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WWE is set to present tonight's live WWE SmackDown from Nebraska, and word now is that a familiar face will be at the show.
Gable Steveson won his first Olympic gold medal on August 6, 2021, and signed with WWE just 29 days later. He has made a few special appearances since for the company, while training to learn pro wrestling and tend to other commitments, then was sent to WWE NXT last summer. The 23-year-old made his in-ring debut against Baron Corbin at The Great American Bash on July 30, but the match ended in a double count-out. Steveson has not been back on TV, but he has won all 11 matches he's competed in at non-televised live events since then.
Steveson also worked one SmackDown dark match, which was a win over Cedric Alexander at New Year's Revolution last week. This was technically Steveson's main roster in-ring debut. PWInsider has reported that Steveson is set to be at tonight's live SmackDown from Lincoln, NE.
It remains to be seen if the two-time NCAA Champion will be on tonight's SmackDown broadcast, but there continues to be speculation. If Steveson does return to TV tonight, it would be his first SmackDown appearance since his blue brand debut, which came on December 9, 2022, for Kurt Angle's 54th birthday celebration.
Backstage sources from WWE SmackDown indicate that the brother of NXT's Damon Kemp will continue to work dark matches for the main roster, including tonight. Steveson is expected to be at the next several SmackDown tapings, and there's no word yet on when he will be back on NXT. He is still a member of the official NXT roster as of now.
Rumors on the Olympic gold medalist possibly participating in the 2024 Royal Rumble later this month continue to make the rounds. However, the latest backstage update reiterates that there's been no credible talk of Steveson being a surprise entrant in the rumble, but that could always change.
Do you want to see Gable Steveson on WWE SmackDown? Should Damon Kemp and Gable Steveson team up? Sound off in the comments section below!
