by Christian Duque
That’s proper of us – The Mutant simply can’t cease sharing on social media. There are each day physique updates, he’s doing actually cool issues with followers at reveals on stage, and he’s taking Pittsburgh as severely as one would count on he’d take the Mr Olympia. That is, in any case, the President’s present, so it’s good to see the previous North American champion firing on all cylinders for this comeback (of kinds).
The Pittsburgh could also be Walker’s true return to the stage. I feel we will all agree that the 2024 NY Professional was a fluke. The present was improbable, however the choice to crown Walker the champion was all however a nasty joke by at the moment’s requirements. The powers that be miscalculated on that one. They have been most likely stunned that even bootlickers like Bob Cicherillo questioned the judges’ choice to award Nick the win over Martin. And that’s not me fanboying. That’s simply how the cookie crumbled. That stated, I’m happy that Nick isn’t going to carry no matter physique he slaps collectively in hopes that he emerges with the win. That may have labored final 12 months in opposition to Martin (at a time when his solely win was the Detroit Professional and he’d by no means stepped foot on an Olympia stage). Given these circumstances, maybe the judges thought they may pull a quick one, however not now. They couldn’t do this with Martin, at the moment, they usually definitely can’t do it in Pittsburgh, with the likes of Martin and Derek within the combine. The query is, how high-stakes is Pittsburgh for The Mutant?
Nick does get excessive reward for being so energetic throughout his prep. He’s positively making folks wish to trek to Pittsburgh for the competition. I give reward, when deserved.
Although Nick Walker has me blocked on Instagram, I’m not going to disclaim him his props. He’s doing the enterprise of bodybuilding and his physique is basically coming collectively. Although I’m not a fan of his look, he’s doing one of the best with what he’s obtained. And I’ve to say that I like that. He’s not making an attempt to reinvent the wheel and he’s not making an attempt to reinvent himself. He’s not making any drastic adjustments. He is aware of what he brings and he’s going to do his finest to carry the freakiest, grainiest, and fullest physique to the stage. Nick’s not going into this competitors seeking to be the subsequent Lee Labrada or Bob Paris. He is aware of that that isn’t who he’s. And I feel he’s additionally cognizant of the truth that every time guys attempt to flip the script properly into their professional careers, they seldom if ever, are profitable.
Not like loads of the opponents going into this contest, for higher or for worse, Nick is conscious that physique’s alone are usually not going to do it for the media – and most positively are usually not going to do it for the followers. Perhaps as soon as upon a time bodybuilding was about muscle, symmetry, and proportions. Perhaps again when it was in its nascent levels that’s all that folks wished to see. However then once more I don’t know if that was true both. As a result of even should you return to Pumping Iron, there have been simmering rivalries between the highest guys. And although the producers needed to write in some trivia to create extra buzz, there have been tense moments between the fellows that have been fully natural and actual. For instance, there was a rivalry between Robbie Robinson and Frank Zane. There was a rivalry between Arnold and Mike Mentzer. There was a rivalry between Sergio and Arnold. It’s to not say that these rivalries have been poisonous, but when social media had been round then, you may guess your backside greenback these guys wouldn’t have stayed quiet. For no matter motive, you continue to have opponents which can be purists. They’re not going to combine it up they usually’re not going to trash discuss. Nick Walker just isn’t one in all these guys.
Trash discuss and drama maintain the followers engaged. That’s not debatable.
Simply at the moment, April fifteenth, the dreaded tax deadline for many People, Nick Walker was on social media telling the world that he may beat everyone in Pittsburgh. This contains Derek Lunsford, who’s a previous Olympia champion. This additionally contains Martin Fitzwater who many, like yours really, imagine was robbed by Nick Walker on the New York Professional in 2024. And although The Mutant walked away with the win, I’m positive that it’s a thorn in his facet to continually be reminded that he gained that present by the pores and skin of his tooth. And what’s much more, is that he didn’t do the Olympia final 12 months, however Martin Fitzwater did. Think about how Walker should really feel that the man that everybody believes beat him in New York truly positioned fourth on this planet at an Olympia that he wasn’t current at. I feel a part of the trash discuss is that it’s private. I feel final 12 months he wished to face off with Derek and couldn’t. I feel final 12 months he wished to face off with Martin, however couldn’t. I feel Pittsburgh goes to symbolize a reckoning day for a man that many individuals have written off. However the query is, is he even going to point out up?
