The road to the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships runs through Final X, but this year’s event has taken a few unexpected turns before the first whistle even blows.
Final X 2026 is scheduled for Friday, June 19, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where the best men’s and women’s freestyle wrestlers in the United States will battle for spots on Team USA. In a normal year, that sentence would be enough to sell the event. Final X is already one of the most pressure-packed nights in American wrestling: best-of-three series, World Team spots on the line, and no room for excuses.
But 2026 has become more complicated.
Several major matchups have either been moved, delayed, or effectively removed from the live card because of injuries and medical delays. That does not mean Final X is dead. Far from it. There are still huge matches scheduled, major World Team spots on the line, and several true-third matches that matter for National Team status. But fans heading to Newark, watching on FloWrestling, or tracking Team USA’s lineup should know that the card has changed in a big way.
What Is Final X?
Final X is USA Wrestling’s final selection event for the Senior World Team in men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle during non-Olympic years. The format is simple and brutal: the top two athletes in each weight class meet in a best-of-three series. The first wrestler to win two matches earns the right to represent the United States at the Senior World Championships.
For 2026, the stakes are a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team that will compete at the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 through November 1.
Final X is also tied to Beat the Streets New York, with the 2026 event serving as the organization’s annual benefit. That gives the night a unique feel: part elite wrestling showcase, part fundraiser, part celebration of the sport’s growth.
When and Where Is 2026 Final X?
Final X 2026 is set for Friday, June 19, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The posted schedule includes:
12:30 p.m. ET – U.S. National Team true-third matches
2:00 p.m. ET – Best-of-three series, Round 1
5:00 p.m. ET – Best-of-three series, Round 2 and Round 3 if necessary
Fans can watch the event live or on demand through FloWrestling.
The Big Story: Final X Has Been Hit by Late Changes
The biggest storyline entering Final X is not just who is wrestling. It is who is not wrestling in Newark.
As of now, several of the original Final X series have been affected:
The 92 kg men’s freestyle series between Trent Hidlay and Michael Macchiavello was moved to June 13 in Chantilly, Virginia, and already took place before the Newark event.
The 72 kg women’s freestyle series between Alexandria Glaude and Amit Elor will not be wrestled as originally planned because Glaude withdrew due to injury.
Kennedy Blades, Kylie Welker, and Real Woods have all received medical delays for their Final X series, meaning those matches are expected to be pushed to a later date rather than contested in Newark.
That is a lot of star power removed or delayed from one card.
From a fan perspective, it is fair to be frustrated. Final X is marketed around the biggest names and best matchups in American freestyle wrestling. When athletes such as Amit Elor, Kennedy Blades, Kylie Welker, Real Woods, and Trent Hidlay are no longer part of the live best-of-three action in Newark, the card naturally feels different.
From an athlete perspective, it is also understandable. These are not ordinary matches. A World Team spot is at stake, and the entire point of Final X is to send the best possible U.S. representative to the World Championships. If a returning World medalist qualifies for a medical delay under USA Wrestling procedures, the process allows the series to be moved so the spot can still be decided on the mat.
That tension — fan disappointment versus competitive fairness — is what makes this year’s Final X so interesting.
Alexandria Glaude Withdraws: Amit Elor in Line for 72 kg World Team Spot
One of the biggest changes came at 72 kg in women’s freestyle.
Alexandria Glaude, a 2025 Senior World Team member and 2026 U.S. Open champion, was scheduled to face 2024 Olympic gold medalist Amit Elor in a best-of-three series. That would have been one of the most closely watched women’s freestyle matchups of the event.
Instead, Glaude withdrew from Final X due to injury.
That puts Elor in line to become the U.S. World Team representative at 72 kg, but there is still a formal process. Under USA Wrestling’s procedures, Elor must make weight and receive the forfeit on the mat in Newark before officially earning the spot.
For casual fans, that may sound strange. Why show up if the opponent is already out? But in international team selection, procedure matters. Making weight and accepting the forfeit protects the integrity of the selection process and makes the team spot official.
