On Episode 276 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis “The Menace” James was joined by Jose Raymond and Milos Sarcev to dissect all the main points from the 2026 Arnold and, throughout the present, James questioned Sam Sulek’s suitability for the Basic Physique division.
Sulek made his Professional debut this 12 months, within the Basic Physique class in Columbus, OH, and earned a good eighth place in his first outing, however the social media star didn’t impress Dennis James it appears. “I used to be just a little shocked,” shared The Menace. “The man that positioned ninth. How did he get beat? I don’t know,” he acknowledged.
Whereas the Males’s Basic Physique trophy went to Wesley Vissers, Sulek’s eighth-place end put him forward of established stars like Paul Kanu (ninth) and Hold 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 all people’s speaking about.” The Menace then shared some recommendation to the social media star. “My recommendation for Sam could be, take a few years off, put as a lot weight as you may placed on, and go into Open and see what the place you at. As a result of for Basic, that’s not you. Even in case you make weight, that doesn’t imply something.”
James added that Sulek may nonetheless generate profits even when he didn’t compete in any respect, due to his YouTube following and sponsorship offers. “You received’t be capable of reside off of prize cash,” mentioned James. And Milos Sarcev agreed that Sulek wants so as to add extra measurement to be a prime contender. “He doesn’t have a Basic 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 Basic. He doesn’t have any enterprise anyplace proper now, as a result of he was quick tracked, from zero to professional. Should you put him into the nationals, or the USAs, or any professional qualifier in bodybuilding, there’s no approach he’s gonna flip professional. We don’t even wish to discuss Basic. Not even in Europe. There could be no attainable approach. However I suppose it was such a weak line up on the Arnold beginner final 12 months.”
All Eyes on the Arnold UK for Sulek’s Subsequent Look
Sulek has an opportunity to show James fallacious nevertheless, as a result of he’s scheduled to enter the Arnold UK within the Basic division, going down March 27 to 29, 2026. Little doubt, the outcomes will likely be much more attention-grabbing after The Menace’s feedback.
To look at the complete episode, the place the panel went via the opposite outcomes on the 2026 Arnold U.S., and different topical bodybuilding information, see beneath.
