The night everyone was waiting for is here. The NCAA heavyweight final is set, and it’s a clash of titans with two powerhouse wrestlers. On one side we have Gable Steveson, the No. 1 seed, vs. Wyatt Hendrickson, the No. 2 seed. Steveson, the reigning king of college wrestling, has been untouchable since his return, racking up 14 dominant wins this season to extend his career streak to 66. With his fourth Big Ten title secured and a decisive victory over No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet at the Big 10 finals, the question looms. Can anyone stop him?

Enter Wyatt Hendrickson, Oklahoma State’s relentless force at 285 lbs. A two-time NCAA bronze medalist and a U23 World champion, Hendrickson has bulldozed his way to his first NCAA final. But standing in his way is a legend—a two-time NCAA champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and a man who walked away from college wrestling only to return stronger. Can Hendrickson shake up the heavyweight landscape, or is Steveson simply untouchable? Let’s break it all down.

Gable Steveson’s NCAA domination: The step to greatness

Already a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner and one of the most dominant heavyweights in NCAA history, Gable Steveson has returned with a singular mission. Reclaim his NCAA throne. After securing his fourth Big Ten title with a decisive 10-3 victory over Greg Kerkvliet, Steveson entered the national tournament as the undisputed favorite.

His opening match against either No. 32 Stephan Monchery or No. 33 Hayden Filipovich was expected to be a formality. Filipovich had already been dismantled by Steveson in an 18-3 technical fall, and while Monchery’s 42-0 high school record was impressive, stepping onto the mat with Steveson was an entirely different challenge. But as dominant as Steveson’s early rounds were, the real tests loomed ahead.

And yet, when those tests came, Steveson made elite opponents look ordinary. When it came to his first-round match against Filipovich, it took Gable just 1:25 minutes to score a pinfall victory. This led him to the second round, where he was matched up against No. 16 Yaraslau “Ya” Slavikouski. But even here he forced an astonishing five stall calls in the first period alone, showcasing his relentless pace.

The Belarusian wrestler had no response, and the match ended in another dominant victory for the Minnesota star. That win set up a highly anticipated rematch against Cohlton Schultz, the No. 2-ranked U.S. heavyweight in the 130 kg Olympic class. But Steveson wasted no time dismantling Schultz just as he had in their previous NCAA final, proving that even top-tier Olympic hopefuls couldn’t match his level.

With performances like these, it’s no surprise that Olympic talk is already swirling. Wrestling analyst Josh Lowe put it bluntly after watching Steveson dominate. “America needs Gable Steveson for the 2028 Olympics and the world tournaments between now and then,” he stated. And when reporters asked Steveson directly about Team USA’s heavyweight depth, his response left no room for doubt.

“I made the team before and won the Olympic championships. I feel like I can do it again. And some guys are just in the way, and I plan on taking them out.” His confidence is undeniable. Based on what he’s doing in this NCAA tournament, his competition should take him at his word. Now, standing across from him in the NCAA final, Wyatt Hendrickson has one last shot to take down a legend.

Wyatt Hendrickson’s second chance: From fan to contender

For Wyatt Hendrickson, this NCAA final is more than just another match. The former Air Force All-American, now wrestling for Oklahoma State under David Taylor’s leadership, has carved out an incredible career. But there was always one obstacle he couldn’t overcome: Gable Steveson. Back when Gable was trying to win his second consecutive NCAA title, he did it at Wyatt’s expense.

But now two years down the line, Hendrickson finally seems to have broken through his glass ceiling. And the man he took down for his ticket to finals? Well, the defending NCAA champ Greg Kerkvliet whom Hendrickson defeated by a swift 8-2 decision victory. It is no doubt that he has come a long way since his earlier encounter with Gable. Back then, he admits, he was still in awe of Steveson.

Hendrickson mentions, “I think the first time I stepped on the mat against him, I was still in the fanboy stage,” Hendrickson reflected on3.com. “But I think I’ve grown to be my own man and be my own type of wrestler. It’s important that I go in there with an attack mentality. Obviously, I’ll show him respect—but not too much.” That newfound confidence, combined with an impressive 122-11 career record, has fueled his rise to the NCAA finals. With a 28-match winning streak, Hendrickson is a man on a mission.

“It’s an absolute blessing,” he said. “I truly thought last year was my last season. I told people that all along, and when it ended, it stung because I didn’t reach my goals. But 364 days later, here I am, getting a second chance at a national championship.” After an undefeated season, a Big 12 title, and a hard-fought win over four-time All-American Cohlton Schultz, Hendrickson has proven he belongs. But can he take the last step and dethrone a legend? One thing is certain this time, he won’t step on the mat as a fan but as a contender.