Tag: nEWS
Jesse James West Pranks Eddie Hall With 675-lb Deadlift Using Fake Weights
English Strongman icon Eddie Hall first made a name for himself with his crazy feats of strength in competition. Although he stepped away from competing years ago, he continued to expand his footprint in the fitness world. In a recent video uploaded on YouTube, Jesse James West pranked Hall by recording some massive lifts using fake weights.
Eddie Hall kicked off his professional Strongman career in 2010 with a dominant win at England’s Strongest Man contest. He worked his way up the ranks and qualified for the World’s Strongest Man competition for the first time in 2012. He was at the height of his powers for the 2016/17 season when he set a new World Record on the deadlift of 500-kg (1,102-lb) and secured the coveted WSM title.
Hall took on fellow Strongman legend Hafthor Bjornsson inside the boxing ring in a bout billed ‘The Heaviest Boxing Match in History’ in March 2022. He dropped weight preparing for the contest and presented a leaner look. However, he failed to get the nod on the judges’ scorecards.
Earlier this year, Eddie Hall took inspiration from former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and reigning four-time Classic Physique champion Chris Bumstead’s performances at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and announced his switch to competitive bodybuilding. He plans to make his debut in late 2024 at a weight of around 320 pounds (145.1-kg).
Eddie Hall teamed up with IFBB Pro bodybuilder Jamie Christian-Johal for an intense back workout to get ready for the move four months ago. The duo collaborated again for a laborious chest training session weeks later. Then, Hall performed a brutal back workout to improve his physique.
The 35-year-old opened up on the challenges of competing at the highest level in Strongman three months ago. He revealed he’d consume about 15,000 calories a day and even wolfed down 20,000 calories in a single day once. He stressed the importance of proper recovery for optimal performance.
Eddie Hall joined forces with legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler for a grueling upper body workout two months ago. The four-time Mr. Olympia praised Hall’s work ethic after mentoring him through the session. Hall later partnered with powerlifting sensation Larry Wheels, who’s preparing for his Classic Physique debut; they took part in a taxing shoulder workout.
Internet sensation Jesse James West amassed a huge following on social media with his entertaining content centered around fitness. Besides playing pranks, he tries out different workout plans, gyms, and diets. He put the nine tenets of ancestral living to the test by trying to live like Liver King for over two days under the guidance of the man himself last August.
Jesse James West Pranks Eddie Hall with Fake Weights
In a recent YouTube video, Eddie Hall got tricked by Jesse James West into believing the latter recorded some insane lifts when he was actually using fake weights.
Jesse started with Squats using weights as follows:
1. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 45lbs2. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 135lbs3. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 225lbs4. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 315lbs5. Fake Weight: 405 lbs, real weight: 315lbs (Prank begins)6. Fake Weight: 455 lbs, real weight: 365lbs7. Fake Weight: 495 lbs, real weight: 315lbs
Bench Press using weights as follows:
1. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 135lbs2. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 225lbs3. Fake Weight: 315 lbs, real weight: 225lbs (Prank begins)4. Fake Weight: 365 lbs, real weight: 275lbs5. Fake Weight: 405 lbs, real weight: 225lbs
Deadlift using weights as follows:
1. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 135lbs2. Fake Weight: 225 lbs, real weight: 135lbs (Prank begins)3. Fake Weight: 315 lbs, real weight: 225lbs4. Fake Weight: 405 lbs, real weight: 315lbs5. Fake Weight: 495 lbs, real weight: 315lbs6. Fake Weight: 585 lbs, real weight: 405lbs7. Fake Weight: 675 lbs, real weight: 405lbs
West played a similar prank on bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman earlier this year. He misled the eight-time Mr. Olympia into thinking he lifted 700 pounds on the squat before revealing he used fake weights for the stunt. He also collaborated with top strongman contenders Luke and Tom Stoltman for a Strongman-style training session three months ago.
Although Hall was aware of the possibility fake weights could be involved, West’s acting skills convinced him otherwise.
RELATED: Eddie Hall Explains How Exercise Helped Him Manage His ADHD: ‘I Was Definitely a Victim of That’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 7:42 PM EDT
Lee Priest Predicts ‘Beef Stu’ and Tonio Burton Will Battle for 1st at 2023 New York Pro This Weekend
The bodybuilding season marches on as competitors prepare for another busy weekend. In a recent Rx Muscle interview, Lee Priest predicted which bodybuilders are most likely to walk away with gold at the 2023 New York Pro.
Over the last six months, the Men’s Open division has changed dramatically. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, mass monster Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay failed to repeat as champion. Instead, Iranian-born Hadi Choopan claimed the title after outlasting contenders Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker in the finals.
Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan at The Mr. Olympia 2021
With a new Mr. Olympia champion looking over the category, fans’ attention turned to Columbus, Ohio for the 35th annual Arnold Classic. Once again, Walker was in the running to win but was narrowly defeated by Samson Dauda.
Considering Choopan, a former 212 bodybuilder, was able to win the Open title at Mr. Olympia, some in the sport believe the division is shifting to favor shape and conditioning over freak factor. And while the season has remained somewhat quiet since Dauda’s victory, that is about to change at the sport’s third most prestigious contest this weekend.
