goes ahead with plans to wrestle in Paris, then it’s unlikely he will be wrestling for WWE before then, and risk an injury.
That doesn’t mean that Steveson could not show up on WWE TV, and in the interview, said he feels he is close to being on programming.
“It will be coming really, really soon. And when I mean really, really soon, probably after [WrestleMania] or just a little bit after that.”
Gable Steveson.
There are currently no reports that reveal if WWE has plans for Steveson to be used on-screen in any capacity anytime soon.
Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson underwent a heart procedure last month but is now training full-time at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.
According to ESPN, Steveson underwent an ablation on his heart to treat WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White) syndrome. The prospect told the media outlet that the health issue was discovered last year before he traveled to Tokyo for the Olympics. However, he didn’t undergo the procedure until WWE’s medical staff advised him through the process. This included the recommendation of top cardiologists to treat his condition.
Gable Steveson Back Training
Gable Steveson on Raw
The process spanned many months, which delayed Steveson’s start at training full-time for his wrestling career.
ESPN noted, “WPW is a rare congenital heart defect, present at birth, in which an extra electrical pathway causes a rapid heartbeat. An ablation is a procedure that uses small burns or freezes to cause scarring on the inside of the heart to help break up the electrical signals and maintain a normal heart rhythm.”
Steveson, who is the brother of WWE NXT star Damon Kemp, said he’s excited to get his WWE journey started as he hopes to compete on the main roster in the near future. In October 2021, Steveson was drafted to Raw and made a few special appearances.
Steveson is currently working under the legendary Fit Finlay at the Performance Center. WWE previously set up a remote training facility for him near the University of Minnesota last year so that he could pursue a second NCAA championship.
Steveson said he’s 100% committed to becoming the next big thing in WWE.
When WWE signed Gable Steveson to a contract in late 2021, there was a lot of buzz around the young athlete.
Steveson had just won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics (which took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and had been considering his options.
It had been suggested that Steveson would sign with AEW, or possibly enter the Octagon for a career in MMA.
Going Cold
Steveson impressed in last year’s Summer Olympics, but his skills haven’t transitioned into pro wrestling.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it’s reported that WWE has gone “cold” on the Olympic Gold Medalist, as the reviews of him in training have been poor.
There were plans for Steveson to be fast-tracked to the main roster after he finished his last amateur season in March, but that hasn’t been talked about in some time.
Steveson appeared at WrestleMania: Saturday, celebrating with RK-Bro and the Street Profits, and suplexing Chad Gable (a fellow Olympian) with ease.
Family Ties
Gable Steveson isn’t doing too well in training to be a WWE Superstar, but the opposite is the case for his brother.
Bobby Steveson, aka Damon Kemp has said to be doing “great” according to the Observer.
Kemp made his WWE in-ring debut in December 2021, in a losing effort to Andre Chase on 205 Live and would have to wait until a March 2022 edition of NXT LVL UP to get his first victory.
In addition to competing on NXT LVL UP and 205 Live, Kemp has worked on NXT and NXT UK.
There is no doubt that Roman Reigns is the top dog in WWE, but is the clock ticking?
The Tribal Chief garners all the attention whenever he’s out with The Bloodline. His presence oozes ‘superstar’ and the WWE Universe has indeed acknowledged him.
The ‘Head of the Table’ gimmick was a much-needed turnaround for Reigns. While WWE always viewed him as a main-eventer, the audience knew he was being forced on them for many years.
Back in the summer of 2020, Reigns turned heel and aligned with Paul Heyman. Eventually, he forced The Usos to join him and they formed The Bloodline faction.
Since then, Roman Reigns has become the top draw in WWE. He is the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
While WWE has been enjoying the success of the “Tribal Chief,” it may not last much longer. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Reigns has signed a new contract for fewer dates.
Prior to the news breaking, Reigns spoke to fans during a house show in Trenton, New Jersey and said that he was entering a new phase in his career.
It’s also been reported that Reigns could be missing the June 5 Hell in a Cell show. With Reigns having fewer dates and the potential of Hollywood knocking on his door in the not-so-distant future, it’s left many wondering who could be the one to replace Reigns when the time comes.
For the five stars named here, we won’t be including the likes of Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre. They have already been established as big stars who are in their mid-30s. Instead, we’ll be taking a look at talent on the rise.
Let’s dive into five potential WWE Superstars to replace Roman Reigns:
Gable Steveson
Gable Steveson was drafted to Raw
WWE has high hopes for Gable Steveson. The Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling is signed to a WWE contract. While Steveson hasn’t had a match yet, he’s already gotten physical, giving Chad Gable an overhead belly-to-belly suplex at WrestleMania 38.
