Introduction About: Gable Steveson WWE
Gable Steveson entered WWE with enormous expectations. The Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division I champion had already established himself as one of American wrestling’s most accomplished young athletes before making the move toward professional wrestling.
However, his WWE journey was much shorter than many expected. Steveson signed with WWE in 2021, made appearances at major events, and eventually made his televised in-ring debut against Baron Corbin at NXT Great American Bash in July 2023. He was released by WWE in May 2024.
Since leaving WWE, Steveson has continued building a remarkable combat-sports résumé. He briefly pursued the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, returned to high-level amateur wrestling, began his professional MMA career in 2025 and made his UFC debut in July 2026.
As of September 2026, the former Olympic champion is an active UFC heavyweight with a 4-0 professional record, including four first-round knockout victories. His next UFC fight is scheduled against Sean Sharaf on September 19, 2026.
What Happened to Gable Steveson in WWE?
Gable Steveson was released from WWE in May 2024, ending a professional-wrestling experiment that began with significant attention after his Olympic success.
WWE signed Steveson in September 2021 following his gold-medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics. ESPN reported that WWE’s deal was multi-year and that Steveson was attracted to the company after growing up watching wrestlers such as Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman.
His transition was unusual because he was still an elite amateur wrestler. WWE allowed him to continue competing at the University of Minnesota, where he won another NCAA championship in 2022. WWE described the arrangement as its first exclusive NIL agreement when announcing his second NCAA title.
Steveson’s WWE run ultimately produced only a limited number of major television appearances. His most significant singles match came at NXT Great American Bash in July 2023, when he faced Baron Corbin. WWE officially promoted the contest as Steveson’s in-ring debut.
Why Was Gable Steveson Released From WWE?
WWE confirmed his departure, but there is no widely documented official explanation from WWE establishing one specific reason for the release.
Steveson’s professional-wrestling run had generated substantial expectations, but his television career remained limited. Later reporting described the WWE experiment as unsuccessful or said he was not the right fit, but those descriptions are media assessments rather than an official WWE explanation. Reuters confirmed that Steveson was released by WWE before moving into his NFL opportunity.
That distinction is important. It is reasonable to say that WWE and Steveson ultimately went in different directions, but it would be speculative to claim a particular backstage or creative reason without a reliable primary source.
When Did Gable Steveson Leave WWE?
Steveson left WWE in May 2024.
His departure came less than a year after his televised WWE in-ring debut against Baron Corbin. Reports from wrestling outlets placed the release in May 2024, while later MMA coverage also identified May 2024 as the month his WWE contract ended.
His next major career move came quickly. Shortly after leaving WWE, Steveson signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted defensive lineman and attempted to transition from wrestling into American football.
When Did Gable Steveson Join WWE?
Gable Steveson signed with WWE in September 2021, shortly after winning Olympic gold in Tokyo.
ESPN reported that WWE’s multi-year agreement came after Steveson became one of the most sought-after athletes in American wrestling. He was only 21 when he won Olympic gold and had already become a two-time NCAA champion.
WWE also promoted Steveson’s collegiate achievements. In March 2022, the company reported that he had successfully defended his NCAA heavyweight championship and had become a two-time NCAA national champion.
The combination of Olympic success, NCAA dominance, athleticism and charisma made him an unusually high-profile prospect for professional wrestling.
What Was Gable Steveson’s WWE Career Like?
Steveson’s WWE career was primarily a developmental and promotional project rather than a long-running main-roster career.
His notable milestones included:
- Signing with WWE in 2021
- Appearing at SummerSlam in 2021
- Being selected by Raw in the 2021 WWE Draft
- Training at the WWE Performance Center
- Continuing amateur wrestling while under WWE contract
- Appearing on NXT programming
- Making his televised in-ring debut against Baron Corbin in July 2023
- Leaving WWE in May 2024
WWE’s own coverage in 2023 showed that Steveson was still weighing his options between professional wrestling, collegiate wrestling and international competition before choosing to compete in NXT.
Did Gable Steveson Have a WWE Match?
Yes. His most prominent televised WWE match was against Baron Corbin at NXT Great American Bash on July 30, 2023.
WWE promoted the bout as Steveson’s in-ring debut. Before the match, Steveson had been deciding whether to continue his wrestling career or make WWE his primary focus.
