After a rollercoaster stint in WWE and an NFL trial with the Buffalo Bills, Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is going back to what he knows best: collegiate wrestling. Seven months after his WWE release, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers announced on Instagram that Steveson, now 24, will return to compete in the upcoming season.
Steveson’s wrestling resume speaks for itself. Known for his near-unbeatable collegiate career, he racked up an 85-2 record with three Big Ten titles and two NCAA National Championships. His return brings him full circle to the Golden Gophers, where he first made a name for himself as one of the sport’s most electrifying heavyweights, even earning two Dan Hodge Trophies—the “Heisman” of amateur wrestling.
Steveson’s professional ventures in WWE saw highs and lows, from the much-anticipated debut to a lackluster response after his critically panned NXT match against Baron Corbin. When that wrestling run ended, Steveson briefly turned to the NFL, signing a three-year deal with the Buffalo Bills as a defensive tackle, only to be cut before the season began. Now, with one year of college eligibility remaining, he’s putting his WWE and NFL attempts behind him, ready to grapple his way back to glory with the Gophers.