You can believe what you want.
So he was into powerlifting 20 years ago and doing very well.
On the day he squated 650, he wasn't doing 700.....in fact, he likely could not have done 660.
Sometimes, you'll have to explain how you go up 25% in your powerlifts by staying away from any legit P/Ling for 20 years.......
He's a bodybuilder/fitness model/bullshit artist, who was a solid powerlifter 2 decades ago.
The thing that most folks are missing, is that Powerlifting isn't Weightlifting where you're an old man at 30, or bodybuilding where you're half out at 35. Most raw and single ply records are from guys in their 30's. There are even raw records for the #242 class 50+ Masters that are 600+. Mike was 24 when he made the #650, now he's had 19 years to improve on that #650. Even if he gained for a few years, stayed even for a few years or even digressed a few pounds, adding 50lbs to a squat in 19 years isn't magical for a young guy. It seems totally reasonable that he could gut out a 700ish squat. That is what I'm arguing.
We can't judge the #800 because there is no #800 on the tape, it's misleading. All we see is Mike walking up to a bar loaded in the 800's. Maybe he unracks it decides it's too much and dumps it, maybe he 1/4 squats it, maybe he never even took it..... Maybe the guys said "let just kid around, and say you'll try #800, go stand over there by the bar".
We just don't know till we see the #800. Personally I think he'll unrack it, 1/4 squat it, and decide not to try it. If he does full squat the 8, then we can start questioning it hard.
