Plenty of interesting talking points emerged on the tail-end of the 2024 Pittsburgh Pro. In a recent Rx Muscle YouTube video, bodybuilding coach Chris Aceto and Shahriar Kamali opened up on guest posing highlights, underscoring Nick Walker‘s performance and physique. In addition, they discussed whether or not Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay sabotaged his career by no-showing the event.
One week before he steps foot on the 2024 New York Pro stage, Nick Walker gave fans an early teaser of what to expect for his explosive season. His comeback this year is layered with pain and perseverance after he was forced to pull out of the 2023 Olympia contest due to a torn hamstring and calf.
Ultimately, Walker refused to disappoint in Pittsburgh, posing alongside a crop of the world’s best competitors from the Open and Classic Physique. ‘The Mutant’ is set to compete this weekend at the prestigious 2024 New York Pro, yet fans and bodybuilding veterans alike, continue to reflect on his showstopping physique in Pittsburgh.
Chris Aceto, King Kamali Talk Guest Posers in Pittsburgh & Big Ramy ‘Sabotaging His Own Career’ W/ Absence
According to King Kamali, he thought Andrew Jacked’s size and Derek Lunsford’s improvements were evident.
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“There were some surprises, there were some bad surprises and some good surprises, so yeah, we got to see a bunch of stuff,” said King Kamali. “The good surprise, the good surprise, Andrew Jacked by far put on the most size. He’s definitely putting on some size. He looked like a monster up there. Derek, the Mr. Olympia, he was improved so I’ll give him that, I’ll give him credit where credit is due, he brought what I thought he was going to bring, so I’ll give him that.”
Considering Walker was so close to his next show in New York, King Kamali was underwhelmed by his look in Pittsburgh.
“NIck Walker, he gets mad every time anybody says especially when I say something negative. Don’t lose your shit over this. But, I was expecting a lot more at one week out.”
Chris Aceto says Walker was holding water and flat, which he believes is to be expected since he plans to compete imminently.
“I think Nick will be great in six days, five days. I think to me, he looked like, to me, he looked like he was holding some water. Not tons, to me, he looks flat. So, that’s a good spot to be in six to seven days out when you have a lot of experience.”
Even though Kamali and fans weren’t overly impressed with Walker’s physique, Aceto stressed that he has never entered a show where he missed his peak.
“When has Nick Walker ever been off?” asks Aceto. “The answer I was actually going to say is never. He has never been off. If you want to peak a big…. sometimes the worse position you can be in is looking like you’re ready to go on stage a week out. Period.”
Moreover, Aceto explained that Walker understands his strengths, revealing that he doesn’t have the shape of bodybuilders like the late Shawn Rhoden or Flex Wheeler.
“It is what it is. Nick is not under any illusion that he has a Shawn Rhoden/Flex Wheeler physique. It is what it is. That’s why they call him the mutant and not the hourglass. Mutants win shows. I think there’s nothing surprising there other than peoples’ comments.”
“He’s big, he’s thick, I think his back has got a little bit more depth to it than it had before. He looks round when he hits the shots. The side chest looks really good. The side triceps looks really good. Front double biceps.”
From what he saw, Aceto thought Walker had Lunsford beat in the side chest pose.
“Side chest, [Walker vs Lunsford] well, of course, Nick there [in Pittsburgh]. He’s in shape. But, that doesn’t mean, that’s not Derek’s best shot.”
King Kamali underlined how dangerous Walker can be, especially when he is posing. He adds that he ‘could’ out-muscle Hadi Choopan at 2024 Olympia.
“Nick Walker, in my opinion, Nick Walker is incredibly dangerous. When he just stands there, you go ‘Oh, you know his shape,’ but when he’s posing, he’s dangerous. His side shots, his back double biceps, he’s dangerous. He’s definitely one that, he would compare well to Hadi. He would. He could out-muscle Hadi,” argues King Kamali.
Big Ramy was absent in 2022 for the Pittsburgh guest posing event and missed the obligation again this year. Kamali worries that the former two-time Mr. Olympia is sabotaging his career at this point.
“I heard, I’m not saying it’s true I heard from somebody that there might have been some lumps and people would have torn him to pieces. Who knows! I’m a big fan of Ramy. If you’re watching, you can’t do this bro. I hope you’re okay. I hope there’s nothing medical involved, no health issues, but you can’t do this. It’s almost like he’s sabotaging his own career.”
Chris Aceto and King Kamali aren’t the only credentialed bodybuilding veterans breaking down what could happen at the 2024 Mr. Olympia. Recently, Dennis James and Milos Sarcev opened up on the marquee competition, and both were unconvinced that Derek Lunsford would have the tools needed to take down his rival Hadi Choopan in October.
While the future of Big Ramy remains unclear for the time being, fans know exactly where Nick Walker is headed. Expect to see him storm the 2024 New York Pro stage as his best this Saturday.
Watch the full video from the Rx Muscle YouTube channel below:
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