Former Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson appears to be hinting at a potential move to mixed martial arts following his recent departure from WWE. The 24-year-old wrestler, who achieved glory in freestyle wrestling at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has been making waves on social media with cryptic posts suggesting a career shift.
Recent footage has emerged of Steveson training with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones at the renowned Jackson’s MMA Association in Albuquerque. The video shows Jones narrowly avoiding a potentially devastating knee strike to Steveson during a sparring session, highlighting the intensity of their training and fueling speculation about Steveson’s MMA aspirations.
Steveson’s time with WWE came to an abrupt end when he was released from his contract along with several other NXT and Performance Center athletes. According to reports from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, the decision was primarily due to Steveson’s lucrative contract and his struggles to meet expectations as a professional wrestler.
The WWE fans were reportedly often compelled to boo him due to his checkered past. n 2019, he faced allegations of r*pe during his time at the University of Minnesota, though criminal charges were ultimately not pursued due to a legal loop hole.
This legal loop hole was subsequently closed by law changes in 2021.
While these allegations were known to WWE at the time of his signing, they may have contributed to the lukewarm reception he received from audiences during his brief wrestling career.
Despite being signed amid great fanfare in September 2021 and subsequently drafted to Raw, Steveson’s on-screen appearances were limited. He participated in only five SmackDown dark matches in 2024, with his last performance taking place on February 9. His most notable televised match, against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash in July 2023, received poor reviews from fans and critics alike.
The timing of Steveson’s release has raised eyebrows, as it reportedly came too late for him to participate in the U.S. Olympic trials held on April 19 and 20. This development has left many wondering about Steveson’s next move in the world of combat sports.
