On Episode 276 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis “The Menace” James was joined by Jose Raymond and Milos Sarcev to dissect all the small print from the 2026 Arnold and, through the present, James questioned Sam Sulek’s suitability for the Traditional Physique division.
Sulek made his Professional debut this yr, within the Traditional Physique class in Columbus, OH, and earned a decent eighth place in his first outing, however the social media star didn’t impress Dennis James it appears. “I used to be somewhat stunned,” shared The Menace. “The man that positioned ninth. How did he get beat? I don’t know,” he said.
Whereas the Males’s Traditional Physique trophy went to Wesley Vissers, Sulek’s eighth-place end put him forward of established stars like Paul Kanu (ninth) and Grasp Niu (tenth). “So, for me, Sam would have been ninth or tenth,” added James.
Dennis James Counsel Sulek Might Thrive within the Open Division
“Sam’s not basic for me,” James continued. “I don’t see a basic physique. I don’t know what everyone’s speaking about.” The Menace then shared some recommendation to the social media star. “My recommendation for Sam can be, take a few years off, put as a lot weight as you’ll be able to placed on, and go into Open and see what the place you at. As a result of for Traditional, that’s not you. Even in case you make weight, that doesn’t imply something.”
James added that Sulek may nonetheless earn money even when he didn’t compete in any respect, due to his YouTube following and sponsorship offers. “You received’t have the ability to dwell off of prize cash,” stated James. And Milos Sarcev agreed that Sulek wants so as to add extra measurement to be a high contender. “He doesn’t have a Traditional physique,” he commented.
The Menace identified that he feels that Sulek is a pleasant man, and his observations are solely from a technical foundation. “I’m judging strictly, physique sensible,” he defined. “He doesn’t have any enterprise in Traditional. He doesn’t have any enterprise wherever proper now, as a result of he was quick tracked, from zero to professional. For those who put him into the nationals, or the USAs, or any professional qualifier in bodybuilding, there’s no means he’s gonna flip professional. We don’t even wish to discuss Traditional. Not even in Europe. There can be no doable means. However I suppose it was such a weak line up on the Arnold beginner final yr.”
All Eyes on the Arnold UK for Sulek’s Subsequent Look
Sulek has an opportunity to show James unsuitable nevertheless, as a result of he’s scheduled to enter the Arnold UK within the Traditional division, happening March 27 to 29, 2026. Little doubt, the outcomes might be much more attention-grabbing after The Menace’s feedback.
To observe the total episode, the place the panel went via the opposite outcomes on the 2026 Arnold U.S., and different topical bodybuilding information, see under.
