In the world of sports, there are very few athletes who try to pursue their talent in different genres. Why so? Indeed, it’s not an effortless task. Mastering a single sport is already so difficult, so why bother to look forward to multiple journeys? However, Gable Steveson has a different mindset when it comes to pursuing multiple sporting adventures.
After winning his career-first Olympic gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s 125 kg division, Steveson’s confidence got the due boost. However, this experience motivated him to pursue more challenging opportunities, leading him to sign a contract with WWE. But when his endeavor failed in the industry that demands a lot of fame, he moved to the NFL, joining the Buffalo Bills, valued at $4.2 billion. Eventually, he was unsuccessful with his tryouts for the team and returned to college wrestling. However, he implemented a specific strategy during these journeys that greatly benefited him as a multi-sport athlete, particularly in preparation for his NCAA return.
Olympic wrestling champion having a trick on his sleeves
Gable Steveson joined the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free-agent defensive tackle on May 31, 2024, filled with immense ambition. He was eager to apply his wrestling and WWE experience to the NFL and explore his chances. Indeed, he immediately bonded with the team in his learning program. He had a three-year contract, so he was taking things at the right amount of pace. But was it smooth? Absolutely not!
According to various sources, Steveson, who was a wrestler in the 125 kg division, had to maintain a different weight, 265 lbs, before entering the WWE. Indeed, his weight did not significantly change, but his transition to football necessitated an increase in weight. Yes, his role on the team required him to bulk up. Like a warrior, he embraced the physical battle. However, the NFL team released the number 61 for the Bills right before the regular season, shattering his dreams in the sport.
It didn’t take much time for Steveson to jump the ship again back to college wrestling, which was also met with a ton of controversy. But coming back to the Minnesota Gophers, his journey has been smooth, and he hasn’t been shy to acknowledge his past challenges in different industries. Talking to FloWrestling, he unveiled his dedication, stating, “I didn’t wrestle for when I signed from Buffalo to till I got cut. I didn’t wrestle; I was only focused on football.” However, there was a certain tactic that helped him to hone his wrestling talent.
“So that was about two and a half months, but there’s been times when I was consistently wrestling that I took months off on purpose just so I like get refreshed and come back better, and that’s always been the trend that I’ve always done,” said Steveson, stressing the importance of taking breaks in between. He continued, “Um, so just not to try to burn myself out wrestling, but it’s been a few months since I wrestled, and when I got back on the mat, I felt like I was instantly better just because the thirst of wanting to wrestle was there, and the feet were moving, the hands were moving, I was just a big ass body, I was moving the same, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this might be something.’”
Even for an athlete like Steveson, burnout might be a potential situation he may face. However, to avoid it, he has his own remedy of taking breaks in his wrestling endeavors. Indeed, for many seasons, he was completely away from the sport but eventually made a return in the 2024-25 NCAA campaign and already showcased fruitful results, leading the Gophers to victory. However, apart from just avoiding burnout, was there any other reason for him to move to WWE after becoming an Olympic champion?
Gable Steveson’s reason to push towards different sports
In the realm of wrestling, Gable Steveson was one of the most popular names before he made his return. He became an Olympic champion and decided to switch to WWE, as he had an interest in the industry. But the main reason? “I think the most challenging part was just finding out who Gable was outside of wrestling. Because you go from a dominant, don’t get me wrong, I still dominate, so you go from a dominant thing to having to research yourself and find out who you are internally,” said Steveson to FloWrestling.
There was a certain urge inside him to explore himself. This particular drive led him to pursue different sporting adventures that led him to face many new challenges in life, especially trying to find out who he was as an individual. Steveson also discussed how tough the move was on him, stating, “I’ve never been a guy that has been open about who I am as a person, and I’ve been a guy that has been open about being fun and entertaining and going out there and doing backflips for the crowd, but I’ve never been a guy that has spoken about myself in a manner that requires. So that one was definitely a tough challenge.”
Indeed, Steveson acknowledged one of the biggest flaws in him. Making the confession, he wanted to convey that while he’s open to the people around him, and keeping an uplifting attitude, when he wants to communicate with himself, it gets difficult for him. Furthermore, the lack of expressions made his life tough in WWE, eventually making him part ways with the industry.
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