Gable Steveson
Gable Steveson | |
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Birth name | Gable Dan Steveson |
Born | Portage, Indiana, United States | May 31, 2000
Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
Professional wrestling career | |
Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
Medal record
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Gable Dan Steveson (born May 31, 2000) is an American professional wrestler and heavyweight freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under his real name.[1]
In freestyle, Steveson claimed the 2020 Summer Olympic Games gold medal after defeating three-time and reigning World Champion Geno Petriashvili in the finale, and defeating defending Olympic champion Taha Akgül earlier in the tournament.[2][3] He is also the reigning Pan American Continental champion, and was a three-time age-group World Champion.[4][5]
As a collegiate wrestler, Steveson is a Dan Hodge Trophy winner, the reigning NCAA Division I National Champion, a two-time Big Ten Conference champion (three-time finalist) and a two-time All-American out of the University of Minnesota.[6]
Early life
Steveson was born in Portage, Indiana, where he started wrestling as soon as he could walk, following his two older brother's footsteps.[7] His name Gable Dan was given by his mother after legendary wrestler Dan Gable.[8] After winning multiple youth-level national tournaments, the Steveson family moved to Apple Valley, Minnesota when Gable was in the seventh grade, so he and his brother Bobby could compete for powerhouse Apple Valley High School.[7] As a 13-year old, Steveson reached the 195-pound state finals with a 39–2 record, but was defeated to claim second place, losing his last high school match.[9] After that season, Steveson racked up four state titles and a 171 match win-streak, with his last two state tournaments lasting a combined 28 seconds.[10] In freestyle, Steveson claimed multiple age-group World Championships.[11] The top-recruit, he chose to remain local and attend the University of Minnesota.[12]
Collegiate career
2018–2019
Steveson started his freshman season using a redshirt, winning titles at the Daktronics and Bison Open tournaments. Since his redshirt was pulled in November,[13] he compiled an undefeated 14–0 record in dual meets and a Cliff Keen Invitational title during regular season, with multiple wins over high ranked opponents, most notably second-ranked Derek White in his collegiate debut.[14] Entering the B1G championships as the top-seed, he opened up with a technical fall and two decisions to make it to the finals, where he faced second-seeded Anthony Cassar from Penn State. He lost to Cassar by one point, marking his first defeat in folkstyle since eighth grade.[15] At the 2019 NCAA Division I National Championships, he made it to the semifinals, where he was once again defeated by Cassar by the same 4–3 score.[16] He then won two more matches to claim third place and All-American status.[17]
2019–2020
Steveson's sophomore season was interrupted in June 2019 when he was arrested along with a teammate on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct.[18] Both were released without charges shortly after due to inadequate evidence.[19][20] However, the University of Minnesota did not lift its suspensions of the two until six months later in December.[21] After his suspension was pulled, Steveson compiled 12 wins and no losses in duals during regular season,[22] becoming the top-ranked 285-pounder in the United States.[23] Despite being number one in the rankings, Steveson entered the B1G championships as the second seed.[24] At the tournament, he opened up with a fall over the tenth seed, and a decision over the third seed to make it to the finale, where he defeated the top-seeded Mason Parris from Michigan to claim the conference title.[25] Steveson was then scheduled to compete at the NCAA championships as the top-seed,[26] but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] After the season ended, he was named a first team NCAA Division I All-American due to his performance through the season.[28][29]
2020–2021
In October 2020, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to winter athletes due to the last season being cut short, this led to Steveson getting an extra year of eligibility.[30] Competing as a junior during the regular season, he compiled a 9–0 record with an 100 percent bonus rate.[31] During the postseason, he continued his dominance, making his third consecutive Big Ten Championship final and winning his second title, dominating the second-ranked wrestler in the country and '19 Junior World Champion Mason Parris en route to a major decision.[32] At the NCAAs, Steveson compiled two bonus points victories en route to the quarterfinals, where he faced '17 Cadet World Champion from Penn State Greg Kerkvliet, whom he was able to shut down but fell short of bonus points. Later, he major'd the fourth seed from Iowa Tony Cassioppi for the second time in the season and advanced to the finals, where he once again shut down Mason Parris to claim the NCAA National Championship.[33] After the season, the dominant Steveson was awarded the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy as the best college wrestler of the season, along with Spencer Lee from Iowa.[34]