Lee Priest Names Tonio Burton & ‘Beef’ Stu Sutherland As 2023 New York Pro Favorites
Having assessed Tonio Burton‘s physique, Lee Priest shared that he was impressed with the athlete’s shape, muscularity, and conditioning, adding that he could ‘definitely win it.’
“Yeah, I think I just saw some photos, he’s the one that has the tattoos on him doesn’t he? Yeah, I’ve always been impressed when I’ve seen him with his shape, muscularity, and conditioning I’ve sometimes seen him in.
I think he popped up on Instagram this morning he was doing a lat spread or something . Like I said, he looks great. Just the proportions and what he has, he has one of those physiques where he’s going to look so much better on stage, the illusion of the round muscles and the shape. He can definitely win it,” said Lee Priest.
Before looking at other contenders, Priest was taken aback by the lack of big names participating this weekend.
“Back in the day, remember the big names that would turn up at those shows, it was always the Olympia, the Arnold, and the Night of Champions, now the New York Pro, those were good shows and if you wanted them, they were a good win. Like I’ve said before, a lot of these pros sit out so many shows where they could fuc**ng win them if they turned up in great shape.”
Priest dubbed Maxx Charles as a dark horse given his consistent ability to enter shows with great conditioning.
“The thing about Maxx, I like Maxx, I think I’ve seen him in a few shows,” said Priest. “There’s a few shows I’ve seen him in. Like last year, where I thought he should have placed higher than he should have than he did I mean. His conditioning is generally on point. He can, like I said, it’s going to be one of those things, you don’t know till the day.”
In addition to Burton, Priest anticipates ‘Beef’ Stu Sutherland fighting for gold. He explained that Stu managed to hold his own against Hunter Labrada during a guest-posing event earlier this year.
“I could see him being, he could win or be top three easy from the names so far,” Priest shared. “Wasn’t there a guest posing a while ago where he was posing next to Hunter Labrada and he held his own.”
While some in the community had hoped for bigger names in the 2023 New York Pro, Priest believes it’s exciting because there’s no clear winner leading up to the contest.
“We don’t a lot them but that still makes it exciting like I said, because there is no clear winner. Watching this show is going to be picking the winner as well with the judges. There’s nothing worse than you go, ‘Okay the judges are going to put him first he always wins.’ Make it exciting that way. Even for the competitors too, they must know.
It sounds bad when you say there’s no big names in it, like there’s no good bodybuilders, because these guys competing are great bodybuilders. You know what I mean, back in the day, it had to be like those names, like Kevin Levrone, it was like, ‘Oh, Kevin was going to win.’ Even for the guys competing in this show, they’re probably all going in it with the mindset, ‘Shit any of us can win this.’ There’s no standout person here. It probably makes them try harder.”
Before making his New York Pro debut, Stuart Sutherland joined Fouad Abiad on a recent Bro Chat episode. He was happy there wasn’t a ‘bunch of studs’ performing this weekend and said he was feeling confident about his chances of success.
The winner of this year’s 2023 New York Pro will earn an invitation to the Mr. Olympia contest November 2-5 in Orlando Florida, where they will have the chance to face off against the reigning champion Choopan.
RELATED: Sergio Oliva Jr. Aiming for 2023 New York & Cali Pro, Fires Back at ‘Instagram Bodybuilder’ Label
Watch the full video below from the Rx Muscle YouTube channel:
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 4:05 PM EDT
WWE Hall of Famer ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham Dies at 79, Wrestling Legends Pay Emotional Tribute
Eldridge Wayne Coleman, better known as ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham, died at the age of 79, according to his family and WWE. It was revealed that he had been suffering from a number of health problems for years. Graham was on life support in the ICU in the hours leading up to his passing.
As a former WWE champion and pioneer of the sport, Graham captivated audiences for decades. Before embarking on his professional wrestling journey, Graham dabbled in football and bodybuilding. In the years to come, Graham would join his first pro wrestling organization in 1975 (WWE).
He won three world titles during his career and took part in different leagues including, WWF, AWA, NWA, and WWWF. In addition, he defeated WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino back in 1977. Graham was known for flashy outfits, dyed hair, and used catchphrases often throughout his tenure. He was later inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 and is recognized as one of the most influential wrestlers of his generation.
In addition to his wrestling boots, Graham served as a commentator briefly after his last fight in 1979. After using an array of substances for years, Graham became an outspoken critic against the use of steroids.
WWE Issues Statement After Passing of ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham, Wrestling World Reacts
Below, you can find WWE’s official statement regarding Billy Graham’s death. It should be noted that Graham was placed on life support earlier this week and had dealt with various health issues like drug addiction, liver failure, and infections.
“WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham has passed away. We extend our condolences to Graham’s family, friends, and fans.” WWE shared via Twitter.
WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham has passed away. We extend our condolences to Graham’s family, friends, and fans.https://t.co/Qpykpjv616
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2023
It didn’t take long for the community to extend their best wishes and condolences.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career!” Ric Flair wrote.
