Is it time for a change in the Men’s Open class? In an Instagram stories post on August 21, 2025, Chris Bumstead argued the Mr. Olympia would look completely different if more Classic Physique competitors moved to the Open.
For years, there have been talks of Classic Physique one day taking over the Men’s Open. In 2022, the Boston Pro showcased Classic competitors last, signaling a shift toward popularity over tradition. “Cbum” is also the most popular bodybuilder in the world, outside of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Before he ended his career, Bumstead moved to the Men’s Open and found success via a silver medal finish at the 2024 Prague Pro. Recently, Urs Kalecinski also decided to move out of Classic Physique to make his debut in the Men’s Open. In light of his transition, questions about whether this will become a broader trend are gaining traction.
Chris Bumstead Thinks Open Olympia Top 10 Would Change if All Classic Physique Stars Made the Jump
According to Bumstead on Instagram, if every Classic competitor moved to the Open with a good off-season, the top 10 would look vastly different at the Mr. Olympia.
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“Hot take: if every classic competitor moved to the open (with a good off-season) the Olympia top 10 would look a lot different,” shared Chris Bumstead.
While many argue the Classic Physique takeover is in full effect, others aren’t sold on the idea. Bodybuilding veterans Jay Cutler and Milos Sarcev tackled the issue. Cutler asserted that amateur Classic Physique is more popular, whereas once you reach the pro ranks, Men’s Open is still the crown jewel of the sport.
Bodybuilding great Dennis Wolf has also chimed in on the Men’s Open versus Classic Physique debate. He believes Classic Physique could become the most noteworthy division in the IFBB Pro League. He also touched on the unpredictability of the Mr. Olympia.
“Look, it could change every year. Even at the Olympia, the top five isn’t going to stay the same forever. It’s not like back in the day when the top two or three guys were always battling for first place. Back then, the top five or six barely changed. For ten straight years, competing at the Olympia, I was in the top six almost every time. It was always the same guys,” Wolf shared.
It’ll be interesting to see if any more Classic Physique competitors follow in the footsteps of Kalecinski. Don’t miss the 2025 Mr. Olympia contest, set for October 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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