Gable Steveson was introduced to WWE fans as a shock draft pick in this year's iteration of the event, having never wrestled 'professionally' before. The Olympic gold medalist had seemingly been on WWE's radar for some time and now fans have a chance to see the talented athlete perform under new conditions.
Fans could see Steveson appear in a WWE ring very soon, reportedly at next year's WrestleMania in Texas, which is a very fast turnaround for a rookie to perform on the 'Grandest Stage of Them All'. Most likely, he will either need to be carried through the match by a very experienced opponent or be an absolute prodigy between the ropes.
Fast tracking Steveson to the main roster is certainly a bold move by WWE, as they obviously recognize his potential and existing star power. However, with what is expected of him, is the company making a huge mistake in throwing Steveson into the deep end?
The Risks Involved Are Very High
There will be a huge amount of eyes on Steveson when he debuts, especially if it's at WWE's biggest show of the year, WrestleMania. A lot of Steveson's immediate success will come down to how well he performs under intense scrutiny, but as an Olympic hero, he should be able to handle the pressure better than most.
Of course, being an Olympic gold medalist will bring a certain level of comparison to those who have come before Steveson, whether fans think that is fair or not. Steveson is going to garner comparisons to the likes of Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, who were both exceptional as rookies and were similarly thrust into the spotlight very quickly after transitioning into sports entertainment. Again, the expectation may not be fair, but it will most certainly be at the back of fans' minds when Gable Steveson performs.
The most pressing concern for Steveson's debut in WWE is that he may simply be too green to justify a high-profile spot within the company. If he does become a top star pretty quickly, a certain level of performance will be needed to justify a big push. If he doesn't, then fans will likely turn on him for taking away the spotlight from other stars, as they have done before with WWE's over-pushed favorites.
WWE has a tough task ahead to make it work so quickly.
It Might Turn Out To Be A Master Stroke
The risks of bringing up Gable Steveson to the main roster so soon are obvious, but if it pays off, WWE could have a new superstar on their hands. Capturing buzz is tremendously important in wrestling, which is obviously why WWE doesn't want to waste time with the Olympian.
Celebrities and stars from other sports have managed to transition into the WWE realm before, with some recent examples being especially promising. Ronda Rousey is the best example of WWE being able to maximize a person's abilities, which was helped of course by her background in MMA.
With the same care and attention being paid to Steveson's talents, WWE could replicate the strong start that the likes of Rousey have had before. WWE's developmental system is broken anyway, so they might as well take the risk with such a big-name signing like Gable Steveson.
WWE Can Make It Work By Pitting Steveson Against More Experienced Opponents
For Steveson's first few appearances in the company, WWE should follow the same playbook that they have used for recent celebrity matches. Bad Bunny's involvement at WrestleMania 37 was particularly great, as he was guided through the match expertly by The Miz, John Morrison, and his partner, Damian Priest.
Hiding limitations in tag team action is also a tried and tested method for inexperienced wrestlers being able to perform well in big-time matches. Recently, WWE has done this with the giant Omos, who alongside AJ Styles, has looked impressive in tag matches. WWE could do the same with Steveson, at least in his first few outings before he gets his bearings as a singles performer.
The one thing that WWE has to do is not expose Steveson too early, as first impressions always matter in wrestling. Unless he is a natural, the company shouldn't push him to the moon too fast before he is ready. Use Steveson sparingly and keep his star power intact, so when he is good enough, they can pull the trigger on a monster push for the Olympian.