Hey now, welcome to the Getting Over Wrestling podcast. We will get to the show.

In a moment, we normally save these cold opens, unfortunately, for somber news, but

literally seconds after I finish taping today's episode on AEW and NXT, WWE officially announced

that they have signed Gable Stevenson to a contract.

It's one of the more unique, modern, and forward thinking, I will even say,

contracts that I can recall in W.W.E. history. And because of that and because of how

important Gable Steeveson is to the future maybe of professional wrestling. I did want to

give it a minute or so off the top of this show. Basically, WWE has signed Steveson to a

name image and likeness deal, which means they will be able to sponsor him and pay him,

despite him returning to Minnesota to defend his NCAA heavyweight

championship.

Obviously, he also won the Olympic gold medal this year at the Olympics.

But Steepson is returning to college.

He's going back to the University of Minnesota for his senior season.

He's going to defend the heavyweight championship while simultaneously

being paid by WWE for his name, image, and likeness rights. Basically, they're going to be

sponsoring him. But what's extremely interesting about this is that WWE is going to build or construct

or rent, whatever, a nearby professional wrestling

training facility, either near the university, near his home, or somewhere in Minnesota,

so that he can begin his W.W.E. pro wrestling training while simultaneously competing as an

amateur. And it seems to be that as soon as he graduates or as soon as his eligibility is over

in college, he will then become a member of the WWE roster.

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