Gable Steveson will be making the transition from amateur competition to pro wrestling in a few months after winning a second consecutive NCAA wrestling championship on Saturday night when he beat Arizona State’s Cohlton Schultz 6-2.
The University of Minnesota standout left his shoes on the mat to signify the end of his amateur career after winning the heavyweight title. This accomplishment is in addition to his Olympic freestyle gold medal and three Big Ten championships.
“It’s done,” Steveson said on the ESPN broadcast. “I knew what I came to do. I was going to win an Olympic gold, win the national tournament again. It’s just weird. I don’t know how to describe it.”
Steveson became the first exclusive NIL athlete in WWE history when he signed the deal last September after having a meeting with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon the prior month.
It is a multi-year variety deal that let him to stay in school while also training part-time as a pro wrestler. WWE set up a training facility near the campus for him to train. His contract begins after he graduates this May. Although Steveson has yet to take a simple bump in front of a live crowd, he was drafted to the Raw roster in last year’s WWE Draft.
Gable’s brother, Bobby, has also signed with WWE and is already training at the WWE Performance Center as Damon Kemp.