The result is that Elor is expected to represent Team USA at 72 kg, while Glaude retains the No. 2 ranking on the 2026-27 U.S. Senior National Team.
Medical Delays: Kennedy Blades, Kylie Welker, and Real Woods
The other major shakeup involves three returning 2025 Senior World medalists who received medical delays:
Kennedy Blades at 68 kg women’s freestyle
Kylie Welker at 76 kg women’s freestyle
Real Woods at 65 kg men’s freestyle
These are not minor names. Blades, Welker, and Woods are all elite athletes and major draws. Their delayed series remove three of the most intriguing matchups from the Newark card.
Real Woods was scheduled to face Bo Bassett at 65 kg. That was one of the most fascinating storylines on the men’s side: a returning World medalist against one of the most hyped young wrestlers in the country.
Kylie Welker was scheduled to face Dymond Guilford at 76 kg, a powerful women’s freestyle matchup with real World medal implications.
Kennedy Blades was scheduled to face Isabella Mir at 68 kg, another high-profile women’s freestyle series featuring two of the most interesting young stars in the sport.
Instead, those series are expected to happen later.
Why Are Medical Delays Allowed?
Medical delays are not available to everyone. Under USA Wrestling’s World Team Trials procedures, only a returning Senior World medalist who earned an automatic Final X berth can request a medical delay for the Final X wrestle-off.
That distinction matters.
An athlete who wins the U.S. Open or World Team Trials Challenge Tournament generally does not have the same delay option. The medical delay rule exists specifically for returning World medalists who earned automatic berths based on their international podium finish the previous year.
The idea is to balance two priorities:
First, reward returning World medalists for proven international success.
Second, still require the World Team spot to be earned through the Final X process whenever possible.
To receive a delay, the athlete must meet the procedural requirements, including submitting the request before the deadline and providing medical documentation. The delayed wrestle-off must occur before Team USA leaves for the World Team acclimation camp.
That means these series are not canceled in the traditional sense. They are postponed, and the winner of each delayed series will still determine the U.S. World Team representative at that weight.
Trent Hidlay vs. Michael Macchiavello Already Happened
Another change fans should know about: the men’s freestyle 92 kg series between Trent Hidlay and Michael Macchiavello was moved out of Newark and wrestled on June 13 in Chantilly, Virginia.
Hidlay won the series and earned the 92 kg World Team spot.
This was not a medical-delay situation in the same way as the Blades, Welker, and Woods postponements. It was a schedule/location change that pulled another major matchup off the Newark card before Final X week.
For fans buying tickets primarily to see every World Team spot decided in one arena, that is another noticeable hit. But from a Team USA standpoint, the most important thing is that the 92 kg representative has already been decided.
What Matches Are Still Happening at Final X?
Even with the delays and withdrawals, there is still a strong card in Newark.
Some of the biggest scheduled matchups include:
Luke Lilledahl vs. Spencer Lee at 57 kg men’s freestyle
Marcus Blaze vs. Jax Forrest at 61 kg men’s freestyle
Ridge Lovett vs. Zain Retherford at 70 kg men’s freestyle
James Green vs. David Carr at 74 kg men’s freestyle
Levi Haines vs. Chance Marsteller at 79 kg men’s freestyle
Zahid Valencia vs. Kyle Dake at 86 kg men’s freestyle
Kyle Snyder vs. Stephen Buchanan at 97 kg men’s freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Mason Parris at 125 kg men’s freestyle
On the women’s freestyle side, the scheduled series include:
Katie Gomez vs. Morgan Turner at 50 kg
Cristelle Rodriguez vs. Elena Ivaldi at 53 kg
Everest Leydecker vs. Areana Villaescusa at 55 kg
Helen Maroulis vs. Amanda Martinez at 57 kg
Abigail Nette vs. Alexis Janiak at 59 kg
Adaugo Nwachukwu vs. Macey Kilty at 62 kg
Kayla Miracle vs. Jennifer Page at 65 kg
That is still a serious night of wrestling.