The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us ?? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career! pic.twitter.com/YH0eT2NM4p
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) May 18, 2023
“Before Billy Graham, performers in WWWF / WWF/ WWE were known as professional wrestlers. After Billy Graham left his mark, Vincent Kennedy McMahon decided everyone would be a WWE Superstar. A most heartfelt RIP to the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!” Paul Heyman shared.
Before Billy Graham, performers in WWWF / WWF/ WWE were known as professional wrestlers. After Billy Graham left his mark, Vincent Kennedy McMahon decided everyone would be a WWE Superstar. A most heartfelt RIP to the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour! pic.twitter.com/bwL6UQ3c3h
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) May 18, 2023
“This is the version of Superstar Billy Graham I got to see in FL. He would come out to Kung Fu Fighting & I loved it! RIP to the most copied man ever in Pro Wrestling.” Sean Waltman said.
This is the version of Superstar Billy Graham I got to see in FL. He would come out to Kung Fu Fighting & I loved it! RIP to the most copied man ever in Pro Wrestling. pic.twitter.com/hLzoWaXDiD
— Sean Waltman (@TheRealXPac) May 18, 2023
“SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM. ONE OF MY FIRST TEACHERS OF THE HEAT. THE REAL LEGEND BUBBA. HE LOVE ME I LOVE HIM. TOGETHER WE HIT THE GYM AND SHOCK THE EARTH. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BROTHER. RIP” The Iron Sheik wrote.
SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM. ONE OF MY FIRST TEACHERS OF THE HEAT. THE REAL LEGEND BUBBA. HE LOVE ME I LOVE HIM. TOGETHER WE HIT THE GYM AND SHOCK THE EARTH. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BROTHER. RIP pic.twitter.com/0UEIy2HNgt
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) May 18, 2023
In one of the final updates before his death, details were shared about Graham’s health conditions on his GoFundMe page.
“It has now been four months since Wayne has not been home, he has either been at the rehab center, or in the hospital. Due to ongoing issues from his lack of appetite he has now lost 80 pounds and subsequently continues to struggle with extreme weakness,” the April 26 update read.
“The Osteomyelitis infection in his ears, skull and sinus cavity remains his greatest challenge. He’s on strong IV antibiotics 3 times a day to treat this and the infectious disease doctor says he will need to be on them for at least 3 more months. As a result of this infection, he is currently completely deaf. We’re praying this is temporary, and will resolve as the infection is treated. He has intermittently also suffered with kidney issues, and been on dialysis. This in addition to Billy having heart and lung concerns, sores from being in bed for 4 months and depression.”
Given his charismatic attitude and colorful personality, Graham had a hand in shaping many rising stars in the wrestling community. It’s evident he had a major impact on the sport and helped elevate WWE to the next level of mainstream.
RELATED: 69-yo Hulk Hogan ‘Can’t Feel His Lower Body’ After Back Surgeries, Says WWE Star Kurt Angle
Fitness Volt sends its prayers and best wishes to ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham’s friends and family as they navigate through this difficult time.
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 1:24 PM EDT
Chris Cormier, Olympia Judge: ‘Urs Kalecinski ‘Wants to Beat the Hell Out of Mike Sommerfield at 2023 Olympia’
Bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier took a break from examining the Open class to discuss a few threats in the Classic Physique division. In a recent Prime Time Muscle podcast, Cormier and judge Terrick El Guindy opened up about the brewing rivalry between German stars Urs Kalecinski and Mike Sommerfeld.
The Classic Physique category has never been more exciting since its inception in 2016. Currently, Chris Bumstead sits atop the mountain, having earned a total of four consecutive Classic Physique Olympia titles. He took the reigns from two-time winner Breon Ansley in 2019.
Bumstead continues to defy the odds with steady improvements year-to-year. However, plenty of competitors have staked their claim in the division such as Brazil’s Ramon Queiroz, Mike Sommerfeld, and Urs Kalecinski. At last year’s 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, Urs Kalecinski managed to move up to third place from fourth the year prior. Meanwhile, Sommerfeld trailed behind ‘The Miracle Bear’ in fifth.
Given their competition history, Cormier and Terrick El Guindy insist a rivalry between the two has developed. In addition, they outlined what a battle may look like between Sommerfeld and Kalecinski later this year.
Chris Comier & Terrick El Guindy Talk Urs Kalecinski vs Mike Sommerfeld Rivalry
According to Terrick El Guindy, Kalecinski and Sommerfeld unfollowed each other on social media as a result of their heated competitive history.
“No, they unfollowed each other [Urs Kalecinski and Mike Sommerfeld] on Instagram. They don’t like each other. Yes, so that you know the history of these two competitors. Mike Sommerfeld and Urs Kalecinski… they competed, they came out of the IFBB Pro League in Mexico at the Tijuana Pro.”
“I’ve been able to judge that show the last two years, incredible event, we’ve crossed the border, he’s [the promoter] has a great hotel, great food and a lot of great competitors. On that specific day, Mike Sommerfeld beat Urs Kalecsinki. Everybody was impressed by these two German guys. Who the hell are they, they looked incredible.”
El Guindy added that Sommerfeld defeated Kalecinski at the Tijuana Pro, though Kalecinski got the upper hand on the Olympia stage.
