Questions surrounding Nick Walker’s future in the sport are heating up. On March 6, 2025, Dennis James and Chris Cormier revealed whether or not he could win the 2025 Mr. Olympia if all competitors hit the stage at 100%.
Unlike his rookie season, Walker has hit a handful of speed bumps lately in the IFBB Pro League circuit. He was unable to compete at the 2023 Olympia after sustaining injuries to his hamstring and calf. Although he redeemed himself by winning the 2024 New York Pro against Martin Fitzwater, trouble followed ‘The Mutant.’
Just weeks before the 2024 Mr. Olympia, Walker was forced to pull out of the contest, stressing that his body wasn’t responding to preparations. Instead, he watched Samson Dauda secure his first Sandow trophy from the sidelines. With a new coach in his corner, Walker is readying his physique once again for action. He signed up to compete at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, which is set to showcase the Men’s Open for the first time in history.
Dennis James and Chris Cormier Debate Whether Nick Walker Can Win 2025 Mr. Olympia If Everyone Is at ‘100%’
In a recent YouTube video, Dennis James proposed the question: Can a 100% Nick Walker defeat Samson Dauda, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Andrew Jacked if they also come in at their best?
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Can Nick Walker at 100% beat a Samson at 100%, beat a Hadi at 100%, beat a Derek at 100%, and beat a Martin at 100% right now? And Andrew Jacked,” James shared.
Cormier expressed doubt in Walker’s chances in this hypothetical scenario. James, meanwhile, suggested that Walker could only win if the rest of these contenders were caught off guard.
“Everybody at 100%, probably not,” replied Chris Cormier.
“Nick Walker is, for me, and this is what I’ve always said, he needs to catch these guys off guard,” explains James.
“It has to be the right show,” adds Cormier.
Milos Sarcev stated that Walker’s all-time best look was back in 2021 when he won his lone Arnold Classic title.
“He took some time off, right? He’s coming back with a vengeance. He believes in himself. Don’t discount him,” shared Sarcev. “When he won [2021] Arnold Classic [he was at his best]. That performance that he had there shocked me. His stomach was flat throughout the whole prejudging and finals with deep abs.”
“His onstage persona is second to none. He’ll bring you in. You are feeling everything he’s feeling,” Cormier shared.
Had he competed at the 2025 Arnold Classic, Sarcev mentioned that Walker would be fighting for third with Andrew Jacked.
“I think he would have been battling for third with Andrew Jacked,” argued Sarcev if Walker competed at the Arnold Classic 2025.
James offered advice to Nick Walker, urging him not to worry about adding size.
“I just hope he doesn’t think he has to get big. I think he just needs to stop worrying about size. Your physique can only hold so much weight to look good. Now, look at Derek.
Derek was 50-60 pounds less than Samson and still beat him. This can be his downfall if he’s trying to be too heavy. He’s about the same height as Derek.”
This hasn’t been the first time that voices of bodybuilding have doubted Walker’s potential. Recently, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo argued that Walker doesn’t have the tools to win the Olympia, emphasizing that he lacks the frame needed to defeat the best. Walker responded to these criticisms, refusing to give up on his dream of becoming the next Mr. Olympia winner.
Walker believes that at his ‘true best,’ he’ll secure a top-three position at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. But first, he has to ensure he qualifies for the prestigious event by getting through the lineup at the nearing Pittsburgh Pro show.
RELATED: Nick Walker Digs Deep on Leg Day for a Massive Pump 11 Weeks Out from Pittsburgh Pro
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