Gable Steveson is returning to competitive wrestling. The former WWE prospect and 2020 Olympic gold medalist has signed a multi-match deal with Real American Freestyle (RAF), making his debut at RAF09 on May 30 in Dallas, Texas on Fox Nation. An opponent has not been announced yet.
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WWE fans will remember Steveson as one of the most hyped signings the company made in years. He was signed in September 2021 following his Olympic gold medal win — only the second Olympic gold medalist ever signed by WWE after Kurt Angle. Despite that pedigree, his WWE tenure never took off. He had just one official televised match outside of house shows and dark matches, and was among a group of NXT releases in May 2024.
After WWE, Steveson signed with the NFL's Buffalo Bills but was cut before the season started. He returned to the University of Minnesota for his final year of NCAA eligibility, finishing as a five-time All-American before losing the 2025 NCAA championship match to Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson on a last-second takedown — ending a 70-match winning streak.
Steveson has since pivoted to MMA, going 4-0 with four stoppages while training under Jon Jones. He's been open about his UFC ambitions, and Dana White has confirmed interest. The RAF deal is not expected to conflict with his MMA career — the promotion already features active UFC fighters on its roster.
RAF is a real freestyle wrestling promotion co-founded by Eric Bischoff. Hendrickson currently holds the heavyweight title and a Steveson rematch has been the promotion's long-term target since it launched in 2025. RAF09 takes place May 30 in Dallas on Fox Nation.
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