Very few are doubting that Steveson can become a great in-ring performer given his amateur wrestling background. The real question is, can he captivate the WWE audience with his personality?
So far, Stevenson has been purely presented as an athlete but he’ll need more than that to thrive in WWE.
Time is certainly on Gable Steveson’s side. He will turn 22 years old on May 31. He’ll be hard at work in the ring and in promo classes behind the scenes before he becomes a regular on WWE TV.
Theory
(WWE)
At least for now, Theory is Vince McMahon’s golden boy.
The reigning United States Champion has been pushed on TV as Vince’s new “chosen one.” WWE officials are high on Theory as he seems to attract younger viewers to Monday Night Raw, something the company has struggled with.
Some fans are struggling with Theory’s rise, however. The concern is that he’s a bit too generic on the mic and in the ring, at least when working the WWE style. Some feel Theory is being held back by heavily scripted promos and needs to be unchained similar to what happened with Reigns.
This option would certainly be close to home for Reigns. Solo Sikoa is the younger brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso. He’s currently featured on the NXT 2.0 brand and it hasn’t taken him long to become a fan favorite on the show.
Being a member of the Anoai family certainly isn’t a bad thing when you’re a WWE superstar. At 29 years old, Sikoa isn’t the youngest guy on this list but he isn’t the oldest either. His size certainly fits the bill with WWE’s new initiative when looking to build stars.
If Sikoa develops fast enough, they may just have the perfect person to dethrone Reigns and possibly snap his brothers out of the mind control that the “Tribal Chief” has over them.
Madcap Moss
(via WWE)
Madcap Moss is in the midst of a babyface push. After winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Happy Corbin got jealous and the team ended up splitting. They had a one-on-one match at WrestleMania Backlash, which Madcap won.
While many within WWE feel Madcap has potential, he has some things working against him. WWE has had difficulty finding the right fit for Moss and even as a face, he has still retained his bad joke gimmick when he was with Corbin.
At the age of 32, Moss isn’t exactly a young prospect either. While he may not seem like the most appealing choice, don’t rule out WWE trying to tie the rocket ship to Moss’ back.
Bron Breakker
(via WWE)
To many fans, this is the only option.
Bron Breakker just looks like he was born to be a WWE main eventer. The son of Rick Steiner hasn’t had a lot of experience but he’s already been impressive in the ring.
He certainly stands out above the other green talent that fills up NXT 2.0. Breakker made his WWE TV debut back in Sept. 2021 and he’s already a two-time NXT Champion.
He’s got an intimidating presence, has great facial expressions when selling, is as intense as they come, and can hold his own on the mic.
To top it off, Breakker will be 25 years old this October. He has all the ingredients to headline WrestleMania one day. It’s up to WWE to maximize his potential.
Whether that means replacing Roman Reigns remains to be seen.
WWE will unveil the second class of “Next In Line” program recruits this June.
The company announced that it will unveil the newest class of Next In Line recruits at the inaugural NIL summit on June 13. The class will consist of 15 athletes.
The NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) program is aimed at recruiting college athletes. Through collaborative partnerships with college athletes of diverse athletic backgrounds, the program aims to enhance the talent development process.
WWE said that the NIL Summit will take place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
“Four of the 16 initial members of WWE’s ‘Next In Line’ program are nominated for awards including Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson (University of Minnesota) for Male Athlete of the Year, Haley & Hanna Cavinder (University of Miami) for Female Athlete of the Year and Jon Seaton (Elon University) for the Hustle Award,” the statement reads.
“We are excited to unveil our next class of NIL athletes at the inaugural NIL Summit which brings together the brightest minds across this emerging industry for the first time,” Triple H said in the statement. “WWE’s ‘Next In Line’ program has already proven to be transformational for our talent pipeline. We have forged many incredible partnerships with student athletes during the first six months of the program and look forward to ushering in the next wave of talent.”
The first class of college athletes who took part in the program also consisted of 15 members. The program included athletes who had a background in football, basketball, track and field, and wrestling. Gable Steveson was the first member of this inaugural class.
Athletes in the NIL program get access to the WWE Performance Center, as well as education on brand building, media training, live event promotion, and more. Some athletes will also receive a WWE contract after they complete the program.
WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has said he hopes to manage a team of Olympians one day should he one day return to the company.
Angle joined the WWF in 1998 and debuted on TV in late 1999, becoming the first Olympic Gold Medalist to join Vince McMahon’s promotion.
Speaking on his podcast ‘The Kurt Angle Show,’ the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion discussed his idea after saying he missed out on managing American Alpha.
“I’d like to manage the olympians… When Gable Steveson starts his career, he and Chad Gable, that would be the new Team Angle. I would love that.”
Kurt Angle.
Gable competed at the London 2012 Summer Games in the 84kg category but didn’t win a medal.
