There’s been an update on Gable Steveson after he pulled out of the amateur freestyle wrestling 2023 World Championships.
News of Steveson’s decision to pull out of the event came with no explanation as to why that decision had been made.
It was previously reported that WWE would have to give permission for Steveson to compete at the 2023 World Championships as he’s a contracted talent.
Dave Meltzer has also revealed that Steveson “has been officially removed from the NXT roster” in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Taking a deeper dive into to subject of Steveson’s withdrawal, Meltzer wrote:
“Less than two weeks before the world championships, Gable Steveson has pulled out. The official story is that he has decided to not compete.
“Mason Parris, who Steveson dominated in the national championships and beat two more times in the team trials will represent the U.S. in the 275 pound weight class.
“This is one week after amateur wrestling sites had reported he was in.”
Meltzer would assess the “weird story”, especially considering the success of Steveson’s performance, writing:
“It is a really weird story because there was no point in him competing in the tournament and wrestle-offs if not to compete in the world championships. But at the end of the day, this was a WWE decision as he’s under contract to them.
“WWE had neither confirmed nor denied whether Steveson would be competing when asked but we do know at least at one point the idea was for him to take time away to go into hard training for worlds.
“WWE also, strangely, did not publicize his recent dominant wins at the senior nationals and at Final X. But it doesn’t really make any sense to have gone to Final X and been allowed to go to Final X to get a shot at the worlds and pull out of worlds unless it is injury related, and there was no mention of an injury.
“One would think this would indicate WWE not allowing Steveson to go for his third NCAA title next year nor the 2024 Olympics, but ultimately this is a decision up to the company.”
The reported removal of Steveson from the NXT roster also sees Meltzer state “there are no plans for him in NXT at this moment.”
Steveson signed with WWE in September 2021 and made his in-ring debut at NXT Great American Bash on July 30, 2023 against Baron Corbin.
The match would be Steveson’s only WWE match since signing and ended in a double count-out.
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