Final X Predictions

[Doublehalf]

This is my best guess at who our team will be and I'm assuming Snyder finds a way to wrestle...

Does anyone think a high schooler is going to punch their ticket onto the team?

 

• 57- Lee / Lilledahl = Lee in 2 although lilledahl gives him a run on his feet and they are somewhat close but Spencer's top game wins him the matches 

 

• 61- Vito / Forrest = Vito in 3 and im going to say Forrest sneaks one out because of his funkiness and the Vito wins aren't close

 

• 65- McKenna / Woods = McKenna in 3 but Woods' recent improvement continues the upward trajectory 

 

• 70- Yianni / Duke = Yianni in 2 fun matches because all of Yianni's matches are fun plus I think Duke might have a little emotion in this one given he grew up wrestling probably idolizing Yianni a bit as a fellow NY'er

 

• 74- MM / Carr = MM in 2 blow outs 

 

• 79- Wick / Haines = Haines in 2 just because of his offense

 

• 86- Valencia / Dake = Dake in 3 although I could see Valencia nabbing the first one and just not having the gas tank to go 3 bouts in the day with Dake but who knows... this could be a toss up 

 

• 92- Hidlay / Barr = Hidlay in 2 since it seems like his time and he's going to be the savvy vet but wouldn't be shocked by the opposite result 

 

• 97- Snyder / Zilmer = Snyder in 3, he drops one due to recent distractions...

 

• 125- Hendrickson / Hillger = Hendrickson in 2 and continues his heater without being in a whole lot of danger of losing either match 

 

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Doublehalf

[nhs67]

If Snyder shows, he is the heaviest favorite.

[nhs67]

If Snyder doesn't show, Zilmer is the heaviest favorite.

[Ragu]

• 57- Lee / Lilledahl = Lee in 2 by domination me thinks. His defense is elite and when he scores his top game is suffocating.

 

• 61- Vito / Forrest = Vito in 2. It's all a mental game with Vito, and his health of course. When he is on his game he is one of the best wrestlers in the world.

 

• 65- McKenna / Woods = McKenna in 2. His experience will be the edge, only way I see Woods winning is if he runs away with it early.

 

• 70- Yianni / Duke = Yianni in 2. Again with these NY guys its mental. If he blocks out the noise, Yianni coasts to 2 wins. He's savvy, experienced, and every bit as strong as Duke is and then some.

 

• 74- MM / Carr = MM in 2. Carr has not looked great but he's game planning for one guy and that's tough to bet against. That being said that one guy is Mitchell Mesenbrink who will, with this win, start his streak of multiple world team representations.

 

• 79- Wick / Haines = Wick in 3. Eh.

 

• 86- Valencia / Dake = Dake in 2. Been a huge fan of Valencia since he was in HS and wouldn't mind being wrong here but Dake is inevitable and will get his way.

 

• 92- Hidlay / Barr = Hidlay in 2. Josh Barr is a second half athlete. I just wanted to say that. I've seen someone call Trent a "little Yazdani". I'll take him.

 

• 97- Snyder / Zilmer = Snyder in 2. Just wrestle.

 

• 125- Hendrickson / Hillger = Capt. America in 2. Mustache, no stache, Hulk smash, Lakers in 5.

[nhs67]

11 hours ago, Ragu said:

• 57- Lee / Lilledahl = Lee in 2 by domination me thinks. His defense is elite and when he scores his top game is suffocating.

 

• 61- Vito / Forrest = Vito in 2. It's all a mental game with Vito, and his health of course. When he is on his game he is one of the best wrestlers in the world.

 

• 65- McKenna / Woods = McKenna in 2. His experience will be the edge, only way I see Woods winning is if he runs away with it early.

 

• 70- Yianni / Duke = Yianni in 2. Again with these NY guys its mental. If he blocks out the noise, Yianni coasts to 2 wins. He's savvy, experienced, and every bit as strong as Duke is and then some.

 

• 74- MM / Carr = MM in 2. Carr has not looked great but he's game planning for one guy and that's tough to bet against. That being said that one guy is Mitchell Mesenbrink who will, with this win, start his streak of multiple world team representations.

