The trajectory from Olympic gold to professional wrestling stardom seemed inevitable for Gable Steveson, yet his departure from WWE tells a different story entirely.
The former heavyweight champion has now set his sights on mixed martial arts, announcing his debut at LFA 217 on September 12, 2024. He will be competing at Mystic Lake Casino in his home state of Minnesota.
Steveson’s wrestling credentials were undeniable when he first caught WWE’s attention. Coming from the same University of Minnesota program that produced Brock Lesnar, the Olympic gold medalist appeared destined for greatness in sports entertainment. WWE recognized his potential early, offering him one of their inaugural NIL deals for college athletes—a clear signal of their investment in his future.
However, the transition proved far more challenging than anyone anticipated. Despite being drafted to Monday Night Raw in 2021, Steveson never became a regular fixture on weekly programming. Instead, he was primarily relegated to untelevised live events, leaving fans wondering when they would see the Olympic champion showcase his abilities on television.
The comparisons to Kurt Angle, another Olympic gold medalist who became a WWE legend, created both opportunity and burden. Angle had seamlessly transitioned from amateur wrestling to sports entertainment, capturing the WWE Championship within his first year and establishing himself as a main event talent. These parallels set an almost impossible standard for Steveson to meet.
Health complications further complicated his developmental journey. In October 2022, Steveson was diagnosed with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect that required medical attention and delayed his training progression. While he successfully underwent treatment, this setback cost him crucial development time during an already extended learning process.
When Steveson finally received significant television exposure in a match against Baron Corbin at the Great American Bash, the reception was decidedly hostile. The Texas crowd immediately turned against him, with chants of “you’re not Angle” and ultimately the dreaded “bulls**t” chant. The match concluded as a no contest, effectively marking a turning point in his WWE aspirations.
His most memorable WWE moment came at WrestleMania 38, where he delivered a suplex to Chad Gable. Yet even this appearance felt more like a brief cameo rather than a proper showcase of his abilities, leaving fans wanting more substantial content from the Olympic champion.
Following his WWE departure, Steveson returned to collegiate competition for the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships as a heavyweight favorite representing the University of Minnesota. However, the tournament ended in disappointment when he fell to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the final, losing by a narrow 5-4 margin and settling for second place.
Now months after that crushing defeat, Steveson is charting a new course in combat sports. He has decided to compete in MMA, away from the entertainment aspects of professional wrestling.
His debut at LFA 217 will mark the beginning of a new chapter. The MMA world now awaits to see whether Steveson can harness his Olympic-level wrestling skills in a different combat sport environment.
