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Everyone has the right to their opinion. And I want to be sure to give SSR his flowers. The guy is a bodybuilding legend, and I happen to like and respect him. That said, he\u2019s very outspoken and he\u2019s lived long enough (in life and especially in this industry) to know that his word carries weight. He could use it \u201cresponsibly\u201d like other legends and keep his thoughts to himself, or, he could be vocal. In addition to being a legend for what he did on stage, Shawn is also a legend for what he\u2019s done as a media powerhouse. From key posts at MD to Digital Muscle to the Olympia Weekend, Shawn\u2019s voice carries even more weight. I don\u2019t know if Quinton sought out Shawn\u2019s counsel or if Shawn just offered up some unsolicited advice, but whatever the context may have been, it\u2019s gone viral.<\/p>\n
It hasn\u2019t even been a week since Beastwood\u2019s first pro win. So, what\u2019s Shawn\u2019s motivation? Is he looking to simply rain on the guy\u2019s parade? I don\u2019t think so. I think the older guys just come out with it. I don\u2019t think Ray was trying to be negative, rather, in his purview it might make more sense to wait, improve, and then compete. It\u2019s kind of like getting your pro card. You COULD get your pro card and immediately do a PRO SHOW, but should you? It used to be that when a person won their card at the USA\u2019s or Nationals, they\u2019d take a full year (minimum) before making that very important pro debut. I could see where Shawn is using the same logic. And if that\u2019s the case, there\u2019s nothing negative about it. If anything, he\u2019s looking out for Eriya, and that\u2019s cool. Ultimately, Shawn is just expressing his opinion.<\/p>\n
And here\u2019s my opinion. I disagree with \u201cSugar\u201d Shawn Ray. For me, Quinton didn\u2019t just stumble into a pro show and have a lucky day. I don\u2019t think Shawn is trying to take anything away from the Toronto win, but this wasn\u2019t Beastwood\u2019s first show is all I\u2019m saying. He had something like four runner-up finishes in 2025 alone and the guy just kept coming back. HE JUST KEPT COMING BACK! And he\u2019d come back better. That caught my eye. And it stands to reason that anyone who takes 2nd at a pro show, probably had at least a judge or two who thought he should have won. The way that I look at 2nd place is the way I look at a boxing match with a split decision. I mean, that\u2019s pretty much what it is, right? So, would we be having this conversation if we say two of those 2nd<\/sup>\u2019s last year were wins? In other words, what\u2019s the magic number of wins before you can compete on the best stage on the planet? I think Quinton has more than ample stage experience and would be very much at home on the Olympia state. I also think he\u2019s more than qualified. The 2026 Toronto win is what will get him there, but I believe the runner-up finishes from last year prove the undeniable hunger this athlete has.<\/p>\n Every pro who competes in a pro show, does so because they want to compete at the Olympia. Quinton missed the qualification four times in 2025. That\u2019s brutal. I can\u2019t even imagine what that does to a person psychologically speaking. And when he qualifies \u2013 a bodybuilding legend publicly advises him not to do the O. That\u2019s unexpected. I mean, it\u2019s a lot of things, and unexpected is what came to mind, first. It\u2019s like Fouad Abiad surmised. You can\u2019t ignore Shawn and his words carry weight but imagine poor Quinton having to read that. It\u2019s AWKWARD AF to say the least!<\/p>\n For me, Quinton is part of a crew of tall bodybuilders who are really making their presence felt. This could be what so many of us are expecting to be a changing of the guard. While Derek is talking about his dominance and Hadi trains to regain his title, muscular giants like Samson, Andrew, Krizo and Beastwood could be on their way into the Top 6. That\u2019s a no-brainer for Dauda and Jacked, but imagine having Krizo and Beastwood in the mix as well. Derek and Hadi would look like their children. Four giants and two small-fries.\u00a0What a sight that would be!!<\/p>\n I\u2019m sorry to our vertically challenged readers, but bodybuilding isn\u2019t a short man\u2019s sport. Us tall people just play along with that because we want y\u2019all to feel big, too. It\u2019s the least we could do. But here\u2019s the deal, I don\u2019t care how wide and freaky a half-pint can get, if a tall guy comes equally ready, I think most people will favor the taller guys. Why? Because height equates to stature and power. Maybe as a tall person, I\u2019m biased, but what looks more powerful? Someone short and jacked or someone tall and jacked?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n