Nick Walker has put his self-prepping journey to an end.. We’ll get into that in a little bit; however, the net became electric with news that The Mutant had hired Prabh Dhaliwal (often known as @prodbyprob on Instagram) for his 2026 Tampa Pro prep. The move sent shockwaves throughout the fitness industry because it means Nick will compete again, but more importantly, it means he has aspirations of being at the 2026 Olympia. Moreover, it means that his head is still in the game. On the flipside, it also raises some questions. Why didn’t he stay with Guy? Will Prabh have enough time? Will the coaching change bring about redemption of any sort? Does Nick even need to redeem himself? There’s quite a bit to talk about here so let’s dive right into the action.
I have to say that I’m surprised that Nick did not stay with Cisternino. I understand that Guy was never supposed to be the big name coach that Nick wanted. Rather, the scenario was supposed to play out like the 212 legend was simply overlooking his preparations. For some reason, Walker wanted the world to believe that he was doing everything on his own. Maybe it was because he needed that validation or maybe it was because he just didn’t know what the hell he was doing. At the end of the day, a competitor who has always had a coach by his side, shouldn’t break with tradition and then go off on his own. The stakes are just too high. If The Mutant was simply a level one amateur competitor and was just doing this for fun that would be one thing, but when you have won the Arnold Classic and you are in contention of winning the Olympia, you just can’t make drastic moves like that without first planning them out properly. And the fact of the matter is that Guy helped him look better than he has looked at many shows in the past. Even though Nick took second place in Columbus that’s nothing to hold his head down about. He’s number two in the world if you go by the Arnold Classic. If you go by the Olympia he is definitely in the mix to be in the top six. But for a guy like Nick, that’s just not good enough. Just like it wasn’t good enough for Big Ramy. After so many years, people started to write him off, too. It was either win an Olympia or give up for The Egyptian Phenom in 2020. Unfortunately for Nick, he still has yet to win his first Sandow.
Nonetheless, the fact is once it became apparent that the Guy did more than give a second opinion, I think that rattled Nick. Not only do I think he was unhappy with second place at the Arnold Classic, but I think he was also upset at the fact that people saw past his little coaching stunt. He didn’t self-prep. He didn’t really do anything on his own. I don’t think he did his diet on his own, or his protocols on his own, or even his training on his own. And there’s nothing wrong with that. He has been able to win some of the biggest titles in the sport and he has been able to stand amongst very few men, so what’s the problem with him having a coach? I think the problem comes down to accountability.
It’s also why I think Prabh will have his work cut out for him. Because of the fact that Nick is unable to accept his share of the responsibility in anything besides victory. I mean let’s be honest here, he has left coaches and supplement companies at a rate never seen before by any other competitor on his level. And with this upcoming prep going into Tampa – it’s all or nothing. If his new coach doesn’t get him a win, I highly doubt his new coach will be around long enough to prepare him for a second show. But then we go back to familiarity. The same way that a competitor needs to familiarize themselves with a coach, a coach needs to familiarize themselves with a competitor. To hire someone just a few months out from a show like Tampa and expect them to be able to bring you into the contest and win it is one hell of a high stake. Now I don’t know if that is what is required between Nick and his new coach, but I will tell you that Nick doesn’t have the luxury of much trial and error. If he doesn’t win in Tampa that may be the end of the road for him. Unless of course Pittsburgh decides to give him a special invite. I certainly hope that’s not the case because I have never been a fan of that gesture. I don’t like 10th place medals and I don’t like a federation giving somebody a free ticket to the front of the line. You either have what it takes or you don’t. You either qualify or you don’t. But this whole business of special invites smells bad. It’s what gave Derek a path to his first Sandow, as well as Big Ramy in 2020. It’s outrageous.