“Going into the Mr. Olympia, obviously, Mike Sommerfeld was supposed to be the better one but it didn’t turn out like that. Urs Kalecinski impressed everybody and got in the top five and Mike Sommerfeld fell. So this whole year Mike Sommerfeld all he heard in Germany was how great Urs was, Urs this, Urs that, oh my God, Urs Kalecinski he’s the new guy, he’s the new Dennis Wolf, he’s the new this.
He probably got pissed off and fed up. He almost wanted to tell everybody, ‘I beat this guy in Tijuana. He just beat me once.’ It turned out that in the Mr. Olympia they faced each other, Sommerfeld was in the top five with Urs, and now the rivalry is real. You can’t just talk about Urs Kalecinski coming from Germany, you have to talk about Mike Sommerfeld,” said Terrick El Guindy.
Looking at both competitors as objectively as possible, Cormier said Sommerfeld had muscle maturity on his side whereas Kalecinski had more ‘upside’ due to his young age. Cormier believes Kalecinski still needs to add thickness to his arms.
“The thing is, I’ve kind of been in contact with both of these guys,” Cormier replied. “I’m friends with both of them. I try to help them with what I see they need help with, some posing, stuff like that. Nothing more than that, but just trying to be a helpful hand to the younger generation, you know. Well, I think the most upside is with Urs. The maturity is going to go with Mike, he’s probably a little bit thicker. Urs still has the thing… he needs to underuse those arm movements so much for me and he’s got to get those arms a little thicker.”
El Guindy implied that Sommerfeld posted comparison pictures next to Kalecinski to send a message to his rival.
“Comparison pictures with Urs Kalecinski [posted by Mike Sommerfeld] and all those pictures were beneficial to Mike. And obviously, he’s sending a message to Urs, ‘I’m better than you.’ Some people are very critical of Mike Sommerfeld, ‘You didn’t pick the right angles,’ you know how they do that,” said El Guindy.
“Urs is younger than that he’s like 24 or 25,” added Cormier.
Looking ahead, El Guindy predicts a tense on-stage showdown between Sommerfeld and Kalecinski in November.
“You want to be the best bodybuilder of that country. You talk to Rafael Brandao in Brazil, you mention any other bodybuilder he gets pissed, he’s like, ‘I’m the only one.’ Ramon Dino, he’s the only one. He doesn’t want anybody talking about anybody else. In Germany, you can’t just say that. There’s probably some following from Urs, probably some following from Mike Sommerifeld, and what the really want to do is shut that door. What Urs wants to do is beat the hell out of Sommerfeld at the next Mr. Olympia.”
Lastly, Cormier highlighted that former two-time Arnold Classic winner Terrence Ruffin will likely push into the top three at the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
“I think so [Terrence will contend with Ramon Dino at 2023 Olympia]. He’s not that tall but he’s very good. He can make his body transform. He can make his body transform before your eyes.”
While they might be enemies when they compete, the division’s top contenders aren’t against training with each other during the off-season. Urs Kalecinski teamed up with Cbum recently for a brutal arms training session.
Considering their competition history, fans, especially those in Germany, are looking forward to seeing two of their country’s biggest stars compete at the most significant bodybuilding event of the year.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead and Ramon Rocha Queiroz Destroy A Massive Back Workout
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 12:08 PM EDT
Hunter Labrada: “I Am One of the Best in The World Left on the Table, I’ll Put that to the Test”
Men’s Open pro Hunter Labrada is eager to step back on a competitive stage in 2023. In a recent Instagram video, Labrada updated fans on his mental outlook roughly 15 weeks out from his next competition, the 2023 Tampa Pro.
Hunter, son of IFBB Pro bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada, is one of the sport’s most exciting stars. His muscularity, tight waist, and full chest made him an instant standout on stage. Given his father’s long-standing success as an Olympian, many fans are hopeful that Hunter could one day win the sport’s most prestigious title.
Last year, Labrada was considered a heavy favorite heading into the 2022 Mr. Olympia show. However, at the event, he faced a historic lineup of talent with several new faces making their mark on the category, such as Derek Lunsford, Andrew Jacked and Michal Krizo. Ultimately, Labrada took seventh place while Hadi Choopan went on to win gold.
The 31-year-old admitted mistakes were made during the prep and peak for his last Olympia show. In February, it was revealed that Hunter Labrada threw his name in the hat for the upcoming 2023 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro. A little over three months before he takes to the stage, Labrada updated fans on how he’s approaching contest prep this year.
Hunter Labrada ‘Confident’ Ahead of 2023 Tampa Pro: “I’m Perfectly Capable of Winning Them”
Looking at his upcoming season, Labrada is confident he’s one of the best in the world and believes he has the tools to win his next two contests.
“First and foremost this year is about making myself proud. I lost sight of why I was doing this a lot last year. It was especially hard with how much I was traveling, I got a very isolated feeling. I’ll be the first one to tell you: I’m training to win these next two shows, Tampa and Texas I am training to win them. I feel like I’m perfectly capable of winning them. Outside of the people that are already qualified for the. Olympia, I think I am one of the best in the world left on the table. I’ll put that to the test.”