2021–2022
On September 2021, it was announced that despite Steveson's signing with WWE, he would return to college wrestling under a NIL deal.[35]
Freestyle career
Steveson was a three-time age-group World Champion, once as a junior and twice as a cadet.[36]
Senior level
2018–2019
Steveson made his senior-level debut at the US Open on April 24.[37] He reached the quarterfinals in the championship bracket, where he lost to three-time NCAA All-American Adam Coon. In the consolation bracket he won three consecutive matches to contest for the bronze medal, where he lost by criteria to the top seed.[38] He then competed at the World Team Trials Challenge on May 18.[39] As the third seed, he defeated the sixth and second seeds respectively to make it to the challenge finals, where he was defeated, placing fourth overall.[40]
Steveson made his return to the senior level a year later at the 2019 World Team Trials Challenge.[41] He bested the seventh, third and top seeds to make it to the best-of-three, where he defeated Adam Coon by technical fall and decision respectively, showing major improvements comparing his performances against Coon at the 2018 US Open and at this event.[42] At Final X: Rutgers, he competed twice against two-time World medalist Nick Gwiazdowski, whom he lost to by criteria in both matches.[43]
Steveson then made his international senior debut at the Alexander Medved Prizes in August, where he placed second to Khasanboy Rakhimov.[44] In his last competition of the year, Steveson added a gold medal to his credit from the Bill Farrell Memorial International, after outscoring four opponents 32 points to 4, qualifying for the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials.[45]
2020
Steveson was slated to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials on early April at State College, Pennsylvania.[46] However, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving all the qualifiers unable to compete.[47]
After ten months out of freestyle competition, Steveson wrestled Trent Hillger at the annual Beat The Streets event on September 17, showing massive skill improvements and winning by technical fall in the first period.[48]
Steveson represented the Gopher WC at 125 kilograms in the FloWrestling: RTC Cup during December 4–5, alongside graduated Gopher Tony Nelson.[49] After siting out in the dual against the Cliff Keen WC, Steveson faced the heavily accomplished Nick Gwiazdowski from the Wolfpack RTC in an anticipated rematch. He edged the two-time Pan American champion with a score of 4 to 1 points.[50] He then tech'd Jordan Wood to defeat him for the sixth time in freestyle competition and place sixth as a team.[51]
2021
The newly crowned NCAA champion and Dan Hodge Trophy winner, Steveson competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials in April 1–3 as the second seed, in an attempt to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[52] Steveson made his way to the best-of-three with dominant technical falls over two-time US Junior World Team Member Tanner Hall and Cadet World Champion Greg Kerkvliet, before facing 2019 Pan American Games Gold medalist and top-seed Nick Gwiazdowski.[53] In the first match, he racked up another technical fall over the two-time World Championship medalist and NCAA champion and in the second match he once again shut him down, this time by points, winning the championship bouts.[54] This result qualified Steveson to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.[55] He also warmed up at the Pan American Continental Championships on May 30, dominating all five of his opponents and helping the team sweep all ten freestyle medals.[56]
On August 5, Steveson competed at the first date of the men's freestyle 125 kg event, where he outscored his three high-level opponents with a combined perfect score of 23–0 to secure himself a medal and advance to the finals, demolishing '15 Asian Champion Aiaal Lazarev from Kyrgyzstan, defending Olympic champion and multiple-time World Champion Taha Akgül from Turkey and '19 U23 World medalist Mönkhtöriin Lkhagvagerel from Mongolia.[57] After stunning the field on his way to the finale, he faced three-time and reigning World Champion Geno Petriashvili from Georgia.[57] Onto the second period, Steveson was up 4–0 with two takedowns, though the Georgian scored two points of his own to Steveson's one to make it 5–2, before truly turning the tables and scoring a takedown and two gut-wrenches for six points (5–8) with a minute and a half left.[58] With ten seconds left, Steveson scored a takedown to make it 7–8, and still trailing behind by a point, he rallied and got another takedown with half a second left to top the World Champion with a 9–8 score.[59] After a failed challenge by Petriashvili's corner, Steveson earned the 2020 Summer Olympic Games gold medal with a hard-fought 10–8 score over the Georgian.[60] With this new championship, Steveson became the first American super-heavyweight to win freestyle Olympic gold since Bruce Baumgartner in 1992.[61][62]
As an Olympic medalist, Steveson earned the right to automatically represent the United States at the 2021 World Championships without having to compete domestically to make the US World Team.[63] On August 15, Steveson notified USA Wrestling that he would reject the bid in order to pursue other ventures.[64]