 

• 79- Wick / Haines = Wick in 3. Eh.

 

• 86- Valencia / Dake = Dake in 2. Been a huge fan of Valencia since he was in HS and wouldn't mind being wrong here but Dake is inevitable and will get his way.

 

• 92- Hidlay / Barr = Hidlay in 2. Josh Barr is a second half athlete. I just wanted to say that. I've seen someone call Trent a "little Yazdani". I'll take him.

 

• 97- Snyder / Zilmer = Snyder in 2. Just wrestle.

 

• 125- Hendrickson / Hillger = Capt. America in 2. Mustache, no stache, Hulk smash, Lakers in 5.

I only disagree with Haines-Wick.  Haines is bigger, more filled out for 79 KG than he was last year and he destroyed Wick.

[bnwtwg]

57		Spencer		World champ. This is just a workout.
61		Vito		Hot take: this is the last time Vito makes a world team and that makes me sad
65		Woods		McKenna gets upset. Always so close and never catches the right bounce. 2020ne all over again.
70		Yianni		Vet savviness wins the day for Yianni but I wouldn't be surprised if Duke makes it very competitive
74		Carr		This will be the best series of the day. Either guy can bring home hardware.
79		Haines		Yep, this is a Final X matchup…
86		Dake		Zahid takes a match but Dake breaks him
92		Barr		Upsets happen, and this seems like as good a dart throw as any
97		Snyder		Snyder is no joke. He won't be caught with his pants down & this will be a QV. Luckily this will be recorded so we can all enjoy forever.
125		Hendrickson		Next topic.

[Gantry]

Give me Forrest over Vito, too much time off the mat for Vito and quite frankly I'm not sure he'll be 100% (or even 80%) fully healthy again.

Hope to be wrong and we see peak Vito.

[BigRedFan]

18 minutes ago, Gantry said:

Give me Forrest over Vito, too much time off the mat for Vito and quite frankly I'm not sure he'll be 100% (or even 80%) fully healthy again.

Hope to be wrong and we see peak Vito.

What health issues is Vito currently facing?

[Gantry]

I don't know of any specifics, but he talked recently about having nerve and stinger issues.  Plus he had surgery late last year for his hand/fingers I believe.  Now maybe he's fully healed and I sure hope so, but it just seems like he hasn't been right since he won Worlds.  Couple all that with the time off and I just don't feel like we'll see peak Vito at Final X. 

But I'm 100% speculating and that's not fair, should have clarified that. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Gantry

[bnwtwg]

1 hour ago, Gantry said:

I don't know of any specifics, but he talked recently about having nerve and stinger issues.  Plus he had surgery late last year for his hand/fingers I believe.  Now maybe he's fully healed and I sure hope so, but it just seems like he hasn't been right since he won Worlds.  Couple all that with the time off and I just don't feel like we'll see peak Vito at Final X. 

But I'm 100% speculating and that's not fair, should have clarified that. 

This is unfortunately why I have a hunch that this may very well be the last time Vito makes a team. Between his injuries taking their toll and the expected development of the new blood, the reigning 2x world medalist may very well be a domestic underdog in 2026. But I think he takes it this year and brings home hardware.

[wrestle87]

57 - Spencer in two first period big brotherings
61 - Forrest, in the start of the henry cejudo 2.0 era
65 - Woods is looking fresh and really loving wrestling.  Michigan is doing good things for him.  Woods in 3, and Mckenna will be the most bridesmaid wrestler in modern history. 
70 - Yianni quite handily if he doesn’t break something
74 - This is MM’s weight for the next two cycles.  MM 12-2, 13-3.
79 - Haines in 3
86 - Zahid puts Dake away handily.  I think Dake was going to retire if his challenge against CStarr hadn’t worked this weekend.  He’s small for the weight, and I think DT has helped Zahid figure his lungs out.
92 - Barr, PSU owns this string of weights, and Hidlay hasn’t evolved his technique in 10 years.
97 - Snyder in 3.  Zilmer is a robot who is always game, and Snyder has been looking 5% worse each year that passes that he’s been at PSU.
125 - Captain America by a landslide in 2, but he gives up a 4 in each match.