“That was the craziest endings in NCAA wrestling history. What a moment,” screamed UFC Heavyweight & Light Heavyweight Champ and 2x US Olympian, Daniel Cormier on X. And why not? All present in the arena routed for Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Stevenson of the U of Minnesota at the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. But the result shocked them all.

THE STREAK HAS BEEN BROKEN!!! Wyatt Hendrickson has done it! The wrestler nicknamed Captain America took down a giant on March 23, 2025, in the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

No one could have predicted what would unfold in the national championship final. The Oklahoma State University wrestler, seen as an underdog, shocked the world by defeating the fan-favorite Gable Steveson.

“2️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ CHAMPIONSHIP🥇,” announced InterMat on X with a video of the wrestler jumping around and celebrating in joy with his peers after doing what was seen as almost impossible with the American flag over his shoulders. “2LT WYATT HENDRICKSON🫡🇺🇸” the tweet further read. “2LT” stands for Second Lieutenant, which is Wyatt’s rank in the Air Force. That’s where the nickname “Captain America” comes from.

2️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ CHAMPIONSHIP🥇

2LT WYATT HENDRICKSON🫡🇺🇸#NCAAwrestling💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/eLqp8AXzfG

— InterMat (@InterMat) March 23, 2025

Wyatt defeated Gable with a 5-4 victory. In true Gable Steveson fashion, the Minnesota wrestler dominated most of the match, but everything changed in the final moments. With just 30 seconds left and Minnesota leading 4-2, the Oklahoma wrestler went for his opponent’s legs. In an instant, the WWE star found himself pinned under the Oklahoma wrestler. That decisive takedown earned Wyatt three points and secured him the title of 285-pound champion.

The excitement of the win was evident in the commentators’ voices, which shot up several decibels as soon as the Minnesota star was pinned to the mat. “This is the craziest moment in NCAA history!” one of them shouted into the mic. The entire crowd at the Wells Fargo Center erupted in celebration after the match.

This was Steveson’s final year in college. But with this defeat, will he continue pursuing wrestling?

Did Wyatt Hendrickson put a full stop on Gable Steveson’s wrestling career?

What is now being described as the biggest upset in college sports history, Gable Steveson’s incredible 69-match undefeated streak has come to an end. Originally, what could have been a perfect ending to the Olympian’s collegiate career with a flawless 70-0 record is now marked by a 69-1 finish. For the first time since his debut season, Steveson has suffered a loss—and it came in one of the most crucial matches of his career.

With that in mind, the elephant in the room is—what happens next? Will we see Golden Gable back on the mat someday? At this point, nothing is certain or official. However, the Minnesota wrestler has already tested the waters in WWE, where he primarily competed in NXT. Additionally, he even had a brief stint in the NFL, trying out as a defensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills in May 2024. Given these experiences, these are just some of the paths he might consider after this shocking defeat.

Looking back, Steveson initially stepped away from collegiate wrestling in 2022 after winning his second NCAA Heavyweight Championship. Then, when he returned for the 2025 season, he remained undefeated—until Wyatt Hendrickson ended his streak. Ultimately, while fans will undoubtedly remember Steveson as one of the most talented and dominant wrestlers of his generation, he will likely dwell on this loss, seeing it as a blemish on the legacy he built.

Wouldn’t you agree?