*Trigger Warning* The following article discusses instances of sexual assault and may be distressing to some readers. Please proceed with caution.
The views expressed in this or any other editorial are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, feelings, or sense of humor as any Bodyslam.net staff. They are opinions.
It has not been a good Tuesday for former Olympic Gold Medalist (and accused rapist) Gable Steveson.
Steveson, who competed in the 2020 Olympics (after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman who was intoxicated) in freestyle wrestling, was released from the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, after playing in the team’s season opener. Though he played 14 snaps and posted a tackle and a QB pressure, Steveson (whose rape case led to a legal loophole being fixed so as to no longer protect accused rapists in Minnesota who assault women that are drunk) also briefly competed in the WWE, under the NXT banner.
He was released from his WWE contract earlier this year, after having just one official, televised match against Baron Corbin at Great American Bash in July of 2023. It was a double count-out.
Steveson was released in May of 2024 and immediately after, he signed with the Bills, despite having no prior experience playing football.
“Unlike in his days vying for NCAA championships and going for Olympic gold, Gable Steveson was a longshot to make the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster,” Grant Gordon with NFL.com wrote. “Steveson didn’t make the cut and the gold medalist was waived on Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported. Garafolo added that Steveson could end up on a practice squad following Tuesday’s roster cuts.”
Whether he joins the practice squad, tries his hand at independent wrestling, or goes and works for Best Buy and disappears into well-deserved obscurity… his future is currently undecided.
“Pro wrestling didn’t work out and now Steveson is at another crossroads,” Gordon continued. “He could see if he can sign on with another team, likely as a practice squad addition, or maybe try out MMA. For now, though, Steveson’s NFL aspirations are on hold.”
Speaking of aspirations being put on hold, Steveson and another University of Minnesota student named Dylan Martinez had to put their collegiate wrestling careers on hold for a time, after they were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2019.
The two were arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct in June of 2019, but they were never actually charged with committing a crime, due to a loophole in Minnesota law, dubbed “The Intoxication Loophole,” which, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press, stated that “a person who is sexually assaulted is not considered ‘mentally impaired’ if they voluntarily drank alcohol or consumed drugs to the point where they could not give reasoned consent. To meet that standard for impairment, current law requires the drugs or alcohol must be ‘administered to that person without the person’s agreement.'”
In essence, the statute said that if a person was willingly intoxicated, they aren’t considered “mentally impaired,” and thus could still offer consent. Even if, say, the person accused of assault was not intoxicated.
“A Minnesota Supreme Court ruling March 24 put a spotlight on the issue,” the Pioneer Press continued. “The court overturned the rape conviction of a Maple Grove man because the woman he assaulted had been drinking before the attack and thus was not considered ‘mentally impaired under existing law.”
Due to those two cases, Minnesota Representatives Kelly Moller, DFL-Shoreview and Marion O’Neill R-Maple Lake, drafted legislation to update that law and “close the loophole.”
“Victims who are intoxicated to a degree that they are unable to give consent are entitled to justice,” Moller stated when she introduced the bill.
The legislation was passed in the House with a 75-59 vote. Following that, the Senate passed it with a 45-21 vote. And finally, then-governor and current Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz signed it into law.
Steveson maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and even made a statement to Ringside News defending himself.
“One of the challenges for me personally especially over the past several months/years has been reading the criticisms and attacks on my character by people who don’t know me personally and my values,” he told the website. “No charges were ever brought by anyone and the entire episode has been difficult for everyone involved…Going forward people who don’t know me will hopefully see that kindness, respect and empathy are virtues I take very seriously in my life.”
To be clear, he never actually denied sexually assaulting the woman, which is why many people will not be too upset if or when he continues to get fired from things that he never should have been able to do in the first place.
Follow Nick on Twitter/X at @WesternRebel
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