Cutler is a big fan of Walker’s prospects this year.
Nick Walker has roughly spent the better part of the last two years turning heads. Young bodybuilder wins 2021 Arnold Classic, 2021 Mr. Had a top-five debut result at Olympia and followed that performance with a podium finish at the 2022 Olympia behind Derek Lunsford (second) and Hadi Chopan (first). As the next chapter of his already productive career unfolds, Walker will first tackle the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) in March. That’s where an established legend should think an athlete should be a favorite.
In the January 26, 2023 podcast episode The Cutler CastFour times Mr. Cutler’s main point is that He believes Walker has the pole position in the Columbus, OH, contest On March 2-5, 2023. It’s quite an endorsement from a respected competitor for Walker, who is one of four athletes to win the AC three times — Cutler captured the title in 2002-2004.
Although the final full roster for the 2023 AC has not been confirmed at the time of this writing, Cutler expressed to Šarčev that he feels other athletes do not match Walker’s overall build. Notably, some of the early confirmed contenders include former two-time winner William Bonack (2018, 2020), Samson Dauda, Kamal Elgarghni and Akeem Williams.
“Would the big boys be composed enough to push Nick? [Walker] toward?” Cutler said rhetorically. “I find that hard to believe.”
The only peer who can really push Walker is Cutler, a former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021), Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elsbie. The Egyptian athlete had previously revealed that he would compete in his second career appearance at the 2023 AC, having finished third in 2020. For Cutler, with a disappointing fifth place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, if Elssbiay shows up in top form, this could morph into quite the battle.
“frames [Elssbiay] It was not full [at the 2022 Mr. Olympia]Cutler said. “Ramy should have been Ramy. His skin would have been tighter. His look, he’d have been more rounded than anything else. Listen, Ramy, we’ve talked about it. If Ramy is 100 percent, he’s going to beat everybody. He’s still a great Ramy.”
Cutler seems to sense something special and instinctive about Walker’s competitive mindset. He brought up the fact that after establishing himself as a superstar in bodybuilding, Walker wasn’t going to let him lose so easily. As a result, for Cutler, a second AC title is clearly in the works for Walker.
“… I know Nick [Walker] mind,” Cutler explained. “I know his vision. I know that every night before he goes to bed, he visualizes winning this competition. And sometimes, you can’t beat someone’s willpower. They believe more than anyone else on this planet. We can talk about the confidence of these people that lead to these performances … I think there is no one more dedicated than Nick Walker. In the end, I think he will become a two-time champion.
From the time of Cutler’s prediction, 2023 AC is still a ways off. A lot could change in the coming weeks before Walker and other athletes take the stage in Columbus. Another top-tier challenger is likely to emerge who could duke it out with Walker on the podium. Until then, Walker seems to have Cutler’s wholehearted stamp of approval, and that’s no small thing.
Featured Image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram
