The Item: Career Updates, Special Appearances, Andrew Oye's IFBB Pro Athletes Roundup
The Scoop: Recently Reported: IFBB Pro League athletes had career updates or made recent guest appearances at various bodybuilding, physique and fitness events. The latest "Andrew Oye's Pro-Muscle Report" Pro Athletes Roundup includes the current IFBB king, a self-proclaimed king, and a brawler in the wrestling ring who also battles against opponents on the bodybuilding stage.
The "So What?": Over the weekend, reigning 2-time Mr. Olympia IFBB Pro Phil Heath and 4-time Mr. Olympia IFBB Pro Jay Cutler were the headlining guest posers at the NPC Natural Ohio Bodybuilding Championships in Lakewood, where Heath also hosted a training seminar. IFBB Pro Ed Nunn guest-posed at the NPC Kalamazoo Bodybuilding Championships in Michigan. At the NPC Fresno Classic Bodybuilding Championships in California, hometown favorite, retired IFBB Pro Flex Wheeler (a.k.a. "The Sultan of Symmetry") was an honored guest. Passing the torch to the next generation, Ken "Flex" Wheeler -- an IFBB Hall of Famer, 7-time Olympia contender and 4-time Arnold Classic Champion -- presented the award to the event's Overall Winner Brian Cage -- a popular pro wrestler on the independent professional wrestling circuit who once was being groomed for the WWE and is also pursuing competitive bodybuilding.
IFBB Pro Bill Wilmore and IFBB Pro Lloyd Dollar were the guest-posing pros at the Finals for the NPC Southeast Classic Championships in Hollywood, Florida. IFBB Pro Dennis Wolf hit the Top de Colmar Bodybuilding Challenge in France. The NPC New York Metropolitan Bodybuilding Championships were held as a tribute to its departed promoter, former co-host of FOX Sports Net's "MuscleSport USA" (with IFBB Pro Tom Terwlliger) and NPC Vice Chairman Steve Stone (1956-2008). IFBB Pro King Kamali (a.k.a. Shahriar Kamali) made a guest appearance at the NPC Lone Star Classic Championships in Dallas, Texas.
Andrew Oye's Verdict: With all eyes on the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series, this roundup included an interesting mix of athletes dominating the spotlight (i.e, Heath and Cutler) and others absent from the spotlight for a while. Known for his posing style back in his heyday, King Kamali earned his IFBB Pro card by wining the Heavyweight Class at the 1999 NPC National Bodybuilding Championships (where IFBB Pro Aaron Maddron won the Super-Heavyweight class and Overall title). He last competed at the 2008 Ironman Pro Invitational (10th place), and he made two appearances on the Mr. Olympia stage at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend (placing 10th in 2001 and 17th in 2002). Kamali's best pro showings were a 3rd place finish at the 2001 Ironman Pro and a 4th place finish at the Arnold Sports Festival's 2001 IFBB Pro Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Bodybuilding Championships (won by 8-time Mr. Olympia IFBB Pro Ronnie Coleman).
On a side note: I saw some wrestling performance footage on Brian Cage (a.k.a. Brian Christopher Button)
. With his physique, skills and charisma, it appears this kid has a bright future in some aspect of sports, entertainment, or both.
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