Gable Steveson’s College Return and Move to MMA
Gable Steveson’s return to Minnesota wrestling moved from announcement to a completed final college season. The Olympic champion came back for 2024–25 after time in WWE and an NFL training camp, then finished second at the 2025 NCAA Championships after a 5-4 loss to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson. The University of Minnesota announced his return, and its tournament recap confirms the final.
Why Steveson returned
Minnesota said Steveson used an Olympic redshirt and the additional eligibility granted during the COVID-19 period to compete for a fifth season. Before that return, he had won two NCAA titles for the Gophers, competed in WWE, and attended Buffalo Bills training camp. The 2024 announcement described his plan as one final run with Minnesota.
The season’s finish
Steveson entered the 2025 NCAA final unbeaten during the season. Hendrickson scored a takedown with 18 seconds left to win 5-4, ending Steveson’s 70-match win streak. Steveson closed his college career with two national titles and four Big Ten heavyweight titles, according to Minnesota Athletics.
From WWE to the mat
The WWE chapter remains part of Steveson’s path, but the original forecast that he might reclaim an NCAA title did not come to pass. His Minnesota return ended with a runner-up finish, and the video above captures the interview around that comeback rather than a current competition result.
Sources
Tags: Wrestling, Combat Sports