Professional wrestling career
WWE
In late 2020, Steveson said pursuing a career in WWE as a professional wrestler in order to become a superstar is "a dream I've had since I was a kid".[65] Prior to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Steveson signed an NIL marketing deal with MMA manager Dave Martin.[66] After winning the Olympic gold medal, Steveson gained massive notoriety on social media, and teased the public on whether he would continue wrestling or pursue a career in mixed martial arts or professional wrestling next.[67] Steveson then made a brief appearance at WWE's SummerSlam event on August 21, 2021,[68] and then on September 4, it was announced that Steveson had reportedly signed a contract with WWE.[69] Five days later, WWE confirmed they had signed Steveson to an NIL deal.[70]
Raw (2021–present)
As part of the 2021 WWE Draft, a storyline process in which the company assigns the wrestlers to exclusively appear on a certain show, Steveson was drafted to the Raw brand, which became effective October 22, 2021.[71][72]
Freestyle record
NCAA record
Stats
References
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- ^ Metcalfe, Jeff. "US wrestling heavyweight Gable Steveson takes gold at Tokyo Olympics in stunning last-second victory". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
- ^ "American wrestler Steveson wins men's freestyle super heavyweight gold". The Times of India. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "'Refreshed' Gable Steveson seeking spot at world championships". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
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- ^ "Gable Steveson - Wrestling". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ a b Burbridgejohn.burbridge@nwi.com, (219) 933-3371, John. "Tough times don't stop the Steveson brothers". nwitimes.com. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ "Minnesota to pull Steveson's redshirt for Oklahoma State dual". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
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- ^ Miller, Joshua Rhett (2019-06-17). "College wrestlers accused of penetrating victim with 'object'". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
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- ^ LLC, ACS. "Gable Steveson (Minnesota) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
- ^ "285". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
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- ^ Goodwin, Cody. "NCAA cancels Division I, II, III wrestling championships amid COVID-19 pandemic". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
- ^ "NWCA Division I Coaches Group announces 2020 All-America Teams". Team USA. April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
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:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Lazar, David (2021-08-06). "Gable Steveson wins Olympic wrestling gold with insane buzzer-beating move". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
- ^ "Olympic champion David Taylor accepts bid to compete at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships". centredaily.com. August 12, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Chasing Superstardom: Dreams of the WWE". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
- ^ "Ariel Helwani on Twitter: "NCAA champ/Olympic gold hopeful @GableSteveson has signed an NIL marketing deal with famed MMA manager Dave Martin. Martin reps the likes of Mike Chandler, Robbie Lawler and many more. Multiple deals already signed. Should be announced soon. Steveson competes in Tokyo next week."". twitter.com. July 26, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Martin, Damon (2021-08-10). "Gable Steveson undecided on MMA future, but admits 'who wouldn't want to be the baddest man on the planet?'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
- ^ Powell, Jason (August 21, 2021). "WWE SummerSlam results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns vs. John Cena for the WWE Universal Championship, Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship, Edge vs. Seth Rollins, Nikki ASH vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
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- ^ WWE.com Staff (October 1, 2021). "See all the results from the 2021 Draft". WWE. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ Powell, Jason (October 4, 2021). "10/4 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of the WWE Draft night two, Goldberg returns, the build to WWE Crown Jewel continues". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
External links
- Gable Steveson at the International Wrestling Database
- Gable Steveson at the International Wrestling Database
- Gable Steveson at Olympedia
- Gable Steveson at Team USA (archived)
- 2000 births
- Living people
- African-American sport wrestlers
- American male sport wrestlers
- Apple Valley High School (Minnesota) alumni
- Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestlers
- University of Minnesota alumni
- Pan American Wrestling Championships medalists
- Wrestlers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in wrestling
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American people