I’m confident I can get that done. Outside of success on a bodybuilding stage and as I do this more and more, more, I realize it’s less and less and less important. It’s at the end of the day what I do for a living but the happiness and impact I’m able to make with it is far more important and paramount to me. One of my biggest goals this year outside of the competitive placings, which I’m not going to sit here and lie, I’m very competitive and I’ll be devastated if I don’t win. And I’m going to do everything in my power to win those shows,” said Hunter Labrada.
Given Labrada’s busy schedule year-to-year, the Open bodybuilder said his primary goal is to stay ‘mentally present’ moving forward.
“This year one of the biggest goals and one of the biggest things to me personally is to be mentally present, feel everything, experience everything, yes I’ll be tired but that doesn’t give me an excuse to not be a good husband, a good father, to not be a good friend, so to really place a lot emphasis on everything outside of the actual nuts and bolts of bodybuilding this year because I feel like if I do that, the nuts and bolts of bodybuilding will take care of itself too.”
“The biggest emphasis for me this year is to be present and have fun doing what I’m doing. From a very young age, I never really stopped and smelled the roses. Anytime, football, coming up as an amateur, winning nationals, it was always what’s next, what’s next what’s next? I really want to make sure I’m able to take some time and enjoy this year, I think it’ll be a good one. Regardless of the contest placings, the places I’ll get to go, the people that I’ll get to see, the things I’ll get to do, they are once-in-a-lifetime things that not everybody gets to do.”
Aside from contest appearances, Labrada has taken part in a few key guest posing obligations. First, he traveled to Washington for the Emerald Cup and then joined a slew of other top Men’s Open pros at Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. He shared the stage with Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, and Shaun Clarida.
RELATED: Hunter Labrada Shares 277.6-Lb Ripped Physique Weeks From 2023 Tampa Pro, Texas Pro; Gives Exercise Selection Tips
Hunter Labrada is confident that he can win the 2023 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro. He is also focused on staying mentally present and having fun during his bodybuilding journey.
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 9:15 AM EDT
Jay Cutler Shares Keys for Building a Full Chest & Top 3 Movements for Monster Delts
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler ruled the roost during his Men’s Open pro career. Although he hung up his posing trunks years ago, he still stays connected with the bodybuilding community. In recent videos uploaded on YouTube, Cutler shared the keys to building a full chest. In addition, he offered his three favorite movements for developing monster delts.
Jay Cutler dominated the Men’s Open class with freakish muscle mass, size, and conditioning. He enjoyed a successful career that saw him win three Arnold Classic titles and four Mr. Olympias. He’s credited for sharing one of the fiercest rivalries in the sport against fellow bodybuilding icon Ronnie Coleman, whom he dethroned for his maiden Sandow trophy in 2006. He decided to move on from competition after a final sixth-place finish at the 2013 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler lends his voice to the trending topics of bodybuilding. In March 2023, Cutler weighed in on the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, where Samson Dauda won the title in a close-fought contest. Cutler believes the competition was razor-thin and any of the top four could have got the nod. With the rise of more aesthetic contenders in the Open, Cutler sees a bright future ahead for the division.
Cutler has not lost his passion for working out. He continues to train regularly and is working on improving his physique for the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge. He gave fans a look into his preparations with an insanely shredded physique update weeks ago. Then, he laid out his training/diet philosophy post-retirement and disclosed his plan to stick to TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
Jay Cutler pushed back on the misrepresentation of steroid users in mainstream media recently. He also gave his take on whether Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was natural. Looking closely, Jay theorized The Rock was likely using TRT to maintain his insane muscularity.
Earlier this month, Cutler offered the high-protein diet he was using for the transformation challenge. He also opened up about his ambitions to improve certain parts of his body, such as his legs, biceps, and lats.
Jay Cutler shares keys for building a full chest
In a recent YouTube clip, Jay Cutler shared some crucial tips for filling out a stubborn chest. He highlighted the importance of isolation movements and concentrating during reps to get the best results.
“My most stubborn muscle to overcome was my chest,” said Cutler. “Now, I had really wide shoulders so my shoulders took the place of a lot of my pressing moment so I had a chest that started from the bottom and ended halfway up. I had to focus really on a lot of dumbbell work, really concentration. I mean pushups can be a great exercise to stimulate your pecs.
“But at the same time remember focus on your repetitions, stick to your incline movements and sometimes those isolateral movements where you’re doing one side at a time can be very beneficial to developing the full chest look.”
Cutler shares 3 exercises for monster delts
The 49-year-old offered three of his favorite exercises that helped him build some of the biggest shoulders in bodybuilding.
“Top three delt movements,” said Cutler. “I had some of the biggest delts in bodybuilding when I was at my reign for Mr. Olympia. So I always was focused on number one, my rear delts movement. So my rear cables, crossovers was my go-to exercise. I also did the bent-over lateral dumbbell movement which was very great for developing the shoulders.
“But we can’t get away from the most important, which is the seated side lateral raise, which will give you that huge cap in the delts. You guys want to walk around and go sideways through the door, make sure you do these three movements.”
Jay Cutler provided a quad-stomp-inspired lower-body training routine a week ago. He plans to cut down his body fat to the 6-8% range by the end of the year. He followed that up with an unreal physique update showing off his latest progress.
You can watch the full videos below.
