From Olympic Gold to NCAA Heartbreak: Gable Steveson’s Stunning Fall from Grace

When the Des Moines Register printed “GABLE FAILS” in bold letters across their sports page, it wasn’t just a headline—it was the shocking conclusion to what many considered an inevitable coronation. Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, perhaps the most hyped heavyweight wrestler in recent memory, had just been dominated by Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the NCAA Wrestling Championships final.

The MMA world took notice. After all, we’ve seen this script before: dominant wrestler transitions to fighting and becomes a superstar. Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Yoel Romero—the blueprint exists. Steveson was supposed to be next.

The Fall of a Wrestling Titan

I’ve covered combat sports for years, but rarely have I seen such a dramatic fall from grace. Steveson wasn’t just beaten—he was thoroughly outclassed by Hendrickson, who controlled the match from start to finish. The 285-pound Air Force standout secured a 9-3 victory that left the wrestling world stunned.

What made this loss particularly jarring was Steveson’s resume. This is a man who:

• Won Olympic gold in Tokyo with a last-second takedown
• Dominated NCAA competition for years at Minnesota
• Signed with the WWE while still competing collegiately
• Was considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight prospect in wrestling

From Wrestling to WWE to MMA?

Steveson’s journey has been anything but conventional. After Olympic gold, many expected him to make an immediate jump to MMA or focus exclusively on WWE. Instead, he returned for another NCAA season, leveraging NIL deals while also appearing on WWE programming—a unique arrangement that raised eyebrows throughout the combat sports world.

But this crushing defeat raises serious questions about his future. The aura of invincibility is gone. The mystique has vanished. And for potential MMA promoters eyeing Steveson, that matters.

What This Means for His Fighting Future

The transition from wrestling to MMA is never guaranteed. For every Daniel Cormier, there’s a wrestler who couldn’t make the adjustment. Steveson’s loss doesn’t erase his accomplishments, but it does reveal vulnerabilities that weren’t previously apparent.

The Mental Game: Did Steveson’s Focus Waver?

You have to wonder if Steveson’s attention was divided. Between WWE appearances, endorsement deals, and Olympic comedown, did he lose the hunger that made him great? Wrestling at the highest level requires monastic dedication—something fighters understand all too well.

His coach, Brandon Eggum, alluded to this after the match, saying: “When you’re pulled in multiple directions, it’s hard to maintain that edge. Gable has had more opportunities than most athletes ever dream of, but that comes with challenges.”

Hendrickson: The Man Who Slayed Goliath

Let’s not overlook Wyatt Hendrickson in this equation. The Air Force heavyweight executed a perfect gameplan, pushing a pace that Steveson couldn’t match. For those in the MMA world tracking future heavyweight talent, Hendrickson just entered the conversation in dramatic fashion.

His military background and disciplined approach to competition mirror qualities we’ve seen in fighters like Randy Couture and Brian Stann. Could Hendrickson be the wrestling-to-MMA story we didn’t see coming?

What’s Next for Gable?

Steveson now stands at a crossroads. His WWE contract offers financial security, but the competitor in him must be burning to prove the “GABLE FAILS” headline was an aberration, not a prophecy.

For fight fans hoping to see him in the octagon someday, this setback might actually accelerate that timeline. Nothing motivates elite athletes like failure, and Steveson has never faced this level of adversity in his career.

The question isn’t whether Gable can bounce back—his Olympic comeback against Geno Petriashvili proved his resilience—but rather which arena he’ll choose for his redemption story. Will it be the wrestling mat, the WWE ring, or perhaps the UFC octagon?

Could Adversity Make Steveson a Better Fighter?

I’ve seen it time and again in MMA—sometimes the best champions are forged through defeat. Kamaru Usman. Charles Oliveira. Dustin Poirier. All learned critical lessons from losses that made them complete fighters.

If Steveson does transition to MMA, this humbling experience might prove invaluable. The psychological fortitude required to rebuild after public failure is exactly what fighters need in those championship rounds when everything is on the line.

The Bottom Line

One loss doesn’t define Gable Steveson’s legacy, but it does rewrite the narrative. He’s no longer the unbeatable force of nature—he’s human, with vulnerabilities that can be exploited by the right opponent with the right gameplan.

For MMA promoters, that might actually make him more interesting. A perfect prospect comes with impossible expectations. A talented athlete with something to prove? That’s a story fight fans can get behind.

What do you think? Would you rather see Steveson continue in WWE or make the jump to MMA? Does this loss change your perception of his potential in the cage? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Des Moines Register