WWE Superstar, Olympic gold medalist, and University of Minnesota wrestler Gable Steveson secured his second NCAA Heavyweight Championship after defeating redshirt freshman Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State Saturday night in Detroit, Michigan by a score of 5-2.
Steveson finished the season a perfect 18-0 and advanced to the championship bout after defeating Penn State’s Greg Kerkvleit 8-3 on Friday night in the semifinals. It was the only match he wrestled in all year in which he was taken down to the mat. Penn State would end up winning their 9th national championship in 11 years.
At the conclusion of the match, Steveson took his wrestling shoes off and left them on the mat, signifying the end of his NCAA wrestling career despite having remaining eligibility.
Steveson announced he was signing with WWE back in September of 2021 largely in part because they were going to allow him to continue competing for Minnesota while training for his WWE debut. He was drafted to RAW the following month and has yet to make a formal debut but has been seen in the audience of RAW numerous times.
With Steveson wrapping up his collegiate career, it is expected that he will turn all of his attention to training for his WWE debut which could happen anytime in the next few months. Speaking to the media over the weekend, Steveson said it would mean the world to go out on top. He said, “I can speak for everybody in these chairs, everybody wants to go out with that first place trophy. We’re going to put both feet forward and just go out there and enjoy our time. It’s bittersweet, it’s my last NCAA Tournament. Just want to make sure everyone watches a good show because when the lights hit, Gable hits better.”
Steveson said he sees himself as a superstar comparable to The Rock in 5-10 years that has changed wrestling at the amateur and professional levels.
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