RELATED: Jay Cutler: “Since Ronnie Coleman Stepped Away, I Don’t Know If Anyone Has Come Close to His Physique”
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 12:03 AM EDT
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events Revealed
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic is the next major Strongman competition, as it will take place on July 8th, 2023, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The one day competition is set to be one of the most entertaining shows of the year as the competitors are preparing to battle in front of the sold out arena. It was already revealed that this year will feature the greatest roster of athletes so far, but now the five events for the competition have been announced on Giants Live’s Instagram.
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will only last one day, so having to perform five events in a row will be brutal for the competitors. Nonetheless, one-day competitions are known to be the most exciting, as athletes do not approach the competition with too much calculation. Instead, they may go all out and give everything they have from the beginning to the end.
The Strongman Classic’s five events have now been revealed. Athletes can begin preparing to give it all they’ve got.
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events
Nicol Stone Carry
Super Yoke
Axle Deadlift
Viking Press
Castle Stones
Related: Eddie Hall & Martins Licis Revealed as Captains for 2023 World’s Strongest Nation
Event One — Nicol Stone Carry
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will open up with one of the most painstaking events in the sport, the Nicol Stone Carry. The athletes will be tasked with picking up and carrying two stones for the maximum distance possible. The heavier stone will weigh 138 kilograms (304 pounds), and the lighter stone will weigh 114 kilograms (251 pounds). So, the total will come out to 252 kilograms (555.5 pounds).
Kevin Faires is without a doubt the main favorite for this event, as he holds the World Record of 24 meters. However, Mitchell Hooper has also proved quite good in events similar to this one. So, surprises may happen.
Event Two — Super Yoke
Moving onto the second event, the athletes will find themselves under the Super Yoke, which will most likely weigh in excess of 400 kilograms (881 pounds). They will pick up the Super Yoke and once again carry it for distance. This will be especially hard after the Nicol Stone Carry, since both are based on endurance.
There is a plethora of quick athletes in the lineup, but the most notable ones are Mitchell Hooper, Oleksii Novikov, and Evan Singleton. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone else takes the win.
Event Three — Axle Deadlift
Marking the midway point of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will be the Axle Deadlift. Although the weight for the deadlift has not been specified, it is likely that Giants Live will load it with a certain weight and task the athletes with performing as many repetitions as possible.
This is another event where there is no clear favorite, as many of the participants are incredible deadlifters.
Event Four — Viking Press
The penultimate event will shift the focus on the upper body strength, as the Viking Press will task the athletes with completing as many reps of an overhead press on a custom built machine. The weight for this event has not been revealed.
There is one clear favorite for this event and it is the Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou. His shoulder strength is unparalleled, as he holds multiple World Records. The next greatest overhead presser in the lineup seems to be Luke Stoltman.
Atlas Stones
As is the case in the majority of Giants Live competitions, the Atlas Stones will be the final event of the 2023 Strongman Classic. It is arguably the most iconic Strongman event in history, featuring a series of progressively heavier stones which have to be lifted onto their platforms as quickly as possible.
Again, Tom Stoltman is the obvious favorite in this event, as it is difficult to imagine him not winning. The rest of the field, however, is similarly strong for this event, which makes it possible for any athlete to claim second place.
Related: Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Brian Shaw’s Most Insane Strongman Lifts: ‘Holy Sh*t’
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Roster
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso)
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
Luke Stoltman (Scotland)
Eddie Williams (Australia)
Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
Tom Stoltman (Scotland)
Evan Singleton (USA)
Rongo Keene (Australia)
Spenser Remick (USA)
Kevin Faires (USA)
Oleksii Novikov was the champion at the 2022 Strongman Classic, but he will have an extremely difficult task defending his title. He is now accompanied by two more WSM champions, Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper, with a bunch of other pumped up Strongmen. The athletes now know what the events will be. So, it remains to be seen who prepares the best.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 6:41 PM EDT
Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Plans to Live Forever,’ Reflects on Aging, Retirement: ‘I Used to Be the Best Built Man’
Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger will go down in the history books as one of the greatest competitors of all time. He was the first true superstar to break out of bodybuilding into the mainstream with a stellar physique. In a recent The Hollywood Reporter interview, Schwarzenegger shared his thoughts on the evolution of his physique with age and his ‘plans to live forever.’
Arnold Schwarzenegger first made a name for himself in bodybuilding with an aesthetic blend of muscle, shape, and symmetry in the 1970s. He came out on top of the 1970 Mr. Olympia and enjoyed a commanding reign that saw him ultimately become a seven-time champ.
He hung up his posing trunks after securing his seventh Sandow trophy in 1980. Besides competition, Schwarzenegger was known for his charismatic and brash personality, which was put on full display in the 1977 bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron. The film boosted his star power and the sport’s notoriety.
Following a decorated career, Schwarzenegger made his way to Hollywood and found success with starring roles in numerous box-office hits, including Conan the Barbarian (1982), The Terminator (1984), and Commando (1985).
Schwarzenegger often encourages his massive fanbase to stay healthy. He educated them on the benefits of using caffeine to boost workout performance. He encouraged using it as a pre-workout and cautioned against consuming it too close to bedtime.
