Gable Steveson announced his surprise return to the Gophers wrestling program last week. He was able to speak to the media on Monday and it appears this was not a hasty decision.

“We tried it last year, it just wasn’t the best time, especially because of the training situation. I feel like I didn’t have enough to put a good product out there,” Steveson said. “And I feel now that with the time that we had built up, we definitely had a good product to bring to market, and I’m excited for people to see the new, older version of me.” And I mean, I might be close to one of the oldest guys in the NCAA, but that’s OK.”

Steveson has been busy since he last wore a Gophers singlet. Like many amateur wrestling stars before him, Steveson tried to make a career with WWE, but was released by the promotion in May.

“The WWE just wasn’t the right time. I had a lot of competitive edge in me and they knew it. It just wasn’t the time for it, maybe one day when the stars align it would be a great opportunity to to do it again,” said Steveson. “I have no bad feelings about it, I have no bad blood and I want to keep moving forward with everything I do.”

He even gave the NFL a shot despite never having played football before. He joined the Buffalo Bills as a defensive lineman. He was released in August before the regular season, but he then had tryouts with the Colts, Ravens and Saints but never really hung up the wrestling boots.

“I’ve been here since I left, so I was constantly coming in, and so it was just a wait of, when can we get it done,” Steveson said. “After Buffalo happened, I did a few tryouts with the Colts, Ravens and I was also going to go to the New Orleans Saints, but we sat down right after Buffalo… And he said, you got one year, you still have the Olympic redshirt if you want to use it you can use it I think At that moment there was something like: a team hasn’t taken me yet, maybe I should go back and start again and get the itch to return again to who I was.

He will officially return to the mat on Sunday against Campbell at the Maturi Pavillion in Minnesota, and he will face top-10 heavyweight Taye Ghadiali, who earned All-American status last season.