Aberdeen, Scotland — Friday, October 31, 2025 (11:00 AM GMT). The Rogue Invitational Strongman division opened with the most primal statement in strength sports: a heavy pull from the floor. Event 1 was the Wagon Wheel Axle Deadlift, a max-out format where athletes got three attempts to establish their heaviest successful lift. No gaming the clock, no distance to cover—just you, steel, and gravity.
Wagon wheels raise the bar to roughly 18 inches, shifting leverage, loading the posterior chain differently than a standard height pull, and inviting record-range numbers. Rogue’s own schedule listed the format; independent trackers tabbed it as an 18-inch deadlift, raw with straps—a classic Rogue opener and a crowd-pleaser.
The Atmosphere
Lights up. Plates clatter. The axle bowes ever so slightly at lockout. The arena hears every cue from chalk clap to down command. It’s the kind of start that tells you exactly what weekend you’re in for: big lifts first, everything else after.
About the Rules & Strategy
Format: 3 attempts, heaviest good lift counts.
Implements: Axle bar with wagon wheels (elevated pull ≈ 18”).
Implication: Elevated pulls favor top-end lockout power. Expect lifters to open conservatively, jump big on attempt two, and either secure points or swing for the fences on attempt three.
The Thor Chapter—What Did (and Didn’t) Happen
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson—“Thor”—was the name on everyone’s lips all week. Many fans hoped to see him step onto the floor and chase a massive pull in Event 1. Reality check: Thor officially withdrew from the 2025 Rogue Invitational days before the contest, citing a right-side shoulder / possible nerve issue that compromised his pressing—critical given the weekend’s overhead work. He made the call to step back from competition rather than participate at less than full capacity.
Even so, Thor confirmed he’d still travel to Scotland, keeping his presence in Aberdeen and the buzz around heavyweight deadlifting very much alive. His shadow loomed over the platform—the current era’s deadlift benchmark—while others took their shots on the wagon wheels.
Why that matters: Opening with a max deadlift immediately reframes the day through Thor’s legacy—even in absentia. When the first bar leaves the floor in Event 1, every pull is compared to the outer edges of what we know is possible.
Why Rogue Starts Here
Rogue could have opened with a carry or medley, but the decision to begin with a max-style deadlift sets the tone: this is a celebration of pure force production. The crowd gets marquee numbers early, athletes get an adrenaline spike, and the leaderboard gets real separation before the weekend’s technical events arrive.
Schedule note: Strongman Event 1 ran 11:00 AM GMT; Strongwoman tackled the same implement at 10:00 AM GMT—a mirror-start that made the entire morning a deadlift fan’s dream.
What’s Next on the Card
Day 1 stacked more heavy hitters after the opener—Viking Press and the Yoke Escalator—but it was the wagon wheels that set the competitive cadence and the crowd volume for everything that followed. (If you’re tracking the full slate, Rogue’s public schedule lists the event blocks and times.)
