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Former US Olympic heavyweight wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson has plenty of career options after being released by the WWE.
Last week, the WWE cut Steveson after he had been with the company for three years in a developmental role.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani is reporting that Steveson has been approached by several NFL teams after being cut the WWE. Steveson is also training in MMA with the prominent MMA team Kill Cliff FC.
“I can tell you…that multiple NFL teams have reached out to Gable Steveson, he does have that extra year of eligibility and he’s also been training at Kill Cliff FC with Henri Hooft and Robbie Lawler”
Ariel Helwani reads a statement from Gable Steveson's manager.
Says multiple NFL teams have reached out to Gable Steveson and that he also has been training at Kill Cliff FC.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/BnDJFk95z0
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) May 8, 2024
According to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, the WWE had paid a lot of money to develop Steveson, but things weren’t working out as hoped.
Via Ringside News
“His contract was a very big money contract and he wasn’t cutting it.”
After winning the gold medal, Steveson was initially pursued by the UFC, but they lost out when the WWE paid him a huge NIL deal. It’s unclear how Steveson would do in MMA but he’s still only 23 years old and has plenty of time to develop if he were considering going the MMA route.
As for football, Steveson has expressed interest about pursuing a football career for years but the right opportunity never showed up.
Gable Steveson: future NFL player?
Don’t rule it out. @GableSteveson @stoolathletics pic.twitter.com/YlKY43PZTD
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) August 11, 2021