Whether it is on the mat, or out in the world, Gable Steveson has always been a showstopper. The heavyweight champ has gold medals and an NCAA background, so seeing him in hyper-opportunities with a sense of boldness returning to college wrestling raises plenty of eyebrows. Before the huge Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight, Steveson went viral on social media showing off piles of money — leaving fans to wonder: is this where NCAA wrestling starts to take over or just a brief stop on his way to lights that shine even brighter?

With only a year of NCAA eligibility remaining, Steveson has made waves with some eye-catching appearances and NIL deals sparking speculation ahead of his return to the mat. Does his comeback signal the evolution of college wrestling, or is the big man prepping for something larger? The wrestling world is abuzz with what comes next for this unstoppable force.

Gable Steveson’s return could shape NCAA wrestling

Steveson is making his comeback with the Gophers wrestling team, and he will be on the mat for a fifth year of competition during the 2024-25 season. The head coach Brandon Eggum has announced his return, and his debut match (debut meet) is scheduled for November 24 against Campbell. Steveson is thankful for Minnesota University, in his comeback video, he said, “I would like to thank the University of Minnesota for their time, their effort, and their persistence with me to push me to be the man I am today.” Amidst the news of his return, Steveson took to his social media and shared an Instagram story with a stack of dollars, a few hours before the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight.

The much-anticipated fight between Tyson and Paul was held at AT&T Stadium in Texas’ Arlington. The fight was at high stakes because of the age difference, 58-year-old ‘Iron Mike’ was going to fight with a 27-year-old boxer and YouTuber. But the fight didn’t go well for Tyson and he lost to Paul with official scores– 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73. Though ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ lost the fight, he still made his family proud. His youngest daughter, Milan Tyson, wrote a heartfelt message for him, “SO PROUD!!! I love you so much forever my goat! My number 1 role model for what a man should be 🩷.”

Coming back to Steveson’s return, he will be back on the mat and utilize his last opportunity for an NCAA waiver due to an extension because of COVID-19. Coach Eggum said, “Gable has the burning desire to compete for the Maroon and Gold one last time.” He last competed for Minnesota during the 2021-22 season. Steveson’s return is also expected to bring more eyes to NCAA wrestling, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the sport on a national platform. Steveson’s return would also be a major boost for the program of the University of Minnesota. With his leadership and wrestling experience, he will be a valuable asset to the team. How does the deal go for Steveson?

Steveson’s deal to get back

The Olympic gold medalist retired from collegiate wrestling in 2022 and is back on the mat to use his one-year eligibility. On Wrestling Observer Radio, an American journalist and reporter said, “A lot of people were surprised, and I was not. He’s wanted to do this the last two seasons.” Steveson has been thinking about returning for a while now; he thought to return to the NCAA even in 2022.

In between, Steveson also competed for WWE and NFL Buffalo Bills but could not perform well in any of them. Soon, WWE released the freestyle wrestler, though the real reason is not yet clear. On May 31, 2024, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Steveson had signed a three-year deal with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, and he would play defensive line (first time on the football field). Later, in August, he was released by Bills.

The three-time Big 10 champion signed WWE’s first NIL contract for the 2021–23 seasons, and it allowed him to compete in NCAA college wrestling. He won the 2023 US Open Wrestling Championships and Final X, securing a spot on the US senior team ahead of the 2023 World Championships.

Ahead of the deal, Steveson 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.” He has an 83-2 record and won the Hodge Trophy twice (NCAA’s best wrestler). From Olympic triumphs to NIL stardom, Gable Steveson knows how to stay in the spotlight. Fans and critics are eagerly waiting to see how his comeback unfolds.