Returning to collegiate wrestling after retirement has become a growing trend, but not without its share of controversy. Whether it’s Carter Starocci or now Gable Steveson, many wrestlers are returning to the NCAA mat to finish their careers on their terms. Yet, comparatively, after an illustrious Olympic gold medal win and a WWE contract, Steveson’s return has sparked a whirlwind of reactions.

Gable Dan Steveson is a wrestler who defeated his opponent with only 10 seconds left at the Tokyo Olympics. He has a two-time NCAA heavyweight champion record, but still, there are mixed emotions on his return. While some fans are excited to see him on the NCAA mat, others see it as a step backward and feel embarrassed over it. What really happened—that led him to switch to the NCAA again from the WWE?

Is Gable Steveson returning on the mat to showcase his legacy? 

The two-time Hodge Trophy winner will soon be seen in college wrestling, as he has returned to the University of Minnesota for his fifth and final season. It’s not the first time Steveson has surprised his fans and wrestling community; after his supposed retirement, he tried wrestling and also signed a 3-year deal with NFL after ending WWE in May. Though he could not perform well in both the sports and on WWE, Steveson told 411Mania, “WWE just wasn’t the right time. I have a competitive edge. They knew that, and it was not the time for it.” Even Jon Jones supported him after he was released from WWE.

This will be Steveson’s 52-match win streak, and while announcing his return, he said, “Minnesota has given me everything, and now it’s my turn to give it right back to them: to put my feet back on the wrestling mat, to be the champ, one more time.” Gable Steveson got this extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, and he expected to fight against Campbell on November 24.

The Indiana native even signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills of the NFL in May 2024 but was released in August, even before the beginning of the regular season. Brandon Eggum, head coach at Minnesota, said, “Gable has the burning desire to compete for the Maroon and Gold one last time.” While Steveson and coach Eggum are all excited and have high hopes, fans are reacting the opposite to it. Few of them are even embarrassed over his return. Why, you may ask?

Netizens seem unhappy about Steveson’s return

Fans criticize Steveson and reflect on his past decisions. The comment “You forgot the part where he comes back to HS to sell weed” reflects that fans see his return almost like a reversion to a less serious stage in his life. Another fan commented, “Does he think we forgot the shoe ceremony? Embarrassing,” and reminded him about the retirement day. One didn’t even hesitate and said, “Unretiring should be undone and outlawed. The shame!”

In 2022, when Steveson clinched his second consecutive NCAA championship, he took off his shoes and announced his retirement—left the shoes on the mat itself. He did that even though he had one year of eligibility left. Fans are questioning what this return means then. It is not likely to be accepted—retire and then come back.

One fan expressed the desire to see a real battle: “I would’ve been much more excited had he stuck around and put it on the line versus Zare IRI in the world championships. He also picked football instead of trying to become a two-time Olympic champion. So yeah, him riding out an 18-year-old is not exciting.” This indicates that fans would rather see him continue competing at the top level instead of taking an easy route.

As Steveson tried MMA and football instead of working on his wrestling, these acts have disappointed fans. Despite having a record of 83-2 and winning the Hodge Trophy twice, he left the wrestling world just to make money and not give his loyalty to the sport that made him what he is. Gable always stays in the limelight, whether for good or bad. Steveson was seen flaunting dollars just before the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul recent fight.

One fan even commented, “The ultimate end to this sad story will be when Kerkvliet takes him out,” as it will be embarrassing to end the career with a defeat from junior wrestler Greg Kerkvliet. Fans felt cheated when Gable Steveson left Steveson, and now they do not like him to be back because he failed in what he tried after retiring and coming back where he became popular. As his debut match retirement approaches, fans and the wrestling world are curious about the result.