Gable Steveson knows you can’t win them all.
The Olympic gold medal wrestler, who suffered a stunning upset loss at the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships on Saturday, isn’t getting too mired in defeat because that’s just how the sport goes sometimes. Heavily favored to win his third National Title for the University of Minnesota, Steveson gave up a late takedown to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson that ended their match in a 5-4 score.
It was the first takedown Steveson had surrendered all season long.
“First, Thank you Gopher Wrestling,” Steveson wrote on Instagram. “From a 18 year old kid to now 24 years old (Or 30 years old as some would say lol) When I left in 2022 there was always this itch to give y’all one last go around and I’m glad I could come back and give the University the light that it deserves! We had a generational run and I don’t regret my decision to stay at home to put on for the city again and again!
“Bumps in the road gone happen, that’s what makes sports so crazy! But we live for moments like these and I am just fine!! In the end Wins and Losses will never define what I tried to do for the sport of wrestling.. The attraction, viewership, and showmanship always meant the most to me when I stepped out on the mat. To give it the light it deserves.”
Steveson returned to college for his final year of eligibility after he won his Olympic gold medal during the 2020 games and then signed a lucrative contract to join the WWE.
Unfortunately, professional wrestling didn’t work out for Steveson as he was eventually released from his contract and he then took a stab at football despite never actually playing the game before. He inked a deal to join the Buffalo Bills and participated during the 2024 training camp but Steveson didn’t make the final cut.
While he did receive interest in potentially joining the practice squad, Steveson ultimately decided to return to college to wrestle for Minnesota one last time.
He went undefeated through the season and captured another Big 10 title before making a dominant run through the NCAA tournament until he ran into Hendrickson, a lieutenant in the Air Force who transferred to Oklahoma State for his final year of eligibility that wasn’t available to service academy student athletes.
“To my supporters I appreciate all the love through my time in collegiate wrestling,” Steveson said. “From skipping warmups to staying late after every dual regardless the city to talk to everyone definitely made it worth the time!
“To all the doubters, and naysayers that I had this year.. Regardless of how you felt… YOU STILL WATCHED and I thank you for that too.”
Steveson didn’t directly address his future but he previously told MMA Fighting that he planned to pursue a second gold medal with the Olympics landing in Los Angeles in 2028. He skipped out on the 2024 games while he was signed with WWE and the United States men’s freestyle team ended up not capturing a single gold medal for the first time in 56 years.
On top of his plans to return to wrestling, Steveson has openly discussed plans to eventually transition to MMA as well, especially after forming a bond with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones after working together during his training camp to prepare for a fight against Stipe Miocic this past November.
