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Much misunderstood: Comeback Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler? Ronnie Coleman challenged Jay Cutler to both compete in the Mr. Olympia in 2016!
Jay Cutler Challenged
An Ice bucket challenge would have been easier, but on November 27 last year, Ronnie caused quite a sensation with a post on Instagram. The 8-time Mr. Olympia, who turned 50 last year and had two hips replaced, challenged four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler to step onto the Olympia stage together one more time in 2016.
The rivalry between Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler can easily be called legendary. They stood together on the Olympia stage a whopping 8 times. Ronnie Coleman won the first 6 years and Jay was second four times. Eventually, Jay took over in 2006 and won the title four times.
While we almost saw Phil Heath and Kai Greene fight on stage last year, Ronnie and Jay always managed to make it a party on stage and often joked around with each other.
PR Stunt or Serious?
When I interviewed Jay Cutler last year, I asked if he had formally said goodbye to the stage considering he hadn’t competed since his sixth place in 2013. At the time, he was considering the possibility of competing again, although it seemed to be said more for commercial reasons. As long as you are still active, you are more interesting to sponsors. Although Jay has already earned quite a few millions with bodybuilding and his businesses, it never hurts to bring in even more with a few words.
For Ronnie, however, it’s somewhat different. He also has his affairs in order and still earns from his status with his supplement line. No one expected such a call from Ronnie. Not only did he turn 50 last year, but also both his hips were replaced. Nevertheless, this didn’t seem like a marketing stunt but a call from a top athlete who feels that urge for competition again. Especially when he reiterated this call yesterday via Instagram.
Will Jay Pick Up the Gauntlet?
So far, I’m not aware of any reaction from Jay. Come on Jay, you’re being challenged by a fifty-year-old man with two artificial hips!
“I’m washed up too, but not as washed up as Jay”
Ronnie Coleman
If Ronnie can manage to stand on stage at the age of 52 under those circumstances, then the ten years younger Jay, who hasn’t even formally retired from the sport, of course can’t be left behind.
Ronnie or Jay for Mr. Olympia 2016?
If it really were to happen, in the end it doesn’t matter how they place, and it’s wise to temper expectations. Just like when Sergio Oliva made a final comeback to the Olympia stage in 1984, it’s mainly a chance for many to personally experience once what they had only read about or seen videos of until then. He finished eighth, but that didn’t make the party any less for the spectators. They got to see the “myth” in action one more time. There are thousands of young bodybuilding fans who have seen all of Coleman’s DVDs but were too late to see him live in action. To see him do this together with Jay would be absolutely fantastic.
