Gable Steveson earned a 2020 Olympic gold medal in wrestling and made the shift to pro wrestling by training full-time for WWE. However, making his pro wrestling in-ring debut is not the only thing he has planned for the near future because he has the idea of winning another gold medal on his mind.
After Steveson signed a multi-year contract with WWE in 2021, WWE had plans for him to be featured on Raw after WrestleMania 38 as the company hopes he can become a top star such as Brock Lesnar or Kurt Angle. Those plans were delayed as he underwent a heart procedure. Steveson’s brother Bobby wrestles as Damon Kemp on NXT.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Steveson noted that he misses competing in amateur wrestling and still has that competitive spirit in him.
“I know the Olympics is next year and I hope to be a part of that and keep moving forward and keep winning big titles for the USA also.”
The 2020 Olympic games took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, Steveson won a second NCAA championship for the University of Minnesota.
“I would love a second run,” he said. “I feel I have a lot more left in the tank to showcase. I want to prove USA right and keep moving forward overall and become one of the best American amateur wrestlers ever, and I hope I can achieve the Bruce Baumgartner status of having a bunch of medals and having the accolades to show and be a part of WWE and be an entertainer, too.”
Steveson noted that his priority right now remains WWE, but he hopes the company will support his desire to compete in the Olympics next year.
“I think that’s a discussion when that time comes and that’s a discussion for how my schedule may play out, and you never know how it may play out,” Steveson said. “As of right now, it’s a yes or no, but at the end of the day, I will be ready to compete and put on a good show as always.
Steveson continued, “I’m hoping [to return to the Olympics]. I will be ready if that time comes and I won’t stop being ready until I know if I can go and if I get that yes or no. It would be really amazing [to win a second gold medal] and I hope it happens and I hope I can do that. I feel if there’s someone who can do it, it’s me. I’ve got that burning passion to keep doing it. I believe in myself to the fullest.”
Steveson noted that while WWE is a thing he wants to accomplish, “being a two-time Olympic gold medalist is also on the top of my list.”
Regarding his WWE training, he noted that he’s pretty close to debuting and he’s just waiting for a call from WWE for the moment. He admitted that it’s stressful on some days because he never knows when he’s going to get the call, a big change for him compared to knowing when he would compete months in advance for amateur wrestling.
Steveson noted that right now, he thinks he will be debuting really soon.
“And when I mean really, really soon, probably after [WrestleMania] or just a little bit after that. I think being able to understand that this game is different and it’s a process and I’m going to follow the process the right way and just keep moving forward.”
Steveson added that he thinks he can be the “most physical, athletic, and dominant wrestler since probably Brock Lesnar.”
