by Christian Duque
Let’s lower to the chase with out a lot of a preamble. This entire article might appear to be about an innocuous kick of a baggage bag on the airport, however I really feel it’s much more than that. It includes two high Olympians lower than three weeks from the Superbowl of Bodybuilding, the 2025 Mr Olympia. The game has wished to make these guys rivals for years. Though the game discourages negativity and desires to foster a constructive atmosphere, that’s the aim, however the actuality is that pettiness sells tickets.
If Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford go at it within the press, that’s going to create hype. If one man trashes the opposite and that man hits again, now we have now a feud. Take the Kai Greene – Phil Heath rivalry. These guys hated one another. Don’t allow them to rewrite historical past as we speak. Merely put, the animosity that constructed up between these two culminated on the 2014 Olympia. At that contest The Predator and The Present exchanged elbows and in the end acquired in one another’s face. Regardless of Large Steve yelling at them to separate up, the harm had been performed. The rivalry created large buzz among the many sport’s fanbase and efficiently managed to get NBC to not run the present. Different rivalries embrace that between King Kamali and Craig Titus, Rhoden and Heath, and now, fairly probably Lunsford and Walker. This text runs deeper than whether or not or not Nick Walker kicked Derek Lunford’s bag on the airport whereas he ate his boring rooster and rice out of a public container. Nick didn’t even make eye contact with Derek.
Might this occasion have been staged? Was it a joke or possibly one thing private? Regardless of the motivation might have been, I believe it’s a preview of what’s to come back.
Nick Walker was imagined to be Mr O awhile in the past. Some argue that his time handed after he bailed on two consecutive Olympias. Earlier than Nick returned to the stage in Pittsburgh, most individuals had all however written him off. Every thing was trying like he’d hit the stage in Pittsburgh, win in commanding kind in entrance of all of the bodybuilding brass, after which have the remainder of the yr to arrange for the Olympia. The Mutant had no concept that recent off his huge win in Columbus, OH, that Derek would throw his hat in Pittsburgh I imply he simply beat reigning Mr O Samson Dauda. Absolutely that was the final we’d see of Lunsford till the Olympia. Then abruptly Derek’s refined hinting grew to become an open dedication to compete within the first-ever professional open bodybuilding portion of the Pittsburgh Professional. I’m positive Nick, sooner or later, thought-about dropping out. As an alternative of partaking in an in any other case straightforward win, he was now going to face a former Mr O who simply beat the defending Mr O on the second greatest present on the earth. I wager Nick was banking (if not praying) that he would win. Pittsburgh was supposedly make or break for Walker. After which his worst concern got here true. From the second Derek took the stage on the President’s present, it was apparent he was going to get the win. You can hear it from the viewers, see it everywhere in the message boards, and observe the interactions of hardcore followers on Fb teams, Reddits, and Instagram. Positive, there have been some of us who gave the win to Walker, however most sane/sober bodybuilding followers believed Lunsford gained.
I agree with “Sugar” Shawn Ray, essentially the most photographed bodybuilder in FLEX Journal historical past, when he said on quite a few podcasts that “it wasn’t shut” between Walker and Lunsford in Pittsburgh. And that’s as a result of it wasn’t. Lunsford dusted Walker at round 85%. If Nick Walker – purportedly – at his finest couldn’t beat Derek at 85%, may you think about the extent of frustration Nick should have been engulfed in. Up till Derek threw his hat into the ring, folks weren’t speaking about if Nick would win, however by how a lot he’d bury the competitors. Everybody was going raving for Nick. After Derek dusted Nick, he then hunkered down to arrange for the O. NIck’s huge comeback was foiled. All that discuss and all that hype simply to take 2nd appeared like a colossal letdown. He then went to the NY Professional and practically acquired beat by William “The Conqueror” Bonac. I had Bonac profitable, identical to I had Martin Fitzwater beating Nick on the 2024 NY Professional, however I digress.
The very fact is Nick is pissed at Derek. Derek has no cause to care a couple of man who’s not within the Mr Olympia membership. Derek is much too involved with actual threats in Samson Dauda, Hadi Choopan, and Brandon Curry. Curry is at all times a menace, even when few persons are speaking about him nowadays. Take a look at William. There’s a man who just about everybody had written off – and he returned, firing on all cylinders. Then, in fact, there’s official contenders like Andrew Jacked and my private favourite, Martin Fitzwater. For my part, Walker is a paper tiger. He’s, in reality, bigger than life with the followers, however he’s a paper tiger towards high expertise.
Does anybody actually imagine that Walker’s physique bests aesthetic/symmetrical guys like Samson Dauda or Andrew Jacked? Below every other circumstances if I had been introduced with this query I’d have a tough time not busting out in laughing That stated, there have been Mr Olympias in years’ previous that didn’t have the prettiest physiques. Not all champions are aesthetically-pleasing, nevertheless it is sensible when they’re as a result of bodybuilding is a sport that ought to reward that, proper? However past not having a reasonably physique, Nick is simply on one other degree (and never in a great way). His nickname is definitely a becoming one. He’s a freak, a mutant. Is that what we wish for Mr O? I do know I don’t.
We’re 80% into the article and we haven’t actually talked a lot concerning the kick of the bag on the airport as a result of that’s not likely the purpose. What we’re seeing is a much less high quality competitor making an attempt to get observed by a far superior one. That is why Nick always jabs at Derek – he’s fearful of him. It’s apparent. So whether or not Nick was making an attempt to be a dick or he was kidding, it doesn’t actually matter. Nick Walker thrives on the drama. He wants the eye. I extremely doubt this was staged. I’d wager it wasn’t, however discover how unphased Derek is. If it had been staged, these guys would’ve gotten into it. For those who had been Derek would you get mad? What would the purpose be? You will have a close to 300lb man consuming out of Tupperware and kicking your bag on the airport. It’s weak. It’s unhappy. So Derek walks again and will get his bag. He doesn’t lash out or get heated. He is aware of Nick gained’t be within the Prime 3 and will not even be within the Prime 5. That’s what makes Walker a paper tiger in my e book.
I’m positive The Mutant has extra tips up his sleeve. I’m positive he’ll do one thing else to Derek, possibly he’ll stumble upon Martin within the lodge, or throw some shade at Samson. Maybe Nick will deal with us to a few of his antics on the press convention. Poor man, this would be the solely means he’ll get press. And to a sure extent, I’m contributing to the thrill Nick’s juvenile act has brought about. I imply, right here I’m, writing an article about Walker’s nonsense for IronMag. That stated, I don’t make the foundations, I simply play the sport.
You guys wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t cowl this, regardless of how foolish it’s. Go forward Nick, hold taking part in your video games, as a result of when you hit the stage, I’ve a sense your smiles will flip into frowns. I’d like to see Walker do effectively, however there’s much more to this than kicks the bag. This was a kick of helplessness. Nick is aware of that when Derek, Hadi, Samson, Andrew and Martin take the stage, he’ll have to hope to child Jesus to get sixth place.
Hold kicking baggage, Nick, and we’ll hold writing articles about you.
As at all times, what say you? I look ahead to studying your suggestions within the feedback. Please be sure you copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. It’s certain to generate full of life dialog.