The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships are here, and let’s not sugarcoat it—all eyes are on one man. Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist, WWE signee, and now NCAA comeback king, is back to reclaim what he left behind. But standing in his way? A stacked 285-pound bracket featuring none other than Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet and Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson. Two powerhouses hungry for their own piece of history.

Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center is about to be the battleground for one of the most anticipated heavyweight showdowns in NCAA history. The energy? Off the charts. The stakes? Higher than ever. And with Steveson stepping onto the mat once again, this isn’t just about winning. It’s about legacy. Can Kerkvliet finally solve the Gable puzzle? Will Hendrickson’s relentless motor shake things up? Or will Steveson remind the world why he’s still the king of heavyweight wrestling?

The No. 1 seed at 285 pounds and a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, Steveson has already cemented himself as one of the greatest heavyweight wrestlers in history. But in 2025, he’s back with one goal, to add another NCAA title to his illustrious legacy. With his fourth Big Ten title secured after defeating Kerkvliet in a phenomenal 10-3, Steveson now sets his sights on reclaiming the NCAA throne. But before we hand him the crown, let’s not ignore the field standing in his way because if history has taught us anything, March Madness in wrestling is always unpredictable. Steveson will await the winner of No. 32 Stephan Monchery (Appalachian State) and No. 33 Hayden Filipovich (Purdue).

On paper, it seems like a routine first match for the Minnesota superstar. Filipovich has already felt the full force of Steveson’s dominance in an 18-3 technical fall in February at the Maturi Pavillion. But Monchery? He’s an untested wildcard. In high school, the New York native went 42-0, and even won a state championship as a HS senior!  Could he shake things up before Steveson even reaches the deeper rounds? Probably not. But stranger things have happened on wrestling’s biggest stage. Beyond the early rounds, however, the real challenge looms large. The biggest threats? Greg Kerkvliet and Wyatt Hendrickson. Two elite heavyweights are looking to dethrone the king.

Kerkvliet has been knocking on Gable Steveson’s door for years, but he just hasn’t been able to break through. Hendrickson, who was announced as the most Dominant Wrestler at the NCAA Division 1 in the 2022 NCAA championships, is a relentless powerhouse, and he will be looking to turn the 285-pound bracket into a battlefield. With the Championships just around the corner, the question is, is this Minnesota star’s coronation, or could we be in for an upset that shakes the wrestling world?

The heavyweight hunters: Can anyone stop Gable?

The Penn State powerhouse, No. 3 seed Greg Kerkvliet entered this season with a 38-match unbeaten streak, racking up 29 bonus-point victories along the way. He’s already put away this year’s No. 4 seed, Owen Trephan, with ease and holds a past win over No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson. But his biggest obstacle remains the same: Steveson. Their Big Ten final on March 9 ended just like their previous encounters. With Gable getting his hand raised. But could the NCAA Championships be where Kerkvliet finally flips the script?

Wyatt Hendrickson, on the other hand, isn’t looking to settle for second place. He’s gunning for the crown. Entering Philadelphia with a 24-match winning streak and an aggressive, high-motor style that few heavyweights can handle. He’s already earned a fall over No. 33 Hayden Filipovich in December 2024 and won Under 23 gold in 20203. Hendrickson has been building toward this moment for years. But to cement his legacy, he’ll have to do what no one has done since 2019. Take down Gable Steveson!

While Steveson is the face of Minnesota wrestling, the Gophers proved at the 2025 Big Ten Championships that they’re more than just a one-man show. Vance Vombaur shocked the world at 141 pounds by upsetting No. 1 Beau Bartlett in the semifinals before finishing second. At 184, Max McEnelly couldn’t secure victory but gave the 4-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci a tough fight, becoming the first to score a takedown over the Nittany Lions in more than a year. Minnesota walked away with a fourth-place team finish—proving their depth runs deep.

With nine NCAA qualifiers, Minnesota enters nationals as a serious force. But as great as their supporting cast has been, the biggest storyline remains the same: Gable Steveson, back for one last ride. Will he walk away with a third NCAA title, cementing himself as the undisputed king of heavyweight wrestling? Or is there an upset brewing in Philadelphia that could shake the sport to its core?