In March 2023, Schwarzenegger suggested switching out whole food meals with meal replacement drinks to aid in losing weight. He highlighted the importance of counting calories appropriately, which is easier with shakes that provide accurate nutritional information as opposed to cooked food.
Arnold Schwarzenegger laid out a challenging nine-minute abs workout made up entirely of bodyweight exercises two months ago. He also discussed the advantages of using bodyweight movements to improve heart health and lower body strength. Then, he offered a brutal training routine for building muscle using self-limiting movements with no weights. Additionally, he gave fans a detailed and quick five-minute workout designed to be used in the mornings or as a warm-up.
Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up on dislike for aging & his physique at age 75
In a recent interview, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his thoughts on the evolution of his physique at 75. He explained that it’s been difficult to accept his body considering his status as a former bodybuilding great.
When asked what he likes about his 75-year-old body, he responded, “Nothing!”
“My whole life I look at the mirror and see the best-built man, and all of a sudden I see a bunch of crap,” said Schwarzenegger. “It’s terrible! You get these wrinkles under your eyes. You get wrinkles under your pecs. You see the fucking poodle! Budle. It’s Austrian for your stomach sticking out. Where the fuck did that come from? It’s not pleasurable. But you cope with it.”
Schwarzenegger ‘plans to live forever’
‘The Austrian Oak’ revealed he continues to train regularly and enjoys entertaining people. He wants to keep going strong and has no plans to retire anytime soon, if ever.
“I still work out every day, I ride my bike every day, and I make movies — show business is another part of my life,” said Schwarzenegger. “I add in my life, I never subtract. I don’t need money. I get money because you have to have a certain value and the agents negotiate. But I have a great time doing it. I love everything that I do. There’s no retiring. I’m still on this side of the grass, so I’m happy. My plan is to live forever — and so far, so good!”
Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his take on optimizing sleep for weight loss three weeks ago. He encouraged sleeping longer than six hours and ideally, about eight hours, to ensure a lower weight based on research conducted by Harvard scientists.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Apologizes For The ‘Screw Your Freedom’ Remark: ‘I’m Sorry For Saying Those Words’
Schwarzenegger teamed up with comedians Bert Kreischer and Fortune Feimster for a back and chest training session earlier this week.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 6:15 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn & Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Use Tom Platz-Inspired Workout for Ligament Strength
Mike O’Hearn and Hafthor Bjornsson, two titans of strength, met up for a special collaboration on leg day. In a recent YouTube video, O’Hearn guided Bjornsson through a brutal hack squat variation as the former strongman recovers from a pec tear injury.
At 53 years old, Mike O’Hearn has become somewhat of a legend in the fitness industry for his maintenance of mass, power, and strength. In addition, he’s kept up with a remarkably ripped physique for over three decades.
With experience in bodybuilding and strongman, O’Hearn doesn’t shy away from fitness challenges. He has trained with plenty of notable figures in bodybuilding and strongman, including four-time WSM legend Brian Shaw, who recently announced his retirement from the sport.
In April, former strongman star Hafthor Bjornsson suffered a painful pec tear on his third attempt at trying to bench press 556.7 pounds. While Hafthor revealed his upper chest was torn off the bone, he’s not letting the setback stop him from working out completely.
Mike O’Hearn Guides Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Through Longevity Leg Workout Created by Tom Platz
O’Hearn used the hack squat machine to demonstrate a technique he learned from Tom Platz. Platz, known as the ‘The Quadfather,’ possessed some of the best legs in bodybuilding history.
“That is a quad, that’s a teardrop at the knee, keep it healthy, they’re going to freak out, ‘What? How is that healthy?’ Because we’re stressing. Remember what we talked about, load the joints. The muscle is only so strong. The joints is God’s gift. I’m trying to force it, the joints and ligaments around the knee to be so strong. I learned this in 1989, Tom Platz, training with him from 89 to the early 90s, this is something he lived with.”
“I could see at that stage how strong his connective tissue [was], his legs were enormous, Tom Platz, great legs, but his knees were so healthy. That’s again, another fun exercise that somebody your size that’s a rarity to see that kind of movement. So we’ll do a moderate and see where we can find stress in the knee in a safe position.”
Hafthor was impressed with O’Hearn’s variation of the hack squat, where he utilized a wedge to place his feet at an angle.
“He’s just so focused each and every rep every set, he manages in the moment, everything with his muscles, the tightness of the squeeze,” Hafthor said about O’Hearn.
O’Hearn highlighted why the technique is so effective for quad training.
“I don’t know if you guys can see it at home, the difference between, you’re still leading with the quads compared to leading with the hip,” O’Hearn said. “So the way he was doing it first of all, he was great for the first time doing it but it was still a hack squat because it wasn’t leading with the ass. The last couple of reps were beautiful because he was rotating the ass up, stretching the quads, and getting more isolation. It’s such an odd position.”
Even though they were lifting light weights, Bjornsson was surprised by the work rate.
“You feel like you’re working so hard but at the same time, it’s light weight. It’s a very interesting movement for sure, different, like I said, like I’ve never done before,” shared Hafthor.
Bjornsson asked if O’Hearn adds extra weight or keeps the workout light when on his own.