His WWE career never developed into a long sequence of televised matches, however. His departure in 2024 came before he could establish himself as a regular WWE performer.
What Was Gable Steveson’s WWE Training Like?
Steveson trained at the WWE Performance Center while learning the differences between amateur wrestling and professional wrestling.
The two sports require overlapping athletic abilities but have very different objectives. Amateur wrestling emphasizes scoring, control and winning a competitive bout, while professional wrestling combines athletic performance, character work, storytelling and predetermined match outcomes.
Steveson’s amateur background gave him elite physical skills, particularly balance, explosiveness, body control and wrestling technique. His challenge was adapting those abilities to WWE’s entertainment-focused environment.
That transition also helps explain why WWE’s development process was important for him rather than simply putting him immediately into a major main-roster storyline.
Why Was Gable Steveson So Highly Regarded as a Wrestler?
Steveson’s amateur wrestling résumé is exceptional.
The UFC currently lists him as:
- Olympic gold medalist
- Two-time NCAA Division I champion
- Two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner
- Four-time Big Ten champion
- Five-time All-American at Minnesota
- Four-time Minnesota high-school state champion
He won Olympic gold in the men’s 125-kilogram freestyle division at the Tokyo Games and became known for his explosive finishing ability and spectacular athleticism.
His collegiate career also continued after his initial WWE signing. In 2025, he became the first four-time Big Ten heavyweight champion and the first five-time All-American in Minnesota wrestling history, although he lost the 2025 NCAA heavyweight championship final to Wyatt Hendrickson.
What Did Gable Steveson Do After WWE?
After WWE, Steveson’s career took several unexpected turns.
1. Buffalo Bills
In 2024, Steveson signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted defensive lineman. He had not played college football, making the transition especially unusual.
He ultimately did not make Buffalo’s regular-season roster and was released before the 2024 NFL season. Reuters later described his NFL stint as part of his broader attempt to find a new professional sporting path.
2. Return to Amateur Wrestling
Steveson returned to high-level wrestling and competed for Minnesota again.
His 2025 season included a fourth Big Ten heavyweight championship and a fifth All-American honor. He finished his Minnesota career with a reported 103-3 record and a 97.2% winning percentage.
3. MMA
Steveson then began a transition into mixed martial arts.
He made his professional MMA debut in September 2025 and quickly produced three first-round stoppage victories before signing with the UFC. UFC’s official athlete profile now lists him at 4-0 with four knockout victories.
Is Gable Steveson Still Wrestling?
Yes. Steveson has continued competing in freestyle wrestling alongside his MMA career.
In 2026, he signed a multi-match deal with Real American Freestyle. He defeated Alexandr Romanov at RAF 9 in May before returning to wrestling competition again after his UFC debut.
This is an important part of Steveson’s current career because he has not completely abandoned the sport in which he became an Olympic champion.
Instead, he is now combining elite wrestling with professional MMA.
What Is Gable Steveson Doing Now?
As of September 18, 2026, Steveson is primarily pursuing a career in MMA and UFC heavyweight competition, while also remaining active in freestyle wrestling.
The UFC lists him as an active heavyweight with a 4-0 professional record. His four professional victories have all come by knockout, and each has ended in the first round.
His next scheduled UFC opponent is Sean Sharaf, with the fight listed for September 19, 2026.
That makes his current career very different from the path many expected when he signed with WWE in 2021.
What Is Gable Steveson’s Next Fight?
Gable Steveson’s next scheduled UFC fight is against Sean Sharaf on September 19, 2026.
The UFC’s official athlete page lists Steveson as active and identifies Sharaf as his upcoming opponent.
His last listed UFC fight was a first-round TKO victory over Elisha Ellison on July 11, 2026. UFC records the finish at 2:31 of the opening round.
How Tall Is Gable Steveson?
Gable Steveson is listed at 6 feet 1 inch, or approximately 185 centimeters.
The UFC lists his height at 71 inches and his weight at 265 pounds, while other sports databases also list him around 6-foot-1.
His compact build and exceptional strength have been major parts of his wrestling identity and are now relevant to his heavyweight MMA career.
Was Gable Steveson in the NFL?
Yes, but only briefly.
Steveson signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2024 as an undrafted defensive lineman. He had never played college football, making the move from Olympic wrestling to the NFL particularly unusual.
He did not make the Bills’ regular-season roster and was released before the season.
