Mass monster Nick Walker is gearing up for his next bodybuilding contest. On Dec. 12, 2025, via YouTube, he broke down his latest controlled intensity back workout 13 weeks from stepping onstage at the 2026 Arnold Classic.
The redemption campaign is officially underway for Nick Walker. His latest bodybuilding season started strong; he went toe-to-toe against Derek Lunsford at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro and narrowly took second place. To earn his ticket to bodybuilding’s biggest event of the year, Walker dominated the New York Pro for a third time.
However, when it was time to stand against the best in Vegas, Walker crumbled under pressure. He mistimed his peak and ended up finishing in sixth place at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, the lowest of his career. He’s made changes to re-steer the ship, including dropping his coach, Kyle Wilkes. Navigating prep alone, Walker aims to win the 2026 Arnold Classic, having won this show back in 2021 with an all-time best look.
Nick Walker’s Back Workout 13 Weeks from 2026 Arnold Classic
Find his exercises from the video below:
• Pullovers
• Chest-Supported Rows
• Single-Arm Rows
• Seated Rows
• T-Bar Rows
• Machine Pullovers
• Bent-Over Rear Delt Flyes
• Barbell Incline Triceps Extensions
• Preacher Curls
During the video, Walker kicked off the workout with rest-pause sets on cable pullovers to get blood pumped into his lats.
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While pushing through chest-supported rows, he shared that he plans to return to his roots for this preparation. He believes changes over the years have not yielded the results he’s been looking for.
“It’s a classic, baby. I used this my entire pro career. I feel like I need to go back to my roots for what made me. I’ve done too many changes in life and I feel like I didn’t get better, honestly.”
Finishing off the session with arms, Walker reflected on tearing his hamstring.
“It was torn. I remember I got done training and Matt was like send me pictures. As soon as we got home, it started to throb and I’m like there’s that… I think we told him later that day because we wanted to see if it got worse or not. Dude, it was just by the hour. I just remember looking at that picture and I cried,” he shared.
Walker’s 2026 Arnold Classic Expectations
Walker explained that he’s returning to his ‘old ways’ for the 2026 Arnold Classic and wants his physique to do the talking.
“I’m gonna stay low on this one. I’m going to go back to my old ways. Just let the what I do do the talking from now on. I know what’s going to happen.
That’s all that needs to be said. I’m not going to talk my shit. I’m going to come in the way I know how to come in, and I’m just going to cause havoc like I always do.”
Given his experience in the sport, he believes he has a winning formula; it just needs to be adjusted.
“I’m going to do exactly what I know works. I know what works. I’ve been down this road. Thing is, in my opinion, I’m sorry, but things don’t just stop working. What works always works. It just may need to be manipulated a little bit, but the plan itself just doesn’t stop working,” said Walker.
Walker will face a who’s who of bodybuilding talent when he makes his way to Ohio. Hadi Choopan, the former 2022 Mr. Olympia, is the on-paper favorite, having won this event back in 2024. Meanwhile, third-place Olympia finisher Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea will be aiming to nail down his first Arnold Classic title. Additionally, Martin Fitzwater hopes to make waves in his AC debut.
Should Walker find success in his next outing, he’ll be one step closer to reasserting himself as an Olympia title threat. The 2026 Arnold Classic is set for March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio, where the Open champion will leave with a historic $750,000 prize purse.
Watch the full video from the Nick Walker YouTube channel below:
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