Even 24 hours later, the flames of criticism continue to scorch Gable Steveson. The wrestling community has shown no mercy, dragging the Olympic gold medalist for everything—including his defeat in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. On Saturday (March 22), Steveson suffered a surprising loss to Wyatt Hendrickson in the 285-pound weight class final. The outcome stunned many, as Steveson had dominated throughout the season. It was a career-defining moment for Hendrickson—his first-ever NCAA national title.

For Steveson, a two-time NCAA champion, it was a rare stumble. Yet, despite his decorated résumé, fans latched onto this defeat as fuel for relentless criticism. But why “everything”?

The outrage goes beyond the mat. Fans are also taking shots at Steveson’s stumbles in other arenas. One X (formerly Twitter) user, Texas Diegs, didn’t hold back, posting: “From failed WWE star, failed NFL player, then deciding to go back to college just to lose in the NCAA championship match. This might be a generational all-time bad run for Gable Steveson.”

Ouch. Steveson’s brief and underwhelming WWE stint and an unsuccessful NFL tryout have become ammunition for detractors. His loss in the NCAA final was merely the cherry on top of what many call a fall from grace. Another user added to the pile-on, writing, “Gable Steveson went on to be one of the biggest flame-outs in recent WWE history.”

However, amid the online onslaught, Steveson found a voice of support—from none other than a four-time world taekwondo champion.

On March 23, the martial artist known as JB Your Sports Guy on X came to Steveson’s defense while reposting Texas Diegs’ post. Taking a stand against the wave of ridicule, he posted: “I don’t like this guy’s caption. Mahomes, Brady, and other greats have lost championships. I am a 4-time Taekwondo World Champion and I’ve lost in World Title matches before. It happens. Gable Steveson is still one of the all-time greats.”

In a sports culture quick to celebrate victories and vilify defeats, JB’s message served as a reminder: even the greatest stumble. While fans may continue to mock Steveson’s recent struggles, his legacy—built on Olympic gold and NCAA dominance—remains firmly intact. And should we say that comments like, “How the hell does Gable Steveson still have college eligibility”, “Love to watch Gable Steveson fail” will never be entertained by the legends of sports whose services shaped the sports?

Yes. Talking about legends, Daniel Cormier was on the same line ridiculing Texas Diegs’s X-post. 

Gable Steveson finds his supporters among the giants 

Even as the hours tick by, the criticism aimed at Gable Steveson shows no signs of cooling. Following his shocking loss to Wyatt Hendrickson in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, several fans have taken the opportunity to drag the Olympic gold medalist through the mud. Yet, amid the wave of ridicule, Steveson isn’t standing alone—because when you’re a champion, champions have your back. One of the most vocal supporters? 

Daniel Cormier—aka DC—the former UFC double champion and current ESPN commentator. With a microphone in hand, DC had the best seat in the house at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, calling the match live. He witnessed every move, counter, and takedown from the perfect vantage point. So, when he saw the online mob piling on Steveson, he didn’t hold back.

Reposting Texas Diegs’s harsh comment that called Steveson a “generational all-time bad run,” DC fired back with: “You, my friend, are an idiot and I would like you to delete your account! Olympic champion. Things happen in wrestling—it was Wyatt’s night, bro. Like, what are you talking about, man?”

DC’s passionate defense instantly resonated with fans, many of whom applauded him for calling out the toxic commentary. And DC wasn’t alone.

Jon Jones joined DC to support Gable. Yesterday, on his Instagram story, the UFC legend wrote, “Proud of my brother. A loss on the mat doesn’t define anything; his work ethic, heart, and character speak for themselves. One of the hardest-working, most impressive young men I’ve met in a long time. Higher and higher we climb.”

Ultimately, the outpouring of support from champions across combat sports carries a clear message: a single loss does not define Steveson’s legacy. While critics may revel in the moment, the respect he commands from icons like Cormier, Jones, and JB speaks volumes.

Because in the world of champions, a fall is just part of the climb. And for Gable Steveson, there’s no doubt—higher and higher he’ll climb.