There are sporting moments that happen, and then there are the ones that echo through time, glued forever into the collective memory of the community! And underdog Wyatt Hendrickson’s shocking takedown of Gable Steveson in the final seconds of the 2025 NCAA wrestling championship definitely makes the cut. Of course, fair dues to Daniel Cormier, former UFC champion and NCAA finalist, who provided the perfect commentary for that very moment.

“This could be it. The biggest upset in the history of the NCAA. Yes, he has done it. Wyatt Hendrickson just beat Gable Steveson,” Cormier howled into the mic, his own disbelief evident. However, not as pronounced as his fraternal pride, being a former Cowboy himself, Cormier had some personal stakes in this announcement, and the many nuances of this reverberated through the crowd.

For Hendrickson, though, the moment holds even more relevance. “What a legend, and what a call,” he gushed, clearly still in awe when asked about the moment on the Ariel Helwani Show. “I rewatch it every single time. I’m not kidding. I still get goosebumps.” But what could make a single call carry so much weight?

The call that defined the moment

Well, for someone like Cormier, who came agonizingly close to an NCAA title himself before falling to Penn State’s Cael Sanderson in 2001, this was more than just another match—it was the kind of redemption story that combat sports thrive on. No wonder he was, as Wyatt Hendrickson put it, “just losing his mind” in that commentary booth. This was about more than just the players; this was about legacies! About Oklahoma State!

Hendrickson can’t be the only one who has made that clip a permanent fixture in his life. “That clip is going to be running through my mind rent-free for the rest of my life,” he admitted. But really, what better soundtrack could there be for one of the greatest upsets in NCAA wrestling history? And a great upset it was indeed! Here was Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time NCAA champion, a man who hadn’t lost in six years, on the cusp of yet another coronation, until Hendrickson-totally steamrolled by Steveson in 2021-decided otherwise. With a late takedown and a death-grip ride to the finish, Wyatt Hendrickson didn’t just win; he rewrote history, halted a 73-match winning streak, and went on to edge out five-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci for the Hodge Trophy.

And in light of the obvious fraternal overtones of David Cormier’s legendary call, the wrestling world debates whether Hendrickson might follow in Cormier’s footsteps into MMA. The man himself, however, remains cautious. “I don’t want to put myself in a situation where I’m putting my life at risk,” he noted, making it clear that for now, his sights are set on an even bigger goal: Olympic gold in 2028!

But, whether he makes that transition or not, one thing is certain—whenever people think of Wyatt Hendrickson’s moment of triumph, it will be with Cormier’s voice in their heads, screaming into eternity, “This could be it.”