The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro results still have the bodybuilding community talking. On May 12, 2025, Rich Gaspari argued Nick Walker was the rightful winner and believes Derek Lunsford was five percent off compared to his package at the recent Arnold Classic.
“Nick Walker was in the best shape of his life. Massive, dense, ripped, he had it all. He showed off that physique. He was showing off that physique to the utmost.”
With his back against the wall, Walker faced immense pressure in his return to the stage. In 2023 and 2024, ‘The Mutant’ was forced to withdraw from the Mr. Olympia, once due to injury and the other after his body wouldn’t respond to preparations.
The Pittsburgh event was incredibly close. Walker and Lunsford were tied on the scorecard and battled in a sudden-death round to determine the winner. Walker left the contest without qualification to Olympia, but has already confirmed his entry for the 2025 New York Pro this weekend.
Rich Gaspari Thought Nick Walker Beat Derek Lunsford in Pittsburgh: ‘Nick Walker Was in the Best Shape of His Life’
In the recent Instagram post, Gaspari recapped the contest and suggested that Lunsford wasn’t better than the look he presented at the 2025 Arnold Classic.
“You had Derek. I didn’t believe that he would go into the Pittsburgh Pro, he just won the Arnold Classic. He looked great at the Arnold Classic. I say it was the best shape that he’s ever been to beat Samson, the current Mr. Olympia. He made that show very interesting.”
He believes Lunsford was five percent off and said his legs didn’t pop the same as before.
“It’s going to be a really interesting Mr. Olympia this year. But in this show, Derek was slightly off, I would say five percent off from his condition at the Arnold Classic.
He didn’t have that same condition. His legs didn’t pop as well. Still, I have to say he’s got great aesthetics with that small waist and wide back. Great muscle everywhere, just not as conditioned as he was. He didn’t pop the same way that a Nick Walker popped in that show.”
If it were up to Gaspari, who formerly worked as an IFBB judge, he would have awarded Walker the victory.
“Nick Walker was very impressive. For me, because of that change in his physique, I would have given the nod to Nick Walker. That’s just me, that’s my opinion. Although I was a former IFBB judge and judged the Olympia and the Arnold, but that show was very close between those two.”
“This is going to be a great show for the Olympia,” he adds.
At this point, it’s safe to say the results of the Pittsburgh Pro were controversial. Six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates also discussed the outcome. Like Gaspari, ‘The Shadow’ also believes that Walker deserved to win the event against Lunsford.
Despite some in the sport doubting Walker, he proved once again that he’s one of the best Open contenders in the world. Time will tell whether he secures his qualification for the Mr. Olympia when he makes his return to the New York Pro stage this weekend.
RELATED: Phil Heath Recaps 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, Discusses Whether Nick Walker Got Robbed
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
