Erin Banks Opens Up About Brandon Hendrickson | Pittsburgh Pro Recap | Short Shorts

Episode Overview

• Erin Banks discusses his recent win at the Pittsburgh Pro, praising the event's unique steel-beam trophy and controversially declaring it the second-biggest show in the world, surpassing the Arnold Classic.
• The conversation provides a detailed critique of rival Brandon Hendrickson's comeback performance, focusing on his "ring rust," posing choices, and how the high placement of his shorts negatively impacted his physique's appearance.
• Banks opens up about the personal history and ongoing tension between him and Hendrickson, detailing a public fallout and his own private attempts to reconcile.
• The discussion broadens to the wider bodybuilding landscape, with Banks offering blunt assessments of other top competitors and confidently asserting that he now has the best competitive résumé in the Men's Physique division.

Key Concepts

• The Rise of the Pittsburgh Pro: The show is lauded for its unique trophy, high-level production, flawless live stream, and athlete-friendly logistics, leading to the claim that it has surpassed the Arnold Classic in prestige and now attracts a more competitive lineup than any show besides the Olympia.
• Critique of Brandon Hendrickson's Presentation: Analysis of Hendrickson's return to the stage, noting potential "ring rust" from his time off. Specific criticisms included an "amateur" looking back lat spread and the choice to wear his board shorts excessively high, which created a visual illusion of softer, less-defined legs.
• The Banks-Hendrickson Rivalry: An in-depth look at the personal and professional feud between Erin Banks and Brandon Hendrickson, which escalated through public social media exchanges. Banks recounts his side, including a detailed attempt to make peace via a direct message that was read but ignored.
• Competition Dynamics and Judging: The discussion highlights the unpredictable nature of bodybuilding placings, where a competitor's conditioning on a given day can cause them to move up or down significantly against the same lineup.
• Erin Banks's Career Trajectory: Despite his immense success, including Olympia, Arnold Classic, and Pittsburgh Pro titles, Banks clarifies that he is a relative newcomer, having only been a professional for five years.
• Analysis of Other Top Competitors: The conversation includes commentary on the physiques of Open division athletes like Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford, as well as Classic Physique competitors.
• Claiming the Top Résumé: Following his Pittsburgh Pro victory, Banks confidently states his belief that he possesses the best competitive record in the Men's Physique division, citing his collection of wins at the sport's biggest shows.

Quotes

• At 0:49 - "This is probably one of the best trophies that... that I've seen like created... besides the Dubai one is is super, super detailed." - Erin Banks praises the Pittsburgh Pro trophy, ranking it among the best he has ever received.
• At 2:10 - "I can literally sit there and say this could, this will be and... me personally, I do think this is now the second biggest show in the world." - Erin Banks makes the bold claim that the Pittsburgh Pro has surpassed the Arnold Classic in prestige.
• At 2:18 - "Based off of production, live stream, clarity, lighting, the accessibility of the athletes..." - Erin Banks lists his reasons for ranking the Pittsburgh Pro so highly, focusing on the professional execution and athlete-friendly logistics.
• At 23:38 - "If you're on, look at how much you could move up, and if you're off, look at how much you can move back." - One of the hosts explains how a competitor's conditioning on the day of the show can dramatically alter their placing against the same lineup.
• At 24:47 - "It looks amateur." - One of the hosts describes Brandon Hendrickson's new back lat spread pose, feeling it was not executed professionally.
• At 26:07 - "It looks like they're softer because they're not flexed... that to me was throwing me off a little bit because yeah, they take in account the legs as well, but he has the shape to where if he pulled them down, he'd look more complete." - A host explains how wearing shorts too high can create a visual illusion that makes a competitor's legs appear less conditioned, hurting their overall look.
• At 27:51 - "He just need to keep my my name out of his mouth. I know I taste that good, but God." - Host Erin Banks expresses his frustration with Brandon Hendrickson allegedly talking about him.
• At 38:25 - "I am not an OG, ladies and gentlemen... This will be my fifth professional year. This will be my fifth Olympia in October. I have not done this sport more than five years yet." - Erin Banks clarifies that despite his success, he is still relatively new to the sport compared to other veterans.
• At 52:41 - "But to fast forward, all this other craziness started coming out with the rivalry and... now he talking back and forth, I'm talking, and of course, I'm... I don't take shit from nobody." - Erin Banks explains how the public rivalry with Brandon Hendrickson escalated through social media.
• At 53:47 - "I messaged him, which I did. I sent him a long ass message... he read it. Never answered." - Banks details his attempt to reconcile with Hendrickson through a direct message to understand the issue between them, which he says was ignored.
• At 54:41 - "I literally told him, 'I love you. I respect you.' That was it. Walked away. I don't think he expected that." - Banks describes his brief, peaceful interaction with Brandon Hendrickson backstage after his victory, highlighting Hendrickson's surprised reaction.
• At 1:04:58 - "Nick's back double was WHACK." - Erin Banks gives a blunt and critical assessment of fellow bodybuilder Nick Walker's back double biceps pose at the Pittsburgh Pro.
• At 1:19:58 - "Jeremy said in his video, 'Ah, I just want to be Erin one time.' It'll never happen... Don't waste your time. You might as well retire now." - Erin Banks directly responds to a comment made by former champion Jeremy Buendia, confidently dismissing his chances.
• At 1:20:49 - "We talk about résumés... I believe I have the best résumé. Name someone who has all the top shows in the world." - After winning another major title, Banks asserts his belief that his competitive record is the best in the Men's Physique division.

Takeaways

• Pay meticulous attention to every detail of your stage presentation, as seemingly small choices like the height of your board shorts can create negative visual illusions and detract from your physique.
• Consistent stage time is critical to maintaining a polished and professional presentation; long breaks can result in noticeable "ring rust" that affects posing and confidence.
• A competitor's placing can change dramatically between shows, proving that nailing your conditioning on show day is the ultimate key to victory, even against higher-ranked opponents.
• In professional rivalries, attempting to resolve conflicts directly and maturely can provide a sense of personal peace, regardless of how the other party responds.
• A simple, unexpected gesture of respect toward a rival, especially after a win, can be a powerful tool to de-escalate public tension and demonstrate sportsmanship.
• Building a dominant legacy in bodybuilding is achieved by consistently winning the sport's most prestigious and competitive shows.
• Prioritize competing in well-produced, athlete-centric shows, as they are gaining prestige and may offer a better overall experience than some historically bigger events.
• To succeed at the highest level, be prepared for unfiltered, blunt feedback on your physique and posing from your peers.