His NFL attempt demonstrated that Steveson was willing to explore sports outside wrestling, even though his football career did not continue.
What Was Gable Steveson’s WWE Contract?
Steveson signed a multi-year WWE deal in September 2021. ESPN reported that the agreement was designed to allow him to continue competing in amateur wrestling while developing toward a professional-wrestling career.
The exact financial terms of his WWE contract were not publicly established by WWE in the reliable sources reviewed for this article.
Therefore, salary figures frequently circulated online should be treated cautiously unless supported by a credible contract report.
His WWE contract ended with his release in May 2024.
What Is Gable Steveson’s Net Worth?
There is no authoritative public figure for Gable Steveson’s current net worth.
Various websites publish estimates, but these figures are generally based on assumptions about contracts, endorsements, bonuses and other income rather than complete financial records. For that reason, a specific dollar amount should not be presented as confirmed.
What is publicly documented is that Steveson has had income opportunities through elite wrestling, Olympic success, WWE, NFL football and professional MMA.
His current UFC career also gives him a new professional platform, but his exact compensation is not fully public.
Gable Steveson’s Career Timeline
| Year | Major career event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Wins Olympic gold in Tokyo |
| 2021 | Signs with WWE |
| 2022 | Wins second NCAA Division I title |
| 2023 | Makes WWE in-ring debut against Baron Corbin |
| 2024 | Released by WWE |
| 2024 | Signs with Buffalo Bills |
| 2024 | Released by Bills |
| 2025 | Returns to Minnesota wrestling |
| 2025 | Begins professional MMA career |
| 2026 | Signs with Real American Freestyle |
| 2026 | Makes UFC debut |
| 2026 | Builds 4-0 professional MMA record |
The timeline shows why the Gable Steveson WWE story is only one chapter in a much larger combat-sports career.
Final Takeaway
Gable Steveson’s WWE career did not develop into the long-term professional-wrestling run many expected when the Olympic champion signed with WWE in 2021.
He made his WWE in-ring debut against Baron Corbin in 2023 but was released in May 2024. He subsequently tried professional football with the Buffalo Bills, returned to elite amateur wrestling and eventually transitioned into MMA.
By September 2026, Steveson had become an active UFC heavyweight with a 4-0 professional record and four first-round knockouts. His next scheduled fight is against Sean Sharaf on September 19, 2026.
His career therefore remains unusual even by combat-sports standards: Olympic champion, NCAA champion, WWE prospect, NFL hopeful, freestyle wrestler and now UFC heavyweight.
FAQs
Why was Gable Steveson released from WWE?
Gable Steveson was released by WWE in May 2024. WWE did not publicly provide a detailed, specific reason for the decision in the reliable sources reviewed. Later reports characterized his WWE run as unsuccessful or said he was not the right fit, but those are external assessments rather than a confirmed WWE explanation.
Gable Steveson WWE contract
Steveson signed a multi-year WWE contract in September 2021. The agreement allowed him to continue his amateur wrestling career while developing for professional wrestling. His contract ended when WWE released him in May 2024.
Gable Steveson WWE name
Gable Steveson competed under his real name, Gable Steveson, during his WWE career. He did not adopt a completely different WWE ring identity.
Gable Steveson next fight
As of September 18, 2026, Gable Steveson’s next scheduled UFC fight is against Sean Sharaf on September 19, 2026.
Gable Steveson WWE match
Steveson’s most notable WWE match was his in-ring debut against Baron Corbin at NXT Great American Bash on July 30, 2023. WWE officially promoted the contest as his debut.
Was Gable Steveson in the NFL?
Yes. Steveson signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2024 as an undrafted defensive lineman after transitioning from wrestling. He was released before the 2024 regular season.
Gable Steveson height
Gable Steveson is listed at 6 feet 1 inch (71 inches). The UFC currently lists him at 265 pounds.
Gable Steveson net worth
Steveson’s current net worth has not been officially disclosed. Online estimates vary and should not be treated as verified financial figures. His publicly documented career has included earnings opportunities from wrestling, WWE, endorsements, football and professional MMA.
Author Bio: Hamid Ali is a sports and wrestling writer covering WWE, Olympic wrestling, MMA, and major combat-sports events. He creates clear, research-based content that helps readers follow athletes, careers, matches, and the latest developments in combat sports.
Author Name: Hamid Ali
Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
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