In a stunning upset that’s still reverberating through the sports world, Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson dethroned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to claim the NCAA heavyweight wrestling title this past weekend.
Hendrickson, a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force who has competed under the nickname “Captain America,” pulled off what is being hailed as the biggest upset in NCAA wrestling history.
It was a moment so monumental that WWE legend and Olympic hero Kurt Angle couldn’t help but weigh in. And Angle says it isn’t even up for debate.
“It was absolutely the greatest upset in amateur history,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
In fact, it was so impressive that Hendrickson’s upset win may go down in the annals of sports history in general.
“It definitely goes up there with the Miracle hockey team and Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, definitely,” Angle said.
Wow. That’s saying something, and it comes from a guy who definitely knows.
Wyatt Hendrickson, American Hero
Hendrickson, who now competes for Oklahoma State, took on Steveson in a heavyweight championship match for the main event at the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championships in Philadelphia.
Steveson was the two-time defending national champ and 2020 Olympic gold medalist in the 125kg freestyle division.
With just 25 seconds left, Steveson held a 3-2 lead and seemed poised to cruise to his third straight title—until Hendrickson unleashed a dramatic 3-point takedown.
He pinned the wrestling titan as time expired for a dramatic victory.
In the immediate aftermath, Hendrickson gathered himself, found President Trump in the crowd, pointed to him, and then delivered an honorable salute to the Commander-in-Chief.
Wyatt Hendrickson, US Air Force Second Lieutenant. 🇺🇸
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 23, 2025
(2) Hendrickson salutes President @realDonaldTrump after upsetting (1) Gable Steveson and claiming the heavyweight national title.#NCAAWrestling x 🎥 ESPN/ESPN+ / @CowboyWrestling pic.twitter.com/OR3uRiNwXp
RELATED: Turning Tides: 10 Of The Biggest Upsets In Sports History
Biggest Upset?
If that video of Wyatt Hendrickson doesn’t give you chills, then I don’t know what’s running through your veins. It’s gotta be ice. It ain’t blood.
Angle went on to explain the huge odds against the new champ.
“If they wrestled 100 times, 99 times, Gable Stevenson would’ve beat him, not only beat him, but beat him handsomely,” Angle said. “This was just a freakish night.
“It was Wyatt Hendrickson’s night, and I give him a lot of credit. He did not stop wrestling, and that shows the kind of fortitude he has. I’m sure he got that from the Air Force.”
How does it compare in your eyes? Especially to the two major upsets Angle mentions.
The ‘Miracle on Ice’ is widely considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. It is akin to somebody having beaten the Dream Team with Micahel Jordan and Magic Johnson in 1992. Its significance was even greater when you take into account world affairs between Russia and the United States at the time.
The U.S. team’s unexpected triumph came at a time of Cold War tensions, making the win a symbol of American power and resilience. And man it made for great drama. Who can forget Coach Herb Brooks’s speech?
Following the defeat of the Soviets, the U.S. team went on to win the gold medal by beating Finland, cementing this event as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
As for Buster Douglas, he was a 42-to-1 underdog when he stepped into the ring against the undefeated heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson. Douglas managed to knock Tyson out in the 10th round, shocking the world.
Is Wyatt Hendrickson on the same plane? They sure have to make a movie out this now.
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