As one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, Cutler carved a dynasty with four Mr Olympia titles and one of the most consistent physiques of the 2000s. But even before that era of dominance, Jay held a deep admiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the very man who helped shape modern bodybuilding.

Bodybuilding has seen many show-stopping posing routines, but few have the legendary charm of Jay Cutler’s now-famous “Arnold phone call” act. Their relationship has always been built on respect, and Jay has often spoken about how Arnold inspired his early mindset. 

So when the young Cutler decided to pull off a theatrical stunt onstage, he chose the one voice that could electrify the crowd: Arnold’s.

Two days ago, Jay Cutler revisited this unforgettable moment through a video posted on his official Instagram. In the clip, he puts the audience back on the Arnold Classic stage where the act first unfolded. Jay explains how he used a clever audio mix to pretend he was receiving a phone call from Arnold during his posing routine. Kneeling down mid-performance, he “answered” the call in full character, creating one of the most memorable routines in bodybuilding history.

What exactly happened on March 2 2002, at Arnold Classic?

The staged call began with Jay saying, “Good morning. Hey Arnold, it’s Jay Cutler calling. How are you?” To which Arnold’s prerecorded voice replied, “Good.” Jay continued the comedic routine with perfectly timed questions:

“I have a couple questions regarding posing routines at this year’s Arnold Classic. Will there be a time limit because I’d like to pose to size one of Bubblegum? And will I receive extra points for dancing and shaking my butt?”

Cutler revealed that the idea came from experimenting with creative posing music. “I’ve had a lot of crazy routines,” he said in the video. “But the time that I was on the Arnold Classic stage and I pretended Arnold Schwarzenegger called me… he was a huge idol of mine. I had a great guy who did the mixing, and I thought, what kind of crowd response would I get if Arnold calls me and I do his voice?”

The move worked better than he ever imagined. “I was kneeling down, got the call from Arnold, and of course it was on. I was ready to win that show. That was my first victory, actually,” Jay recalled.

Cutler’s reveal not only revisits a classic moment in bodybuilding history but also reminds fans why he remains one of the sport’s most charismatic champions. He has always been creative and always willing to entertain the crowd.

What's your favourite pose from Jay Cutler's peak bodybuilding era? Tell us in the comment section 

Written by

Amanjeet Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu