Gable Steveson will be making the transition from amateur wrestler to professional wrestler in just a few months, after he won his second consecutive NCAA wrestling championship on Saturday night, after defeating Arizona State’s Cohlton Schultz 6-2.
Steveson became the first exclusive NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) University athlete in WWE history when he signed a contract with the company last September after a meeting with Vince McMahon in August.
The multi-year “variety contract” allowed Steveson to stay in school while, at the same time, allow him to train part-time for his future career as a professional wrestler. WWE even had set up a training facility near the campus of the University of Minnesota for him to train at. His contract with WWE will begin after he graduates this May. He was drafted to the Raw brand during last year’s WWE Draft.
After his match, Steveson left his shoes on the mat to signal it was the end of his amateur wrestler career after winning the heavyweight title. He also has won Olympic freestyle gold medal and three Big Ten Championships.
WWE Raw Color Commentator Corey Graves took to Twitter (see below) to invite Steveson to this Monday’s episode of Raw, which will take place in Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.
Gable’s brother, Bobby, under the name of Damon Kemp, is also signed with WWE. He has been training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.