Speculation is brewing over who will jump into the 2026 Arnold Classic. In a recent YouTube video on Oct. 26, 2025, Bob Cicherillo and Shawn Ray made their case for why Samson Dauda and Nick Walker should wait before competing again.

The Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, NV, delivered stunning upsets and shocking defeats. Although Samson Dauda stormed the stage as the reigning champion, pursuing his all-time best conditioning backfired. His back thickness suffered, and his legs appeared down in size , which bodybuilding veterans noticed in the show’s aftermath. As a result, “The Nigerian Lion” was bumped off the podium in fourth place.

The night did not go according to plan for favorite Nick Walker either. He mistimed his peak and lacked the sharpness that was on display when he battled

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