Posing besides Ronnie Coleman, Bodybuilding Beast Jay Cutler Takes a Trip down Memory Lane from Their On-Stage Rivalry Days

Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler belonged to the mass-monster era of bodybuilding. They brought extreme size and conditioning to the sport, adding shock value. Moreover, the formidable opponents focused on intensive training and diet to achieve these gigantic bodies. Both Cutler and Coleman had an eye for the Sandow Trophy. The King won the Mr. Olympia title eight consecutive times. At the same time, the Quad Stomper came in the top 5 on various occasions, giving rise to a thrilling rivalry that was as exciting as their bodybuilding journey. Eventually, the runner-up became the master of the game. 

Remembering those gripping moments the adversaries spent on the Olympia stage, Jay Cutler shared a throwback picture on social media. The image harks back to an exciting era of championships. 

Jay Cutler pays ode to his rivalry with Ronnie Coleman

Taking to Twitter, the four-time Mr. Olympia shared an onstage picture of the friendly enemies posing. Coleman even wore shades. Cutler captioned the image, “Off-season posing.” However, they both looked in their best shape, ready to take on the Olympia stage at any point. The Comeback Kid dethroning Coleman has become almost like an initiation story in bodybuilding. 

The mass monster concluded the eight-time winning streak of the King in 2006. Cutler displayed spectacular muscle conditioning, symmetry, and size to dethrone Coleman. Their onstage rivalry is as ubiquitous as their Sandow trophies. However, the duo also showed mutual respect to each other in the spirit of true sportsmanship. 

Read More: Recalling “The Greatest Battle Ever” With Onstage Rival, Bodybuilding World Locks Horns Over Jay Cutler vs. Ronnie Coleman

When the ex-cop lost his ninth trophy, which could have made him the undeniable master of the Olympia title, even Cutler felt sad. Pointing to this bonhomie, seven-time Olympian Phil Heath argued in a recent podcast that Jay and Ronnie were not the strongest rivals. Interestingly, Phil Heath won against Cutler in 2011, ending his two consecutive-year reign. 

 Phil Heath and Kai Greene never became friends

The Gift appeared on a Chris Williamson podcast recently. The host asked many nuanced questions about the bodybuilder, who deftly answered each, revealing his aspirations, challenges, and champion mentality. When the discussion ventured to his onstage competition, Heath had a different viewpoint. Chris asked, “Talk to me about how you reflect on your relationship with Kai Greene because people call it the greatest rivalry in bodybuilding.”

Heath had a surprising take on the issue. He argued, ” “I think it is the greatest rivalry. I think it’s bigger than Jay and Ronnie’s just because they were friends; we weren’t.” The former champion added, “We wanted something so far *** bad and during the social media era, one camp, the other camp; they’re talking so much, and we can see the chatter. It’s like high school.” The duo failed to become friends due to such complications.

However, fans loved to watch the tension between these titans whenever they came face-to-face. Moreover, the athletes brought out the best in each other, showing respect for their competitive spirit and the pursuit of excellence. Which rivalry is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. 

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