Interesting how Steveson became the villain

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

Steveson literally won a Gold Medal for the United States in dramatic fashion and did a victory lap with the Stars and Stripes draped on his back not too long ago. 

Yet last night it was Hendrickson who was called “Captain America”, came out with the flag and was loudly cheered by all upon defeating Gable. 
 

It was almost like Gable was from China or something. Odd to see a U.S. Olympic hero turn into the bad guy so quickly. 

Edited Sunday at 04:16 PM by Jimmy Cinnabon

[Rassling2]

  On 3/23/2025 at 4:15 PM, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Steveson literally won a Gold Medal for the United States in dramatic fashion and did a victory lap with the Stars and Stripes draped on his back not too long ago. 

Yet last night it was Hendrickson who was called “Captain America”, came out with the flag and was loudly cheered by all upon defeating Gable. 
 

It was almost like Gable was from China or something. Odd to see a U.S. Olympic hero turn into the bad guy so quickly. 

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He did it to himself by being himself. Finally took the last demeaning moment for many to realize just who he truly is. He’ll be forgotten as anything but a hero as it should be.

[NormMacDonald]

  On 3/23/2025 at 4:15 PM, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Steveson literally won a Gold Medal for the United States in dramatic fashion and did a victory lap with the Stars and Stripes draped on his back not too long ago. 

Yet last night it was Hendrickson who was called “Captain America”, came out with the flag and was loudly cheered by all upon defeating Gable. 
 

It was almost like Gable was from China or something. Odd to see a U.S. Olympic hero turn into the bad guy so quickly. 

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Fantastic booking by whoever the promoter is for this. Better than 1/3 of Wrestle mania main events. He heel turned by only coming back because he had no other sports options and didn't look like he really gave a *I poop my pants, don't laugh at me*.  

[ionel]

  On 3/23/2025 at 4:15 PM, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Odd to see a U.S. Olympic hero turn into the bad guy so quickly. 

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Didn't he start his career as a villain thus ...

[poorwrestler]

  On 3/23/2025 at 4:31 PM, Rassling2 said:

He did it to himself by being himself. Finally took the last demeaning moment for many to realize just who he truly is. He’ll be forgotten as anything but a hero as it should be.

What did he do this year that was so bad? The last video I saw of him last night was him cheering on Hendrickson and patting him on the back at the podium. Seemed like a good display of sportsmanship actually.

To me it seemed lies like gable was a villain last night and more so people were excited for the underdog. Which happens often. I doubt he will be forgotten and hope he wrestles for team USA again.


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[GrandOlm]

Gable did imply through his actions and words that wrestling is "too small" for him to fulfill his ambitions. How is the wrestling community supposed to react to that?

Having some self respect for yourself instead of joyfully demeaning your activity as a stepping stone for some man's career.  

Edited Sunday at 05:07 PM by GrandOlm

[billyhoyle]

  On 3/23/2025 at 4:54 PM, poorwrestler said:

What did he do this year that was so bad? The last video I saw of him last night was him cheering on Hendrickson and patting him on the back at the podium. Seemed like a good display of sportsmanship actually.

To me it seemed lies like gable was a villain last night and more so people were excited for the underdog. Which happens often. I doubt he will be forgotten and hope he wrestles for team USA again.


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Steveson made it clear that wrestling was a very low priority in his goals.  WWE, then Football, then probably MMA..He wrestled this year because of NIL.  Why wouldn't people root for Hendrickson over him?

[MPhillips]

Captain America

 

[poorwrestler]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:07 PM, billyhoyle said:

Steveson made it clear that wrestling was a very low priority in his goals.  WWE, then Football, then probably MMA..He wrestled this year because of NIL.  Why wouldn't people root for Hendrickson over him?

I never said they shouldn’t. I also don’t fault anyone who has the capacity to chase what they’ve always wanted to do for actually chasing it. He had wanted WWE since he was a kid and said that for years. It didn’t work out, so be it. I hope he sticks with wrestling after this.


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[Rassling2]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:17 PM, MPhillips said:

Captain America

 

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Him too!

[billyhoyle]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:20 PM, poorwrestler said:

I never said they shouldn’t. I also don’t fault anyone who has the capacity to chase what they’ve always wanted to do for actually chasing it. He had wanted WWE since he was a kid and said that for years. It didn’t work out, so be it. I hope he sticks with wrestling after this.


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That's great that he chased what he wanted, but wrestling fans will probably root for the athletes who want to wrestle. I hope Gable decides to stick with wrestling, but I doubt it happens unless MMA doesn't work out. 

[Gene Mills Fan]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:28 PM, billyhoyle said:

That's great that he chased what he wanted, but wrestling fans will probably root for the athletes who want to wrestle. I hope Gable decides to stick with wrestling, but I doubt it happens unless MMA doesn't work out. 

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MMA? He doesn't seem like the kinda guy that likes to get hit in the face. 

