It’s been a rough week for former WWE Superstar Gable Steveson. Not only were his previous allegations of sexual assault brought up before his fight with Shawn Shafar at UFC 331, but when the two men met in the Octagon, Shafar knocked out Steveson in 12 seconds In one of the most shocking moments in recent MMA history.
Since winning gold at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Steveson has tried his hand at MMA, football and even dirt boxing, but it was WWE that gave him his first big post-Olympic opportunity. However, it never worked out and he was released in 2024and in the last edition “Wrestling Observer Radio“Dave Meltzer revealed that the original plan was for Steveson to have a Brock Lesnar-like drive.
“Steveson’s original idea was to have Brock Lesnar run right into him,” Meltzer said. “He was going to be at WrestleMania right away, but he didn’t get there fast enough where they trusted him to get him out, it looked like they could get him in a match with Chad Gable and a short match and all that, but I don’t think they trusted his focus. Lee’s such a great worker, isn’t he? I remember seeing two of them and they were, you know, not good, and I know how good Trevor Lee is.”
Meltzer also said that compared to the likes of Braun Breaker and even his brother Bobby, Gable just didn’t progress fast enough, nor did it seem like he tried to progress to the level WWE wanted him to. Meltzer concluded by saying that it’s gotten to the point where WWE can’t justify the money Steveson is making because it’s closer to the main roster money than the WWE NXT money.
Please credit Wrestling Observer Radio when using quotes from this article and give H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