I do know that which may be very insulting to Nick and to his followers, however that is a person that has a monitor document that isn’t precisely very inspiring in terms of truly exhibiting up at contests. It is a man that has missed two consecutive Olympias. And if he doesn’t win in Pittsburgh, likelihood is, he’s not going to attempt to qualify once more for the 2025 O. And it’s for that reason that I imagine they’re going to provide him the win identical to they gave him the win in Ny. Now, Pittsburgh is rather a lot greater of a present and there’s going to be much more prime expertise, however that being stated, they’ll do no matter they need. If we’ve realized something up till now, it’s that there aren’t any penalties for unhealthy judging. So what, perhaps a few of the pundits will pontificate, however actually who’s that going to have an effect on in the long term? It’s not going to alter the judging choice and it’s not going to have any bearing on what the judges do sooner or later. If they may give the win to Nick final 12 months in New York – on condition that he appeared like shit – what’s to say they gained’t do the identical factor in Pittsburgh? Everybody will fall in line – identical to they all the time do.
However there may be one other attention-grabbing phenomenon. I imagine that whereas Pittsburgh could like Nick, I imagine they like Derek extra. I don’t assume that they might enable Derek to undergo the indignity of dropping to Nick on their stage, until Nick completely deserved the W. Particularly after Derek gained the Arnold Traditional in commanding type in opposition to the reigning Mr O. I’d say that Derek has positioned himself in such a method as to reclaim the Sandow. I feel Lunsford is in a spot in his profession the place he could possibly be the second man in over 60 years to do what Jay Cutler did in 2009. If anyone may ever reclaim the title it’s him. not Hadi. Although Choopan seems phenomenal, he has fallen from the grid. He’s not being talked about, and we’ll most likely not see him once more till this 12 months’s Olympia. However for the overwhelming majority of followers, Derek is the defacto #1 on this planet.
Samson has fallen from stature due to his embarrassing loss in Columbus. Although he positioned second and fought arduous, no Mr Olympia is meant to lose anyplace, not to mention, the second greatest present in bodybuilding. And it’s not simply that he misplaced, Arnold went and took an image with Derek – not with him. Even Arnold had Derek successful. So for Derek to then go and do Pittsburgh and take a loss to a man like Nick Walker, simply doesn’t sound prefer it’s going to be within the playing cards. That being stated, Nick Walker makes the Olympia some huge cash and if that is Nick’s one and solely try and qualify, the stress could also be on they usually could give him the W in any case.
That stated, I feel that Nick desires to carry his finest. I feel that after final 12 months’s very questionable end result in New York, his pleasure has been struck in a method that it will not maintain a second “win” corresponding to that. I feel it comes all the way down to giving his all and doing his finest. The issue is Nick doesn’t do properly underneath stress. He’s both going to come back in wanting phenomenal or he’s going to have a slip up. And if he has a slip up, is he nonetheless going to take the stage or is he going to discover a solution to again out of it?
The hazard with posting as a lot as Nick is posting is that he could not be capable of reside as much as his personal hype. As I’ve all the time stated through the years, particularly as I’ve close to 1,000 articles at Iron Journal, it’s this, reveals are usually not gained on social media. Nick could put up a lot and discuss a lot crap that it might come again to hang-out him. Proper now I feel the individual to be is Hadi. No person is speaking about him, no person is bothering him, however he’s greater than probably constructing among the best physiques that he has ever offered on stage. I’ve a sense he’s going to come back into Las Vegas and reclaim the title, however Las Vegas is one other lifetime away. Proper now we’re speaking about Pittsburgh. We’re speaking about Derek, we’re speaking about Nick, and we’re speaking about Martin. Who will emerge victorious?
In the event you go by subsequent social media, it’s Nick and solely Nick. should you go by his social media, first place has his title throughout it. Actually the one factor left to determine is who’s going to be second on down. Whereas I applaud Nick for his bravado and his self-confidence, I definitely hope he can again up the discuss on stage. It’s one factor to pose by your self with goon lighting or in opposition to a wall. However whenever you’re up in opposition to one of the best of one of the best, in tip prime form, and posing arduous onstage, it’s fairly a special story.
What do you concentrate on Nick’s social media postings? His fixed updates? Do you assume this can be a man destined to win Pittsburgh and win his first Olympia in 2025? Or do you assume it’s only a bunch of sizzling air for social media? As all the time, thanks for studying my article, right here, at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. Please remember to copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. Folks will certainly wish to be heard on this one!