Ronnie Coleman tackled one of the sport’s most popular fantasy match-ups. On Nov. 18, 2025, he argued that Arnold Schwarzenegger would have easily defeated Chris Bumstead had they competed against each other.
Aesthetic, shapely physiques dominated Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s era of bodybuilding. He fit in perfectly thanks to his stature, V-taper, and flawless front poses. Ultimately, “The Austrian Oak” left on top with seven Mr. Olympia titles.
Decades later, Chris Bumstead emerged and found his home in the Classic Physique division. Before long, he amassed six consecutive Olympia victories and then settled into retirement. In a direct battle with Schwarzenegger, Bumstead has said he would have beaten the bodybuilding legend. The latest to weigh in on this ongoing debate was Coleman.
Ronnie Coleman Says Schwarzenegger Could Easily Beat Bumstead
In the video, Coleman gave Bumstead props but said Schwarzenegger would have smoked him easily, especially if he had the resources available to athletes today.
“He’s [Chris Bumstead] a pretty good bodybuilder, pretty good,” said Coleman.
Do you think he would have beat Arnold?” asks Eddie Hall.
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“Not a snowball’s chance. No, no. Arnold is on a totally different level than him. If Arnold had what he had… You know, he would have smoked him easily.”
He added that competitors in today’s landscape aren’t as driven, which is why there hasn’t been a dominant Mr. Olympia titleholder since Phil Heath.
“People are changing now. They are not so driven. It’s straight across the board. There’s nobody that’s really like dominating now. The domination is not there anymore because the guys are less competitive and less driven,” he said.
Retired bodybuilding veteran Kevin Levrone has also discussed the impact of Classic Physique and Bumstead’s influence. He contends that Bumstead’s success forced other divisions and competitors to favor aesthetic and shapelier physiques.
We’ll never know who would have won between the two, driving further intrigue around this matchup. If they competed today, would Schwarzenegger or Bumstead leave victorious?
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