In a surprising turn of events, WWE has decided to part ways with Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson, marking the end of a three-year journey with the promotion.
Steveson, whose wrestling prowess led him to claim gold at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games, joined WWE in the same year, bringing a wave of anticipation among wrestling fans worldwide. However, his departure from the company signifies a significant twist in his professional trajectory.
The news of Steveson’s release was first brought to light by the Wrestling Observer, indicating that his departure is part of the recent streamlining efforts within the WWE NXT roster. Despite his celebrated athletic background, Steveson’s tenure with WWE faced challenges from the outset.
Initial reports suggested that he struggled to meet the expected standards of improvement at the Performance Center, a factor that contributed to his departure.
Here’s what the Observer reported regarding his release:
“All these cuts were done on the same day. A lot of people in the amateur world are going ‘Oh my God, how horrible, if they cut him three weeks ago…’ but they probably weren’t thinking cuts three weeks ago.
The reality is it’s another one – his contract was a very big money contract and he wasn’t cutting it, that’s the thing. It’s very, very hard.
You’re talking about a guy who from literally 7th grade on was an incredible athlete. This guy may be, probably is, the best heavyweight wrestler ever in the United States. The best wrestler period out of the state of Minnesota and Minnesota has got a lot of great wrestlers.”
Steveson’s in-ring debut under the WWE banner occurred at NXT Great American Bash 2023, where he faced off against Baron Corbin to a count-out draw. This was his only televised match in WWE.
Subsequently, he continued to feature in matches at NXT Live Events and participated in dark matches prior to SmackDown broadcasts.
However, his journey in WWE failed to gain significant momentum, raising doubts about his long-term prospects within the organization.
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