Despite the fanfare circling Nick Walker, Shawn Ray doesn’t believe he’ll find success onstage this weekend. In an Olympia TV interview on May 7, 2025, Ray predicted Walker won’t make it to the 2025 Mr. Olympia and argued that he won’t win the upcoming Pittsburgh Pro, held from May 10-11.
Nick Walker has faced more obstacles than ever before throughout his bodybuilding career. In 2023, he bowed out of the Mr. Olympia after sustaining a major hamstring and calf injury. While he managed to heal up quickly and win the 2024 New York Pro, trouble followed him. He was unable to compete at the Mr. Olympia last year after admitting that his body wouldn’t respond to the demands of prep.
Walker plans to qualify for the Mr. Olympia by winning the Pittsburgh Pro. Adding to the stakes, the event is set to award $100,000 to its champion. The lineup is stacked with favorites like Derek Lunsford and Martin Fitzwater in the mix.
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Shawn Ray Predicts Nick Walker Won’t Be In the 2025 Mr. Olympia, Says He’s Going to Struggle in Pittsburgh
During the recent YouTube video, Ray gave his honest assessment of Walker and believes his structure could get in the way of success onstage this season.
“I’ve been watching Nick carefully on his Instagram, where he’s back to normal posting his progress pics. Nick looks great for Nick. I just think there’s some structural advantages and gifts that Martin Fitzwater has over Nick.
Nick brings the freak wild factor, but I think like at the Mr. Olympia, Martin showed that he may be the next big thing.”
Ray posited the scenario that Walker might have to compete in New York next. However, Ray suggested that Fitzwater would likely get the better of him in both contests.
“I think what’s going to happen is Fitzwater is going to beat him here in Pittsburgh, and we’re going to see that rubber match in New York the following week, and that’s where the rubber will hit the road, and actually, I would have Fitzwater going two-for-two against Nick. Nick is going to struggle to get to that Olympia. That’s my prediction based on what I’ve seen.”
“It will be Fitzwater and Nick Walker for that New York title with Fitzwater having more to prove trying to take it away from Nick.
Ray predicted Walker won’t make it to the Mr. Olympia, suggesting that he’ll run out of gas before October comes around.
“If he does beat Nick in Pittsburgh and beats Nick in New York, I predict Nick won’t be in the Mr. Olympia. He may qualify, but that would be his third show and the Olympia would be his fourth show. I think he’d run out of gas by the time October comes and he’d be mentally defeated.”
Ray even said that if Walker does manage to qualify at a later competition, he still wouldn’t make it to the Mr. Olympia.
“Nick has a lot to prove by trying to regain his New York Pro title, but he’s not going to qualify for the Olympia this weekend,” explains Shawn Ray. “If he wins some show like California or Toronto or wherever the heck he qualifies, it’s another month on a diet, and he struggled to get to the Olympia last year, ran out of gas. And that was only from May to October.”
Bob Cicherillo chimed in and said if Fitzwater comes in 10-15% better than the Olympia, Lunsford won’t be safe in Pittsburgh either.
“Can he [Martin Fitzwater] stand next to Derek and be competitive, keep in mind, he was fourth place at the Olympia. If he comes in 10-15% improved in here, does that give him any leeway at the Olympia to try to get ahead of Hadi, Samson, or Derek, however they should come in,” he shared.
Predictions for the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro are rolling in. Guy Cisternino, a retired 212 contender, believes Walker will win the competition. Meanwhile, IFBB Pro Iain Valliere tapped Derek Lunsford to win the event before heading to the Olympia.
The Pittsburgh Pro lineup is one of the strongest of the season. Fitness Volt will have live coverage of the action this weekend, don’t miss it!
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Ask Shawn how many Mr. O’s his spoiled rich ass won. He makes me sick. He never had enough to win. If you ever won the big one, then you maybe can talk trash. I’m so sick of Shawn