People say why make a big deal about one guy kicking another man’s suitcase? it wasn’t like he kicked it with the intention of destroying its contents. It was basically an immature reaction to an otherwise harmless situation, right? I mean it’s not like Nick Walker has any animosity towards Derek Lunsford, right? I mean these are two of the best competitors in the world. How many individuals can say that they actually make a living from the sport of bodybuilding? It’s very uncommon.
Most bodybuilders have to work long hours as personal trainers, bodyguards, or maybe they work in some sort of a corporate job. The gym is their sanctuary; it’s their escape. The idea of making a living, and a good living at that, by lifting weights and promoting yourself as a muscular person is almost unheard of. In fact, the big supplement contracts are largely a thing of the past. They still are a thing with top competitors (Top 10 guys), but the days of big paychecks are all but over. There’s also no more magazines. Back in the day if you were a Top 50 bodybuilder you could potentially make a living simply by signing that you would only work with one magazine. Those exclusivity deals were huge. Some guys got duped into signing for a couple of days after winning a major contest, but other guys knew how to strike deals that put money in their pocket for the longrun. There was a time when being a bodybuilder meant you could make a living – those days are long gone. So you have Nick Walker and you have Derek Lunsford making a fantastic livings, competing on the biggest stages in the world, and enjoying all of the fringe benefits of having armies of fans. What do they have to be upset about? Surely there’s no bad blood here, right? Well, let’s delve into it a little bit further.
There is a categorical difference between Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford. Nick Walker has never won the Olympia. Derek Miller has. Nick Walker is the talk of the town as a result of winning the Olympia, but he didn’t just win it in open bodybuilding, he also won it in The 212. He is the only Olympia champion that has been able to accomplish that. And for these reasons he is considered the favorite to win the Olympia. Or at least the favorite number one contender.
Samson Dauda has earned the respect of bodybuilding fans and officials throughout the world for his tireless work ethic and his pursuit of promoting the sport. This is what every Mr. Olympia should have been doing all along. We’ve had some Mr. Olympias totally ignore this aspect of being the best in the world. Both Samson and Derek championed this cause. Hadi was a hermit during his reign, much like his predecessor, Big Ramy. Nick Walker would undeniably work hard in promoting the Olympia title and growing bodybuilding; however, he can’t hold a candle to Dauda at 100% and he’ll have a very hard time to besting Derek. Both Dauda and Lunsford generated tremendous good will for the sport.
And goodwill is very important because goodwill and good sportsmanship are part and parcel of what makes this sport everything that it is. There is a school of thought that says that drama sells. They believe that tension and negativity translate into more hits and more retention on websites and message boards. And they may have a point, but that’s not the kind of vibe that is going to grow the sport. It’s a very self-destructive approach to raising awareness about what is otherwise known as a niche sport. There are purists that love the niche concept because it keeps outsiders away, but I would argue that the vast majority of bodybuilding fans want to see the sport grow as much as possible. Part of that growth translates into the ability to have more shows and creates more earning possibilities. It’s also a sign of recognition. You have so many competitors who work tirelessly and endure all sorts of sacrifices to get to that perfect physique. And getting a $5 Coke can trophy is hardly the kind of validation they’re looking for. So the more the sport grows, the more opportunities there are. And the more opportunities that are available will ensure that more great bodybuilders will emerge from all over the world. But what’s going on between Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford is anything but positive. These guys legitimately do not like each other and only time will tell what will happen at the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
If after everything that we have seen in 2025 Nick Walker still does not win the Olympia and Derek Lunsford does – shit is going to hit the fan. I think that’s all but a foregone conclusion at this point. I think the kick of the bag at the airport is just the tip of the iceberg. I think there’s a lot of anger here, but I don’t think that that anger is a two-way street. I think that Derek Lunsford is indifferent and has been different for the longest. He defeated Nick in Pittsburgh and he is really not all that concerned about him at the Olympia. I think what is happening is that Nick Walker is getting on Derek’s radar not because of his physique but because of his mouth and because of his attitude. And I think that we are coming to a point where Derek is starting to react. He has never been known as a hothead but everybody has their limit. Nick has been adamantly trying to push Lunsford’s buttons – especially since the Pittsburgh defeat. I he’s finally getting under Derek’s skin. In fact, we may see some fireworks at the press conference or maybe even before that. We may see some exchange of words at the weigh-ins. Again, this is not the kind of vibe that the sport should be trying to put forward. This is not the place we want to take this. We cannot have another 2014 at the Olympia.
The irony is that if Nick were to win the 2025 Olympia he would expect Derek to come and show him love. He would expect Derek to be his loudest supporter. I think that when you are in a position like Nick finds himself in, where on the one hand everybody wants him to win, but on the other hand a lot of people simply wrote him off, Walker has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Derek, on the other hand, has already won an Olympia and I’m sure would like to win another one, but the pressure is not there. Derek is already in the Olympia Club. It doesn’t matter if you win one or eight, he is still a Mr. Olympia.
Dexter Jackson is as much a Mr. Olympia as Ronnie Coleman. Nobody sees a difference. This is why so many guys want to be part of this exclusive club because it all but guarantees financial stability and a place in the sport forever. No other title can afford an athlete that sense of longevity. I honestly think that if Nick does not win it this year, he may absolutely lose it. If Samson wins, if Hadi wins, if Martin wins, things are not going to be good with Nick. But if Derek wins it, Nick is going to absolutely lose his shit. I can almost guarantee it.
And if he loses his shit it’s not going to be just an issue reserved for the stage. It’s not going to be an issue reserved for the backstage or the champions breakfast, either. It’s going to become this thing where he’s going to go on all the podcasts and he’s going to start whining about politics, drugs, judging, the price of rice in China and the current state of the ozone layer. Everything is going to come into his line of fire. He’s going to attack everyone and everything. Why? Because if he does not win the Olympia this time, in 2025, he will more than likely never win it. This is his year. It’s make or break for Nick Walker. I know it, you know it, and I can but guarantee you he knows it. It’s sad but that is the case. He has created this whole scenario all of his own. It’s very similar to when Derek Lunsford was talking about coming to the 212 Olympia Showdown and winning it his first year. He had a very amazing pro debut and from there the pressure started mounting. He really did a number on himself.
A great bodybuilder by the name of Jose Raymond pointed out that Derek did not need to put all that pressure on himself. And when he came up short, I was there. I saw Derek eating green beans out of a plastic container, looking deflated, feeling dejected and totally demoralized. I think he learned a great deal from that. I think that he realized the bigger picture wasn’t about putting pressure on himself but doing the best that he could. Unfortunately Nick Walker has not really grasped this concept just yet. Because through his actions, his attitude, and even this almost seemingly innocuous kick of Derek’s luggage at the airport, Nick showed his hand. Everybody is trying to do their best, but I feel that Nick Walker is running himself ragged because of all the pressure that he has put on his own shoulders. That is why I say 2025 is make or break for Walker. If Nick loses, he’s not going to lose honorably. If Walker loses to Lunsford, he’s more than likely going to lose his mind and go batshit crazy on the sport. That’s my personal take.
As always, I like to wrap-up these articles up by asking, you, the readers of StrengthAddicts.com what you think? I look forward to reading your feedback in the comments. Please copy and paste a link to this article on all your social media feeds. It’s going to generate lively conversation.
