With Chris Bumstead eyeing a new bodybuilding division, talks about his potential are gaining momentum, fueling questions about how he’ll fare against the best. In a recent YouTube video shared on October 30, 2024, bodybuilding veteran Shawn Ray discussed Bumstead’s gamble at the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro and his chances against Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda should he win.
The 2024 Mr. Olympia event completely reshaped the top of the Men’s Open division. In the end, Samson Dauda improved his conditioning to claim his first Mr. Olympia title against finalists Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford, becoming the 19th athlete to earn the Sandow trophy.
In Classic Physique, Chris Bumstead made history. He walked away with a sixth victory on the Olympia stage before issuing a retirement announcement. His time away from the sport was short-lived. He couldn’t shake the competitive itch and committed to the EVLS Prague Pro in the Men’s Open division. With the sport changing at a breakneck pace, Shawn Ray gave his two cents on some possible match-ups likely to take place.
Shawn Ray Says Samson Dauda Doesn’t Have ‘the Same Lines’ as Chris Bumstead, Discusses How They’d Do vs Each Other at 2025 Mr. Olympia
Ray believes it’s not beyond the bounds of rationality for Bumstead to stand against Samson Dauda at a future Mr. Olympia contest.
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“The Mr. Olympia like a lot of things has evolved. We’ve seen this title change hands the past five years more than we’ve ever seen it in the history of our sport.
It’s not beyond the realm that if that guy this year was standing up there with Samson that the judges would have to make a tough decision. A hard one because change is hard for people but sometimes change can be the very best thing for the masses and the sport.”
Although he credits Samson Dauda as a ‘freak of nature’, he believes Bumstead has better lines, adding that he’s got a little bit of Frank Zane and Arnold Schwarzenegger in him.
“Bumstead has the potential to show us things we’ve never seen before with added size,” explains Ray. “Samson is a freak of nature. He’s a gorilla.
He’s an animal, he’s going to be big, round, he’s going to be full but Samson for all it’s worth, I don’t think has the same lines as Bumstead when he hits the poses. Bumstead has got a little bit of Frank Zane in him and a little bit of Arnold Schwarzenegger in him.”
Ray believes Dauda and Bumstead could end up taking spots one and two on the 2025 Mr. Olympia stage. He argued that Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford would struggle against a ‘filled out, fully developed’ Chris Bumstead.
“I would love those two, one and two in the show, and I’d tell you, they would be one and two because I don’t believe Hadi and Derek could stand next to Bumstead filled out, fully developed, not restricted on his body weight going into the competition.”
Even though Bumstead will be coming from Classic Physique, Ray warns that size won’t be the be-all and end-all against Martin Fitzwater in Prague. While he respects Bumstead for taking a risk in the Open, he contends that this could ‘blow up’ in his face.
“No one ever said he’s too small. So in his mind if he thinks he’s got to be super big to beat Martin Fitzwater, he can screw the whole thing up,” adds Ray. “Will we see the same detail? No. Will it look a little bit bigger and fuller? Probably. But Fitzwater, he comes in tighter than he was at the Olympia, then he’s going to win the damn contest. This could blow up in Bumstead’s face.”
Ray also advised Nick Walker, suggesting that he ‘figure out who he is’ before attempting another bodybuilding contest.
“It’d be a smart play for him [Pittsburgh Pro]. He’s done it before, competed in the month of May won the New York Pro, showed at the Olympia and did well. I definitely wouldn’t show up in Ohio, it’s too soon, his head is not right. He needs to figure out who he is. He’s still a threat.”
As for Derek Lunsford, Ray mentioned that he should compete at the 2025 Arnold Classic because he’d give Dauda a legitimate challenge.
“He definitely doesn’t have time to bring up the legs. He certainly is striking distance for that Arnold Classic because he’s a littler guy. He’d pose a big challenge for Samson. That would not be a walk-off victory for Samson because Derek has some tangibles on his physique that warranted that Mr. Olympia title,” Ray shared.
Talks surrounding Bumstead’s shocking move to the Men’s Open division have left the bodybuilding community in a state of curiosity. Iain Valliere believes Bumstead has a chance at winning the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro, but if money was on the line, he would back Martin Fitzwater to emerge victorious.
Although veterans of the sport are already sizing up how Bumstead would fare against Samson Dauda on the Olympia stage, he’ll first have to get through the stacked Prague lineup. Don’t miss full coverage of the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro results here at Fitness Volt from November 16-17.
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