Comeback Stories Highlight Final X 2026

The 2026 Senior World Team is almost fully intact after a wild day at Final X in Newark, New Jersey.  The 2026 version of Final X included six three-match series’ in the 15 that were contested on the mat. Final X was also a time capsule of sorts. On one hand, you had the new generation of stars announce themselves to the American wrestling community. 19-year-old Marcus Blaze knocked off fellow collegiate freshman Jax Forrest for the world team spot at 61 kg. In women’s freestyle, the squad will feature a pair of 18-year-old high school seniors, Morgan Turner (50 kg) and Everest Leydecker.

While the new kids stated their claim as the future of USA Wrestling, a pair of active legends continued to write and rewrite their place in the US record books. Kyle Snyder made the World/Olympic team for a 12th straight year at 97 kgs - but not without a scare in the second match of his three-match series with Stephen Buchanan. Fellow Olympic gold medalist, Helen Maroulis, made her 16th World/Olympic team. Her first came in 2008.

This Senior world team will also be remembered for the comebacks. Zain Retherford and James Green are highly decorated veterans who have either implicitly or explicitly retired from competition. Each held off significantly younger competitors to give the world championships another shot. In the main event of the event, Kyle Dake downed Zahid Valencia in three matches, during a clash of past world champions. Just a year ago, Valencia shocked Dake to make the world team. Valencia went on to win a world title without surrendering a point. Now, Dake will get his eighth shot at the World/Olympic level.

Perhaps the biggest return of the bunch came from 2024 Olympic gold medalist Amit Elor. Elor won the World Team Trials only three months removed from having her first child. Elor was not in action on Friday as her opponent, Alex Glaude, suffered a significant knee injury at the US Open and was unable to compete.

Below are the full results from each round at Final X 2026.

Round One

Men’s Freestyle

57 kg - Spencer Lee over Luke Lilledahl (7-1)

61 kg - Marcus Blaze over Jax Forrest (2-2)

70 kg - Zain Retherford over Ridge Lovett (2-1)

74 kg - James Green over David Carr (6-3)

79 kg - Levi Haines over Chance Marsteller (6-1)

86 kg - Zahid Valencia over Kyle Dake (3-2)

97 kg - Kyle Snyder over Stephen Buchanan  (5-2)

125 kg - Wyatt Hendrickson over Mason Parris  (9-5)
 

Women’s Freestyle

50 kg - Morgan Turner over Katie Gomez  (7-2)

53 kg - Cristelle Rodriguez over Elena Ivaldi  (10-0)

55 kg - Everest Leydecker over Areana Villaescusa (2-1)

57 kg - Helen Maroulis over Amanda Martinez (8-1)

59 kg - Abby Nette over Alexis Janiak  (Fall 1:41)

62 kg - Adaugo Nwachukwu over Macey Kilty  (Fall 3:00)

65 kg - Kayla Miracle over Jennifer Page (7-2)

72 kg - Amit Elor FFT
 

Round Two

Men’s Freestyle

57 kg - Spencer Lee over Luke Lilledahl (8-4)

61 kg -  Jax Forrest over Marcus Blaze (6-1)

70 kg - Zain Retherford over Ridge Lovett (8-2)

74 kg - David Carr over James Green  (6-5)

79 kg - Levi Haines over Chance Marsteller (6-3)

86 kg - Kyle Dake over Zahid Valencia (4-1)

97 kg - Stephen Buchanan over Kyle Snyder   (5-5)

125 kg - Wyatt Hendrickson over Mason Parris  (7-1)
 

Women’s Freestyle

50 kg - Katie Gomez over Morgan Turner  (3-2)

53 kg - Cristelle Rodriguez over Elena Ivaldi  (9-0)

55 kg - Everest Leydecker over Areana Villaescusa (3-1)

57 kg - Helen Maroulis over Amanda Martinez (6-0)

59 kg - Abby Nette over Alexis Janiak  (10-0)

62 kg - Macey Kilty over Adaugo Nwachukwu  4-0

65 kg - Kayla Miracle over Jennifer Page (5-1)

72 kg - Amit Elor FFT
 

Round Three Results

Men’s Freestyle

61 kg - Marcus Blaze over Jax Forrest (5-2)

74 kg - James Green over David Carr (4-1)

86 kg - Kyle Dake over Zahid Valencia (4-0)

97 kg - Kyle Snyder over Stephen Buchanan  (9-3)
 

Women’s Freestyle

50 kg - Morgan Turner over Katie Gomez  (8-2)

62 kg - Adaugo Nwachukwu over Macey Kilty  (4-3)