Steveson captured gold for Team U.S.A at last year’s Summer Games in Tokyo, competing in the 125kg weight class.
In addition to Gable and Steveson, Ronda Rousey is also a former Olympian having won Bronze in the Women’s Judo (70kg) at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.
The Original Team Angle
Benjamin, Angle, and Haas as ‘Team Angle’ in 2003.
Kurt Angle is no stranger to managing young Superstars, as he managed Team Angle in 2003.
Comprising of Angle, Charlie Haas, and Shelton Benjamin, the group came together as part of Kurt’s feud with Brock Lesnar, though they failed to prevent Lesnar from winning the WWE Championship from Angle at WrestleMania 19.
After Kurt took time off to recover from an injury, the team would split upon his return with Haas and Benjamin being redubbed ‘The World’s Greatest Tag Team.’
Olympic Gold Medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock is waiting for WWE to offer her a contract.
Mensah-Stock made history last year by winning a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling (68kg) at the 2020 Summer Olympic games from Tokyo, Japan.
WWE fans might remember she and Gable Steveson made a surprise in-ring appearance at SummerSlam.
Steveson has since signed a WWE contract and is seen by many as having the potential to be “the next Kurt Angle.”
According to Mensah-Stock, she’s also interested in following in the footsteps of Kurt Angle (and Gable Steveson, for that matter).
Twitter user @TeeExTee asked Mensah-Stock when WWE is going to offer her a contract. She replied and said she’s been wondering that same thing herself.
— Tamyra Mensah Stock (Tyra Mae Steele WWE) (@MensahTamStock) April 24, 2022
WWE has a long history of collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes crossing over to the world of sports entertainment. We’ll see if Tamyra Mensah-Stock is a future WWE Superstar, but now we know she’s up for it.
Former Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson got his first taste of WrestleMania action this past weekend in Dallas, Texas. Steveson was introduced by Stephanie McMahon during Night One of WrestleMania 38 and received a nice ovation from the fans in attendance, however, Night Two is when Steveson got physical. The former NCAA Heavyweight Champion tossed Chad Gable around the ring following a verbal altercation.
Speaking in a WWE Digital Exclusive, Steveson called the experience a “dream come true,” and explained the rush of performing in front of 70,000 people.
“Dream come true,” said Steveson (via WrestleZone). “Hard to describe the emotions that you get, coming from amateur wrestling and collegiate wrestling and Olympic style, to coming to 70,000 people. You don’t get that. You get that with WWE, though.”
As for getting physical for the first time in the ring with his scuffle against Gable, Steveson said the experience was “heart rushing.”
“Heart-rushing,” said Steveson. “You know I’m sitting on the sideline, and I’m like, ‘Am I gonna get called in? Am I not?’ I have no clue, I don’t even know what I’m doing. So I go in there, Chad gives me the look and you know what I gotta do, I gotta throw him. And I gotta celebrate with my team, RK-Bro and the Street Profits too.”
GCW Confirms Dates & Venue for the Collective 2023
GCW has announced that they will be following WWE to Los Angeles with The Collective next year in 2023. The promotion held The Collective in Dallas, Texas this year during WrestleMania 38 weekend as well. The Collective will go down from The Ukranian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California from March 30 to April 1, 2023. More information will be made available soon.
Check out the official announcement below:
*BREAKING*
The Collective returns for Mania Week 2023 and we're bringing it to our home base in LOS ANGELES!
The Collective 2023 March 30th – April 1st The Ukranian Cultural Center Los Angeles, CA
Kurt Angle spoke to Sports Illustrated and he detailed what Gable Steveson must do in order to thrive in this industry.
“He’ll need to make sure he’s well prepared and learns all the techniques, which I think he will do very quickly, but the hardest part is the character perspective. I would tell him to practice daily, look in a mirror and work on those promo skills. He needs to show he has a lot of fire and personality. That’s where a lot of former amateur wrestlers have failed in professional wrestling. They didn’t have the personality.”
Angle also shared his opinion on what made Steveson so good in the amateur ranks.
“To be in the very best in the entire world at his age at only 21, it’s very rare. And Gable proved he is the best in the world … The way he’s able to shuffle and turn his matches into a dogfight, and then come out on top, he’s really good at that.
“He’s such an incredible athlete for his size. Watch his balance; it’s amazing. He has a good knack for knowing where his body and his hips are. The kid is so mature, from a physical standpoint and a mental standpoint.
“And he brought a positive light on the sport of amateur wrestling. To me, that is incredible. Now he has the chance to make a big splash in WWE.”