“I do add more and more but I want to try to get a better range of motion. On this one… this would be like a finisher for me, I’d hit my squats, I’d do like a leg press or a similarity squat, some kind of moderation – we have a like I said, kind of hack squat and then I’d do something like this at the end to kind of finish that leg out.”
“Stress done right will strengthen your body,” said O’Hearn. “The possibility of you being like this in 30 years… is a possibility, it really is. Where most people will go, I hit 30, I hit 35, I’m done, I’m only going to get older and weaker but that’s not the mentality you have.”
Before wrapping up the video, Hafthor explained how training has changed from his 20s to his 30s.
“In your 30s, you got to be more detailed, more prepared, and have everything lined up: nutrition, sleep, training, recovery, rest, everything has to be dialed in and I can’t even imagine, I know that every single day you’re doing whatever you can to even get 1% better,” Hafthor Bjornsson said.
This isn’t the first time Mike O’Hearn has led a longevity-inspired training session. He joined Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Joseph Baena recently, where they teamed up to attack a back training session. During the workout, O’Hearn shared that some of the movements they practiced could help Baena’s joints when he’s around his father’s age (75).
While the technique may differ from the norm, Mike O’Hearn is living evidence of his training practices and has employed these exercises for more than three decades.
RELATED: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Intense Pre-Surgery Recovery Techniques for Gruesome Pec Tear
Watch the full video below from Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel:
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 4:09 PM EDT
An Ultimate Guide to Watching the 2023 CrossFit Semifinals
The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals are just around the corner, since the first out of the three consecutive competition weeks begins on May 18th. This serves as the final obstacle for everyone who got through the 2023 CrossFit Open & Quarterfinals, as the next stage is the 2023 CrossFit Games. So, some great battles will take place in the Semifinals and there is a way for you to watch them from the comfort of your home.
This year’s CrossFit Semifinals are divided into on-site competitions in seven regions. So, each region will feature their own competition and they will take place on varying dates. It is important to note that although there are seven Semifinal competitions, each of them will consist of the same tests (workouts) issued by CrossFit.
Related: Haley Adams Takes a Break From 2023 CrossFit Games For Mental And Physical Wellness
How To Watch The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals?
CrossFit is taking it upon themselves to organize livestreams for four out of the seven competitions. The competitions broadcasted by CrossFit will be: North America East, North America West, Europe, and Oceania Semifinals. These four competitions will be streamed on the official CrossFit Games website and the CrossFit Games App.
On the other hand, the Africa, Asia, and South America Semifinal livestreams will be put together by the organizers of the aforementioned events. The links for these three livestreams are not available yet, but we will add them here once they are.
However, only two out of the four days will see all events live streamed, as per the statement of CrossFit. They revealed that all workouts will be broadcasted on Thursdays and Sundays, while workouts One and Three from Friday and Saturday will not be live streamed.
“For the CrossFit-produced broadcast, you can watch all events for the team and individual divisions on Thursdays and Sundays. Coverage on Fridays and Saturdays will begin on the main field of play (11:45 a.m. local Friday and 11:30 a.m. local Saturday).
The events on the second field (Individual Tests 1 and 3, Team Test 3) won’t be streamed. Highlights of those events will be shared at the start of the livestreams each day.”
2023 CrossFit Semifinals Schedule
The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals will be taking place on weekends for three weeks in a row. Here are the dates for each Semifinal.
Week One
North America East Semifinal — May 18-21 (Orlando, FL, USA)
Africa Semifinal — May 19-21 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Week Two
North America West Semifinal — May 25-28 (Pasadena, CA, USA)
Oceania Semifinal — May 26-28 (Tennyson, QLD, Australia)
South America Semifinal — May 26-28 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Week Three
Europe Semifinal — June 1-4 (Berlin, Germany)
Asia Semifinal — June 2-4 (Busan, South Korea)
2023 CrossFit Semifinals Starting Times
Note: All of the starting times expressed below reflect the times of Semifinals in their region.
Thursday: 12:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Friday: 1:45 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday: 8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Check Out The Rosters For Each Semifinal Here:
Related: A Look Into the Incredible New Mat Fraser’s HWPO CrossFit Gym
Only 40 men and 40 women will advance to the 2023 CrossFit Games from these Semifinals. So, each competition will see only a few athletes go through. Here is the distribution of qualifying spots for each Semifinal:
North America East Semifinal: 11 Women / 12 Men
Africa Semifinal: 1 Woman / 1 Man
North America West Semifinal: 10 Women / 9 Men
Oceania Semifinal: 3 Women / 3 Men
South America Semifinal: 2 Women / 2 Men
Europe Semifinal: 11 Women / 11 Men
Asia Semifinal: 2 Women / 2 Men
The 2023 CrossFit Games are set to take place from August 1-6, in Madison, Wisconsin once again. It’s hard to predict the outcome of the competition or who the favorites will be, as several of the top athletes have had to withdraw for various reasons.
The biggest upset is Tia-Clair Toomey who will not be appearing in the 2022 CrossFit games due to pregnancy. She recently gave birth to her daughter and will miss out on the biggest CrossFit competition after six years of sitting on the throne. However, Mal O’Brien, Ricky Garard, and some others have also withdrawn from this season already.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 3:24 PM EDT