In the current NCAA scene, NIL deals have made a major impact on the lives of these young athletes. Indeed, these contracts play a significant role in solidifying an athlete’s athletic career. Not only does it apply to wrestling, but it also extends to every other sport competing for the NCAA championship. It’s not just about the money, but also about the other benefits it brings, as it can provide these young individuals with an instant boost once they leave the collegiate scene.

However, everything has its positives and negatives. And even though NIL is relatively new to the NCAA, a certain UFC legend has gone candid on these lucrative contracts and how they can affect these youngsters, who are mostly around 18 years old and trying to make a mark in the industry, whether it’s wrestling or any other sport.

A valuable take after looking at the current wrestling scene

Despite being an MMA star in his days, Chael Sonnen is aware of the current NCAA scene, especially in wrestling. Apart from the intense matches that are conducted throughout a single campaign, a certain factor caught his interest, which is none other than the NIL deals. The Name, Image, and Likeness have completely transformed the scene, but it is also something that scares Sonnen when he looks at these youngsters chasing a lot of dreams at the collegiate level.

“Well, the NCAA, I mean, they were the scum of the earth for all those years, not only convincing but making it so that if you took a dollar, you would be ineligible. That was a very terrible thing that they did, but this NIL’s going to come with some real consequences,” said the UFC legend, exposing the NCAA scene. Indeed, there are benefits associated with NIL, but what are the drawbacks?

Stressing those negative factors, Sonnen conveyed his thoughts, stating, “I mean, the graduation rate is going to drop, and the arrest rate is going to go up. I mean, there are some problems with making an 18-year-old famous and rich. Right, his first year, he leaves his house, but I do, but that is more correct than what they were doing, where they gave nothing.” Now, that’s an issue! NIL can serve as a motivator for some; it can also lead these young individuals down a path of misdirection. While money can be beneficial and aid in one’s career, excessive financial stability can sometimes lead to blindness.

These are just kids, and as per the UFC legend, things might escalate, and some could even end up in jail due to some illegal actions that can eventually end their whole athletic careers. Won’t that be devastating? Absolutely! Sonnen is concerned about the potential negative impact of the NIL. Indeed, he doesn’t want these youngsters with so much potential to get deviated from their actual goals just to chase money. But how lucrative are these deals really?

NIL ending a 20-year beef

If you are an avid WWE fan, you must be aware of the beef that Scott Steiner and Triple H had with each other. Indeed, the moment Steiner joined the WWE back in 2002, he was a rival to Hunter. However, their relationship deteriorated as a result of numerous rumors and Steiner’s polarized perspective on his wrestling rival. And what were the accusations? Steiner always thought that Triple H exerted his influence backstage, and even after leaving WWE in 2004, he was very critical of the way the industry always favored his rival.

However, everything changed between them recently when Triple H offered a NIL deal to Steiner’s son Brock Rechsteiner, who is a wide receiver for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. “I left with a lot of hard feelings, you know what I mean? But, you know, at some point you got to let it be. You can’t be angry the whole time. You can’t hold a grudge. Plus the fact some people that you have a grudge against probably don’t even know, anyway. So, I didn’t want to screw up anything for him. So, I, you know, I just buried the hatchet, and, a matter of fact, uh, Hunter called me the other day, maybe like, uh, probably three weeks ago, and offered my boy, my boy an NIL deal,” said the WWE legend, as he dropped all the beef he had with Triple H for so many years.

A happy ending? Maybe? NIL deals are rare to come by, and they can influence an athlete’s career. Steiner is aware of this, and he is determined to prevent his personal resentment towards his older rivals from impacting his son’s athletic prospects. Putting everything else aside, Steiner even had a conversation with Triple H, confirming that he has resolved any issues he had with him. The WWE fans might not have anticipated this, but what are WWE rivalries without a little plot twist?