“He is the baddest man on the planet.” Those words, delivered with conviction by Daniel Cormier, echoed through the wrestling world as Gable Steveson took center stage at the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. The sentiment was clear—Steveson is in a league of his own. And if Cormier’s words weren’t enough, Josh Lowe, the 2023 OHSWCA media service awardee, added fuel to the fire: “America needs Gable Steveson for the 2028 Olympics, and the world tournaments between now and then. We saw the alternative in Paris, and it wasn’t good enough.” But why all the fuss? What exactly did Steveson do to earn such high praise?

On March 20, the Olympic gold medalist made his NCAA Championship return nothing short of a spectacle. In the opening round of the 285-pound weight class, Steveson utterly dismantled No. 33 Hayden Filipovich of Purdue. The match was less a contest and more a demonstration of Steveson’s dominance, as he made quick work of his overmatched opponent. Next in line was No. 16 Yaraslau Slavikouski of Rutgers, who had advanced by defeating Jake Andrews. But things from there didn’t turn out well for him. 

Well, Steveson didn’t even need to exert himself against Slavikouski. Why? The Rutgers wrestler essentially handed Gable a free pass, losing by disqualification after five stall calls in the first period. And the result? An effortless ride into the quarterfinals for the Minnesota Gophers’ star. Yet, while his performance on the mat was spectacular, it was news from outside the arena that made Steveson light up with excitement. 

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Meanwhile, reports revealed that former President Donald Trump might attend the championship finals at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday. The possibility of such a high-profile guest thrilled Steveson. “It’s a great thing. Regardless of who the president is, I think it’s a great factor to even come and support wrestling,” Steveson said with genuine enthusiasm. For a sport often overshadowed by mainstream athletic events, a presidential appearance would be a major spotlight moment.

The report is developing…