As I’ve said in a variety of articles and videos, I will say it again here. I don’t believe there is enough time to reiterate this point. I don’t think Nick has to redeem himself. When you take runner-up at the second most prestigious bodybuilding show on the planet, you are amongst the best of the best. Even if he didn’t compete again in 2026, he could still hold his head up high for that massive accomplishment. And it’s not just the placing, he looked phenomenal. He looked great, he posed great, he made the audience lose their mind. That is a major home run in and of itself. But I get it, everybody that has a pro card wants to compete on the Olympia stage. That’s why they call it the Super Bowl of Bodybuilding. But the problem with Nick is that he made a lot of people feel like he was done for the year. He didn’t do Pittsburgh, he didn’t do New York, he didn’t do the easier shows that we have talked about here at IronMag. He just basically went M.I.A.. And now it’s Tampa or bust! So again, not the brightest bulb in the pack. Believe me, I don’t take any joy seeing Nick like this, but I have always wondered about his vision. What is he trying to do? Does he know how to get there? How many coaches and supplement sponsors is he going to go through before he gets to that coveted winner’s circle in Las Vegas Nevada??
Listen, I don’t like Nick’s physique and I don’t like mass monsters. but I give the man his credit. He’s one of the most famous bodybuilders on the planet. He has been able to grow the sport despite not having its top title. The fans want to see him compete and they want to see him do well. I certainly don’t wish him anything bad. I just would like him to be more consistent and not fall victim to his emotions. That last line really applies to me, as well. I am a victim of my emotions. I don’t necessarily think Nick is doing anything wrong, but maybe get a little thicker-skinned. I just think he has onion thin skin and has a very big ego. He also has a lot of pressure on his shoulders and a lot of fans to keep happy. Then take into account the bodybuilding media has a voracious appetite for anything related to him. He’s a superstar. And unfortunately haters come with the dinner. You can’t be a superstar, especially in the fitness industry, and not have haters. I don’t particularly like that he blocks critics or that he blocks media people – like myself – but at the end of the day, to each their own. I’m still going to know what he’s up to and I’m still going to report on it because I’m a journalist in the fitness industry. I don’t get a choice in the matter. Not only that, but I love to write about the sport and I love to write about its best champions. Sometimes the superstars block the writers for being too critical or too objective. Que sera sera.
So there’s a lot going on. Nick Walker is going to compete again in 2026. With any luck he will qualify for the Olympia, but it’s not going to be a cakewalk. And if he doesn’t qualify in Tampa, there may not be anywhere else for him to go. I just hope the guy doesn’t have a nervous breakdown. I want to see him be pragmatic. If he looks his best and places 2nd or 3rd, then he needs to process that and sit out the rest of the year. If he wins in Tampa, then he needs to hunker down with his new coach and get to work. There really isn’t very much time for a coach to really familiarize themselves with Nick’s physique to the point of winning an Olympia. It’s just a very high stakes kind of situation and it didn’t have to be this way.
At the risk of getting blowback from Nick and his fans, I have to say what no one else will want to – NICK CREATED THIS HIGH STAKES situation. There was no reason for him to watch half a dozen shows come and go before his eyes. He was so underground, we even wrote a few articles trying to figure out his next moves. Now, all of a sudden he wants to win a qualification at a major show like Tampa? Ok, well, I hope it works for him, but I DREAD to see what happens if he comes up short.
Do you think Nick Walker will win in Tampa? Do you think he and his new coach will have enough time to prepare after Tampa for the O? Those are two pretty loaded questions right there. As always, I leave the last word for you, the loyal readers of IronMag. I look forward to reading your feedback in the comments. Please be sure to copy and paste the link to this article on all your social media feeds. It’s bound to generate lively conversation.
Author Bio:
Christian I. Duque is the owner of StrengthAddicts.com, a physique and strength website founded in 2008. He has worked for a number of bodybuilding websites, including RX Muscle and Muscular Development. Christian has written nearly 1,000 published articles for IronMag Blog, as well as articles for StrengthAddicts, RX Muscle, and others. By day, he is also a licensed attorney practicing in the areas of family law, immigration, and criminal defense.
