Featured Columnist IVAugust 27, 2024
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The Buffalo Payments reportedly launched defensive deal with and former Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson previous to Tuesday’s 53-man roster cutdown deadline.
In keeping with NFL Community’s Mike Garafolo, the Payments are waiving Steveson, nevertheless it “will not be the tip of the road for him” since he’s a developmental prospect.
That means Steveson has an opportunity to land on the apply squad with Buffalo or one other group whereas he continues to get acclimated to soccer.
Steveson received a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling on the 2020 Summer season Olympics in Tokyo and had a quick run in WWE earlier than signing with the Payments in Could regardless of having no earlier expertise enjoying soccer.
Listed at simply 6 ft tall, Steveson is on the small facet for an NFL defensive lineman, however he packs 280 kilos onto his body and his energy is simple.
The previous College of Minnesota novice wrestling star noticed vital motion through the preseason, recording three whole tackles.
After successful Olympic gold, Steveson had a number of choices for his subsequent step, together with coaching for the 2024 Olympics, professional wrestling and MMA.
Steveson selected the professional wrestling path by signing with WWE in 2021, however he by no means fairly discovered his footing.
He was thrust into an enormous spot at WrestleMania 38 by hitting Chad Gable with a suplex and celebrating with Randy Orton and others, however he disappeared from WWE programming for an prolonged time frame thereafter.
Steveson started showing on WWE’s NXT model in June 2023 and had his one and solely official televised WWE match at Nice American Bash in July 2023, preventing Baron Corbin to a double count-out.
WWE launched Steveson in Could 2024, and he signed with the Payments just some weeks later.
Steveson was at all times an extended shot to make the roster given his lack of soccer expertise, however he undoubtedly has sufficient athleticism and bodily means to make him an intriguing and worthwhile apply squad stash.
