It’s something not typically possible back in the day, but after his WWE release, Gable Steveson returns to Minnesota.
Also Read: 2024 WWE Schedule Heading Into Survivor Series
Sounding a bit like the old man who yells at clouds, but here goes. Back when I was a kid, it was unheard of to leave college athletics for most professional sports endeavors…and then return to college to play once more. Generally speaking, once an amateur athlete turned pro, that was it. There were some exceptions for multi-sport stars, if my memory serves me right. But that was an entirely different era. Where we once knew boosters were funding athletic programs in roundabout ways? Now, the payments are all out in the open. NIL deals have made some college stars better paid than some first year professional athletes. But the new college landscape also means that some might have an easier time returning to their school for unfinished business.
And after his WWE release, Gable Steveson returns to the University of Minnesota
Big deal, right? Anyone can go back to school. Except, it is a big deal, because Gable Steveson announced that he was returning to the Minnesota wrestling team for his fifth and final year of eligibility. Considering how imposing an amateur wrestler he was? Things just got interesting in NCAA wrestling. And because of how NIL works, this is entirely possible. Steveson was under contract with WWE for a few years, made very few appearances and was cut loose. In part, some believed that the physically gifted Steveson was struggling to put it all together to be a top Superstar.
Following his WWE release, he tried out for and was signed as a free agent by the Buffalo Bills. That dream did not last, and he was an eventual training camp casualty. Now having lost two gigs, Steveson still had his options open. UFC had been interested. AEW might kick the tires. There are quite a few other NFL teams, perhaps he could land with one?
Also Read: Did We Miss A Steveson Brothers WrestleMania Moment?
Instead, per the University of Minnesota Athletics website, Gable Steveson will once again be a Golden Gopher. He had one year of eligibility remaining in part due to waivers granted due to his Olympics participation, as well as the waiver granted for the year lost to COVID. And the accomplished amateur is wasting no time, as he will reportedly debut for the Gophers later in November.
