Hold on to your championship belts, folks, because WWE just made a move bolder than a heel turn at WrestleMania! Olympic gold medalist and wrestling sensation Gable Steveson has been released from his WWE contract. Steveson, who previously turned down a potential MMA career to bodyslam his way through the WWE ranks, finds himself on the chopping block alongside other talents.
The backstory reads like a soap opera script, folks! Back in 2021, WWE snatched Steveson right from under UFC’s nose, marking him as the poster boy for their new initiative targeting college athletes. This was supposed to be the Cinderella story of the sports world, with Steveson continuing to dominate the amateur wrestling scene, bagging titles left and right, including the 2022 NCAA Division I National Championship and the 2023 US Open Wrestling Championship.
But here comes the plot twist! Despite his glittering amateur career, Steveson’s transition to the squared circle wasn’t as golden. Rumors swirled faster than a luchador in a tornado match about his past challenges, notably a 2019 allegation involving a sexual assault case. Although charges were never filed due to “lack of significant evidence,” the whispers never fully subsided.
Dave Meltzer dropped the bombshell that while Steveson was prepping for a showdown at the 2023 World Championship, WWE pulled the plug, telling him to hang up his wrestling boots and not his singlet. The question on everyone’s mind: Was this a tactical retreat by WWE to avoid another PR nightmare, or has the curtain fallen on what could have been a storybook wrestling career?
WWE’s decision to cut ties has sent shockwaves through the sports entertainment industry. With Steveson out, who will step into the ring to fill his larger-than-life boots? The wrestling world waits with bated breath!