The men’s card alone has storylines everywhere. Spencer Lee is trying to make another Senior World Team. Jax Forrest continues his rapid climb. David Carr gets a massive opportunity against James Green. Zahid Valencia and Kyle Dake renew one of the best current rivalries in American freestyle. Kyle Snyder remains one of the most reliable big-match wrestlers the United States has ever produced.
On the women’s side, Helen Maroulis remains must-watch every time she steps on the mat. Kayla Miracle vs. Jennifer Page has World medalist energy. Nwachukwu vs. Kilty is another excellent clash of styles and experience.
So yes, Final X lost some headline matches. But there is still plenty for wrestling fans to care about.
True-Third Matches Also Matter
Final X is not only about the No. 1 spot. The event also includes true-third matches that determine spots on the U.S. Senior National Team.
That matters because National Team placement can affect funding, training opportunities, international competition opportunities, and long-term positioning for future World and Olympic Team cycles.
The true-third matches may not get the same attention as the Final X championship series, but for athletes fighting to stay in the national picture, they are huge.
For fans who follow the sport closely, these matches can also be a preview of future Final X contenders. Today’s true-third winner can become next year’s U.S. Open champion or World Team Trials breakthrough.
What Happens Next?
There are really four different “next steps” after the latest Final X shakeups.
1. Amit Elor Still Has to Complete the Forfeit Procedure
At 72 kg, Amit Elor is expected to become the U.S. World Team representative, but she still must make weight and receive the forfeit on the mat.
Once that happens, the 72 kg spot becomes official.
2. Delayed Series Will Be Rescheduled
The delayed series involving Kennedy Blades, Kylie Welker, and Real Woods are expected to be wrestled later. The dates, locations, and times still need to be finalized.
Those matches still matter just as much as they would have in Newark. The winners will represent the United States at the 2026 Senior World Championships.
3. Newark Still Decides Most of the World Team
Even with the changes, the majority of the U.S. men’s and women’s freestyle World Team will still be determined at Prudential Center on June 19.
For many weights, Final X remains exactly what it was intended to be: the final step between two elite athletes and a World Championships berth.
4. Team USA Turns Toward Astana
After Final X and the delayed wrestle-offs are complete, the focus shifts to the 2026 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
That event will be the biggest international test of the year. The United States will be looking to build on recent success in both men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle, and the Final X winners will carry that responsibility into the fall.
Why This Year’s Final X Still Matters
It is easy to focus on who is missing. Wrestling fans have every right to be disappointed that several elite matchups will not happen in Newark as originally expected.
But Final X 2026 still matters for three big reasons.
First, World Team spots are still on the line. For the athletes competing, this is the moment they have trained for all year.
Second, the depth of American freestyle is on display. Even when several stars are delayed or withdrawn, the remaining field is loaded with NCAA champions, World medalists, Olympians, young phenoms, and veteran contenders.
Third, the delayed matches add another layer to the Team USA story. Final X will not completely end on June 19. The road to Astana will continue through the rescheduled series, keeping fans locked in beyond Newark.
Final Thoughts
Final X 2026 has become one of the strangest versions of the event in recent memory. Between Glaude’s withdrawal, Elor’s pending forfeit procedure, the medical delays for Blades, Welker, and Woods, and the Hidlay-Macchiavello series moving ahead of the main event, the card looks much different than fans expected.
Still, the mission remains the same.
Final X is about deciding who gets to wear the USA singlet at the Senior World Championships. Some of those decisions will happen in Newark. A few will happen later. One has already happened.
For wrestling fans, the best way to look at it is this: June 19 is no longer the entire ending to the 2026 World Team selection process. It is the biggest chapter.
And with names like Spencer Lee, Jax Forrest, Zain Retherford, David Carr, Zahid Valencia, Kyle Dake, Kyle Snyder, Helen Maroulis, Macey Kilty, Kayla Miracle, and Jennifer Page still involved, Final X remains one of the most important wrestling events of the year.
Posts
0 Comments