A lot of comparisons between Angle and Steveson have been made. Angle was a multiple-time world champion in WWE and Impact Wrestling. He was even a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
Angle’s success didn’t just boil down to his incredible in-ring work. He also had the personality to match. Time will tell whether or not Steveson can captivate the WWE Universe.
Brock Lesnar and Gable Steveson have a lot in common. Both heavyweight athletes are accomplished amateur wrestlers with two Division I heavyweight wrestling championships under their belts.
Steveson has signaled the end of his collegiate career. Now that he is getting ready to enter the world of professional wrestling, there is even more he can learn from The Beast Incarnate.
The WWE newcomer talked about Lesnar during his appearance on MMA Hour. He also discussed Brock Lesnar’s current run as a lovable baybayface character.
Brock Lesnar Is Bringing A Personality Nobody Has Seen
The Olympic Gold Medallist mentioned how Brock Lesnar is usually portrayed as a serious guy, and said that it’s cool that the world is getting to see the real him.
“I love every second of it.” Gable Steveson said addressing Brock Lesnar’s new persona
“I mean, he’s bringing a new personality to the world that nobody has seen, you know. If you know Brock behind the scenes, you know that he’s always a cool dude. He’s funny. He talks so much.” said Steveson, “But like that in person, like [his] TV persona has been a lot different lately. I think it’s cool for everybody to see like, that’s how he really is and he’s putting it out to the world.”
The Raw star also discussed Lesnar’s longtime advocate Paul Heyman. He praised the former ECW owner saying that Heyman is a wizard. According to Steveson, Paul Heyman is a genius at what he does. If you watch his work with Brock or Roman Reigns, you’d realize the same.
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is headed to WrestleMania.
Steveson won his second NCAA wrestling championship for the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday. He left his boots on the mat after the match, indicating the end of his storied amateur wrestling career.
Steveson has confirmed to Sports Illustrated that he’ll be in attendance for WrestleMania 38.
“I plan on going to WrestleMania,” he said. “That’s the first time WWE fans will see me and what I’m about. I’m going to put my heart out there.”
Steveson says there are a few people in WWE who reach out to check in on him, including Paul Heyman, Triple H and Brock Lesnar.
“Paul Heyman is always like the first one to text, and that means a lot. He always reaches out and makes sure I’m good. Paul “Triple H” Levesque checks up on me, and so does Brock Lesnar. They’ve shown me a lot of love and respect.”
Gable Steveson in WWE
The 21-year-old wrestling machine will be joining WWE as a full-time Superstar very soon. He signed with WWE in September 2021 and was drafted to the Raw brand a few months ago in the 2021 WWE Draft.
Expect to see Gable Steveson’s latest NCAA tournament win mentioned on tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
Steveson has already made several appearances on WWE television, including SummerSlam 2021 and an episode of WWE Raw December 13th.
WWE Raw star Gable Steveson has successfully defended his NCAA championship, becoming a two times champion in the process.
The amateur wrestling star faced Arizona State’s Cohlton Schultz in the finals on Saturday. The match took place in Detroit.
The Apple Valley native snapped his opponent down the mat in the opening seconds of the match. This gained him the lead which he would not lose till the end.
Gable Steveson established a 4-1 advantage with another takedown late in the first period. One more takedown in the second period then ensured his 6-2 victory in the championship match.
The heavyweight star hugged his coach and gave the crowd his signature backflip as his victory celebration. After that, Steveson took off his shoes and left them in the center of the mat, indicating the end of his collegiate career.
WWE sent out an official statement on Gable Steveson’s win. People from the company, including Triple H also congratulated him on Twitter:
Barstool Athlete Gable Steveson ends his wrestling career with his second national championship and leaves his shoes on the mat.
Steveson signed a multi-year deal with WWE in September 2021. The Olympic Gold Medalist was drafted to the Raw brand and he has made a few on-screen appearances for the company since then. Though his contract officially begins in May when he graduates from college.
Olympic Gold medallist and WWE superstar Gable Steveson made a surprise appearance on Monday’s episode of Raw from Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The episode saw the company promoting the new Next In Line program scouting college athletes as potential future WWE stars.
Steveson is part of the list of 16 athletes WWE contracted in the first wave of signings under the new program. He was shown in the crowd and waved to the fans in attendance. Later, had an interaction with both Bobby Lashley and MVP when the all-mighty came out for his match against Kevin Owens on the show.
Gable Steveson’s residence in Apple Valley, Minnesota is close to St. Paul. He is often seen at WWE events in Minnesota. The Olympic gold medallist signed with WWE in September earlier this year. He was drafted to the Raw brand in October but is yet to make his in-ring debut for the show.
Officials expect Steveson to become a full-time roster member after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2022. His interaction with the former WWE champion on Raw was still very interesting. We will have to see if it leads to a future on-screen partnership between the two.
