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Shawn Ray believes Nick Walker has positioned himself for a strong showing at the 2026 Mr. Olympia. However, in an August 6 video, he warned that if the Men\u2019s Open star comes in heavy, he\u2019ll get overwhelmed by the competition.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n After dropping to sixth place at the 2025 Mr. Olympia<\/a>, fans started to doubt Nick Walker<\/a>\u2018s potential as a Men\u2019s Open contender. He restored his momentum at the 2026 Arnold Classic<\/a>, where he pushed Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) to claim a second-place finish. Walker considered the result a win itself since it was the first time he beat Hadi Choopan.\u00a0<\/p>\n He recently qualified for the 2026 Mr. Olympia with a dominant win at the Tampa Pro<\/a>. He displayed improved aesthetics and better waist control<\/a>. Many, including Ray, believe Walker\u2019s approach this season could lead to a better outcome when he returns to Vegas.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t have to work on a lot. He is Branch Warren 2.0. He is Rich Gaspari 2.0 and both of them were number two in the world at the Olympia, and for Gaspari, multiple times against the world\u2019s best bodybuilder at the time. Nick Walker can get there, but he\u2019ll only get there if he\u2019s lean and mean.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In the latest Voice of Bodybuilding<\/em> podcast, Ray warned Walker about the Olympia stage lights. He also urged him to stay lean for the 2026 Mr. Olympia, sharing that a heavier package will likely backfire:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
Shawn Ray Says Nick Walker Will \u2018Get Smoked\u2019 at 2026 Mr. Olympia If He Comes in Heavier \u00a0<\/h2>\n