Backstage plans for Olympic gold medalist wrestler ahead of the Royal Rumble revealed

Gable Steveson joined WWE back in 2021 and hasn't yet reached his expected potential.

Backstage plans for Olympic gold medalist wrestler ahead of the Royal Rumble revealed

Gable Steveson and Baron Corbin (via WWE)

Over the years, wrestling fans have seen various athletes from diverse backgrounds make their debuts inside the squared circle. While those keeping track aren’t unfamiliar with the name Kurt Angle, the man in focus here is Gable Steveson. Despite sharing a similar Olympian achievement with Angle, Steveson had a rough start with WWE. It seems a new update has risen around his status with the Stamford-based company. 

According to PWInsider, Steveson is booked for the next SmackDown tapings. The grappling sensation has been backstage on the Blue brand on several occasions; however, it seems an on-screen appearance might be in sight for him. 

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However, it seems the Olympian isn’t being prepared for the upcoming PLE, Royal Rumble 2024. The report additionally speaks about him not being in the creative mix for the PLE. However, based on the experience of recent years, one cannot entirely rule out the possibility, especially with Triple H at the helm off-screen.

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For those who don’t know, Steveson was last seen in the developmental territory of WWE. He was part of a program against the former Money in the Bank winner, Baron Corbin. Despite their aggressive style and multiple awe-inspiring spots, the crowd found the match lackluster. Since then, it has been months since Steveson last appeared on WWE programming.

Gable Steveson still struggling to impress WWE’s higher-ups

In the aforementioned lines, Gable Steveson has been reported to be scheduled for the upcoming tapings of Friday Night SmackDown. It seems WWE has already started testing him ahead of last week’s SmackDown. He was involved in a dark match against Cedric Alexander. Since that match, there has been a consensus that Steveson still has a long way to go and is not picking up things as quickly as other trainees. 

Gable Steveson facing Cedric Alexander
Gable Steveson facing Cedric Alexander (via @imisskairi/’X’)

Additionally, the 23-year-old star was seen lacking the necessary charisma. He seems to continue in spite of his amateur credentials and WWE’s eagerness to place him as a top star. In any case, it seems the WWE creative is still locked on showcasing the star on the Blue brand.

On the other side, Gophers coach Brandon Eggum has revealed that Steveson won’t be wrestling for them this season in 2024. It seems that his commitments to the Stamford-based company are keeping him away from other engagements. 

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