[ionel]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:17 PM, MPhillips said:

Captain America

 

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Well pretty sure Hendrickson is a 2nd Lieutenant thus technically ...

But not sure on Snyder's rank so ...

Edited Sunday at 05:33 PM by ionel

[poorwrestler]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:28 PM, billyhoyle said:

That's great that he chased what he wanted, but wrestling fans will probably root for the athletes who want to wrestle. I hope Gable decides to stick with wrestling, but I doubt it happens unless MMA doesn't work out. 

I’m confused by this line of thinking. So if tomorrow Bo Nickal decided he actually wanted to make a run at the world team next cycle, should we all root against him?

Mitch McKee went MMA after college. If he wanted to wrestle at the US Open next year, is he instantly a villain?


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[Rassling2]

  On 3/23/2025 at 4:31 PM, Rassling2 said:

He did it to himself by being himself. Finally took the last demeaning moment for many to realize just who he truly is. He’ll be forgotten as anything but a hero as it should be.

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Bluegold, you’re more blue than any gold placing you on the bottom rung of humanity. Reduced to sitting in a chat room for long hours targeting those enjoying life at a much higher level than you could ever dream of. I bet you know the manufacturer of every light fixture in every gymnasium you ever competed in. 

[billyhoyle]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:33 PM, poorwrestler said:

I’m confused by this line of thinking. So if tomorrow Bo Nickal decided he actually wanted to make a run at the world team next cycle, should we all root against him?

Mitch McKee went MMA after college. If he wanted to wrestle at the US Open next year, is he instantly a villain?


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Not even close to the same comparison.  Bo Nickal probably would still not have made a world/olympic team if he stuck with wrestling-he didn't have much of an option to stay. Also, this is the equivalent of if he had another year of college eligibility and decided to compete in NCAAs, not internationally (but still it's not even the same comparison because Gable won at a level above NCAAs). 

Edited Sunday at 05:37 PM by billyhoyle

[poorwrestler]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:35 PM, billyhoyle said:

Not even close to the same comparison.  Bo Nickal probably would still not have made a world/olympic team if he stick with wrestling. Also, this is the equivalent of if he had another year of college eligibility and decided to compete in NCAAs, not internationally. 

Why is it different if they’re not as good? Why is it different if it’s college vs senior level? Genuinely don’t understand.


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[billyhoyle]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:36 PM, poorwrestler said:

Why is it different if they’re not as good? Why is it different if it’s college vs senior level? Genuinely don’t understand.


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The equivalent would be if Bo Nickal decided to go back and compete in high school wrestling to win one more Texas state title because he got a good NIL deal to do so. 

Edited Sunday at 05:38 PM by billyhoyle

[poorwrestler]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:37 PM, billyhoyle said:

The equivalent would be if Bo Nickal decided to go back and compete in high school wrestling to win one more Texas state title because he got a good NIL deal to do so. 

If he was still similar age to the competition and still had eligibility, of course.


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[billyhoyle]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:39 PM, poorwrestler said:

If he was still similar age to the competition and still had eligibility, of course.


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Yes, assuming he had eligibility and same age compared to the guy he met in the finals, although still older than you should be for the level. 

[Rassling2]

Bet he’s angry this morning! ! He should join here with the majority blue boyz favoring his unsportsmanlike conduct and blatant disrespect for those more worthy than he. He fits right in. LMAO!!!

[Rassling2]

“Became the villian”? He always was! Now he’s being laughed at by more honorable and deserving wrestlers worldwide! Lol!

[GrandOlm]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:36 PM, poorwrestler said:

Why is it different if they’re not as good? Why is it different if it’s college vs senior level? Genuinely don’t understand.


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Because life and competitive endeavors in general have in built mechanisms to make people quit if they are not as good? 

[GrandOlm]

  On 3/23/2025 at 5:33 PM, poorwrestler said:

I’m confused by this line of thinking. So if tomorrow Bo Nickal decided he actually wanted to make a run at the world team next cycle, should we all root against him?

Mitch McKee went MMA after college. If he wanted to wrestle at the US Open next year, is he instantly a villain?


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Bo Nickal quit for the same reason why the vast majority of wrestlers eventually quit. He wasn't good enough to win at the level he needed to in order to continue wrestling . He lost at team trials, naturally that was his end.  No one would hold it against him if he came back for a Cinderella run at some team trial. 

What Gable did is very rare (and demeaning to wrestling). The only comparison that is coming to my mind is Borg retiring from tennis at 26. But Gable's case is even worse than Borg's, since Borg was not at the very top of the tennis world when he left. He had just lost in the most important tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon, after being a defending champion with a long winning streak and then lost again at the US Open (which he never won) to the same person. 

 

[jackwebster]

  On 3/23/2025 at 6:19 PM, GrandOlm said:

The only comparison that is coming to my mind is Borg retiring from tennis at 26. 

 

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Jordan?

Edit: BTW I do not agree with you.

Edited Sunday at 06:26 PM by jackwebster