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You probably know her as Tyra Mae Steele if you're a fan of WWE NXT or the Evolve brand. But if you rewind the clock just a few years to the Tokyo 2020 Games, the world knew her by a different name: Tamyra Mensah-Stock.
The Tyra Mae Steele Olympics connection is one of the most fascinating transitions in modern sports history. We aren't just talking about a college athlete trying their hand at "the business." We are talking about a woman who reached the absolute pinnacle of amateur wrestling, winning gold for Team USA, and then decided that being the best in the world at her craft was—believe it or not—kinda boring.
The Historic Gold in Tokyo
When Tamyra Mensah-Stock (now Tyra Mae Steele) stepped onto the mat in Tokyo, she wasn't just wrestling for herself. She was carrying the weight of history. On August 3, 2021, she faced off against Nigeria's Blessing Oborududu in the 68kg freestyle final.
She won 4–1.
With that whistle, she became the first Black woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling. Honestly, the post-match interview went more viral than the match itself. Her pure, unadulterated joy—decked out in a USA flag and shouting about how much she loved her country and how "God did it"—made her an instant household name.
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But here is the thing people forget. The road to the Tyra Mae Steele Olympics gold was paved with a lot of "almosts."
- She actually won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
- But the U.S. hadn't qualified the weight class for Rio.
- So, she went to the 2016 Olympics... as a training partner.
Imagine being the best in your country and having to sit in the stands watching people you can beat compete for medals. That kind of frustration either breaks you or turns you into a monster. It turned Tamyra into a monster. By the time 2021 rolled around, she was basically untouchable.
Why She Walked Away From Amateur Wrestling
Success has a weird way of messing with your head. After Tokyo, Tamyra went on to win another World Championship in 2022. She was at the top of the mountain. And then, she realized she didn't like the view anymore.
In interviews since joining WWE, she’s been pretty blunt about it. She said the Olympic cycle started to feel like a "chore." When you’re so good that matches overseas feel "easy," the competitive fire starts to flicker out. She's a self-described "sadistic" fighter—she wants the struggle. She wants the lights.
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The WWE Leap
In May 2023, she shocked the amateur wrestling world by signing with WWE. She wasn't the first gold medalist to do it (shoutout to Kurt Angle and Gable Steveson), but she was the first female Olympic gold medalist to make the jump.
She didn't keep her real name, though. She became Tyra Mae Steele.
Life as Tyra Mae Steele in 2026
Fast forward to today. The transition hasn't been a walk in the park. Pro wrestling is a different beast entirely. You have to learn "the dance." You have to cut promos. You have to find a character that isn't just "I'm a good athlete."
Steele has been putting in the work at the WWE Performance Center. She even won the first season of a reality competition called "WWE LFG" (Legends & Future Greats), where she was mentored by none other than The Undertaker. That’s a pretty decent co-sign if you ask me.
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She’s recently moved to the Evolve brand to get more seasoning, but her appearances on NXT have shown that the "Olympic" version of her hasn't disappeared. She still hits fireman's carries that look like they'd break a normal person's ribs.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think because she has a gold medal, she should be champion on day one. That’s not how it works.
- The Learning Curve: Amateur wrestling is about "down and out." Pro wrestling is about "up and out."
- The Personality: In the Olympics, you win and then you cry or cheer. In WWE, you have to talk for ten minutes while people boo you.
- The Schedule: The Olympics is once every four years. WWE is every single week.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're following the Tyra Mae Steele Olympics story because you're an aspiring athlete or just a die-hard fan, there are a few things you can actually learn from her path:
- Pivot when you’re bored. Don't stay in a career just because you're good at it. If the passion is gone, find a new "ring" to fight in.
- Respect the craft. Even a gold medalist starts at the bottom of the roster in a new industry. Steele spent over a year training before her TV debut.
- Use your "hook." Tyra frequently carries her gold medal (or a replica) to the ring. She knows her history is her greatest marketing tool.
Keep an eye on the NXT and Evolve results over the next few months. Steele is currently refining her "The Real Deal" persona, and the word backstage is that her technical base is already miles ahead of most of the roster. She isn't just an "Olympic athlete" anymore; she's becoming a pro wrestler.
If you want to see her actual Olympic matches, search for her 2021 final against Oborududu. It’s a masterclass in hand-fighting and level changes that explains exactly why WWE wanted her so badly.
Next steps for you: Check out the latest NXT Level Up replays to see how her "amateur" style is evolving into a sports entertainment powerhouse.