Christian Pyles most disingenuous take.

[BruceyB]

Listening to Monday's FRL, CP tried to argue against whether or not Vito's health was a factor in the result of Jax's win over Vito. I understand that he doesn't want to diminish Jax's win, but it seems like an absolutely egregious stance to pretend like Vito's health wasn't a key factor in how the match played out. I think it's fair to say that we don't know what happens between a full strength Vito against Jax.. but I can't imagine going on the podcast and pretending like Jax's win was against even a close to top strength Vito. I am typically a CP apologist, but I was genuinely disappointed and annoyed by the lack of acknowledgement that Vito was clearly hampered.  

 

6:50-9:00 is the crux of the conversation.

[1032004]

Agreed.

@Jon_Kozak probably had the most accurate but politically correct take: Vito wasn’t 100%, but he still thinks Jax had a chance to win gold 

[Dark Energy]

Several times mentioned Vito not at peak and was a reason why he picked Jax.  Tried to focus on Jax and heap praise on him.  Others went heavy on Vito not being right … at which point Pyles best answer is ‘maybe.’   Trying damn hard to not reduce shine on Jax.  

[Truzzcat]

I think he was mirroring JD's stance that was way on the other end of the spectrum where I felt like he was kind of diminishing what Jax accomplished. It was like a tug of war trying to find balance. I think as mentioned above Kozak had the most appropriate perspective.

[ionel]

Jax didn't look full strength ... looked like a skinny high school kid.  

[reversaloffortune]

I remember how John Smith looked like a skinny high school kid his whole career.  Not that Jax Forrest is even close to there yet.

[Hammerlock3]

9 hours ago, ionel said:

Jax didn't look full strength ... looked like a skinny high school kid.  

so did vito

[ionel]

7 minutes ago, Hammerlock3 said:

so did vito

He looked more like a skinny old guy. 

[Hammerlock3]

there is no genuine pyles takes, its all self aware all the time...like a boring patrick bateman.

[BAC]

I agree it's a bad take by Pyles, but I can't get too upset. It's a fine line between stating the obvious (that Vito wasn't himself) and not giving due credit to the victor, and I think Pyles was just trying to make sure he wasn't disrespecting Jax. That's laudable, but here, he came off as denying the obvious.

[Hammerlock3]

I heard a quote that describes perfectly, "you can't lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse."

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

On 7/16/2025 at 2:08 AM, BruceyB said:

Listening to Monday's FRL, CP tried to argue against whether or not Vito's health was a factor in the result of Jax's win over Vito. I understand that he doesn't want to diminish Jax's win, but it seems like an absolutely egregious stance to pretend like Vito's health wasn't a key factor in how the match played out. I think it's fair to say that we don't know what happens between a full strength Vito against Jax.. but I can't imagine going on the podcast and pretending like Jax's win was against even a close to top strength Vito. I am typically a CP apologist, but I was genuinely disappointed and annoyed by the lack of acknowledgement that Vito was clearly hampered.  

 

6:50-9:00 is the crux of the conversation.

I kinda doubt we ever see a close to "100% Vito" again.  The finger injuries have not been great, but may eventually get better.  His neck is always going to be an issue, unfortunately.  This stuff is going to affect his training, which will affect his gas tank.  To make matters worse, I have heard that Vito has long been a weight cutting machine.  When you reduce his training time/intensity, making weight is going to be that much tougher and will take its toll even more than it has in the past.

That being said, he is still a tough out and Jax is to be commended.

[GrandOlm]

His takes that irk me the most are his unabashed prisoner of the moment stands (his job is to be a hype man so that colors his views) and his general refusal to acknowledge most of wrestling before the 2000s. 

[HokieDave87]

On 7/16/2025 at 8:59 PM, Hammerlock3 said:

there is no genuine pyles takes, its all self aware all the time...like a boring patrick bateman.

Emphasis on the boring.

[1032004]

I think the whole quarter century team is dumb, but I can’t believe he voted Askren over Pendleton

[alex1fly]

47 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

I think the whole quarter century team is dumb, but I can’t believe he voted Askren over Pendleton

Of course he did, they’re buddies lol

the Flo guys mostly seem to live in the echo chamber they’ve created. Like it’s fine but it’s entertainment and shouldn’t be taken too seriously by us fans. Would be nice if Pyles took that lead too but he’s really leaned into “look at me and listen to me I am so meta and wise” shtick so probably a lost cause

Edited July 20 by alex1fly

[BruceyB]

On 7/20/2025 at 7:41 AM, 1032004 said:

I think the whole quarter century team is dumb, but I can’t believe he voted Askren over Pendleton

To start, I also think the quarter century team is dumb, especially when the majority of guys wrestled at multiple weight classes during their careers and there is picking and choosing regarding which weights guys are being considered. That being said..

I would 100% pick Askren over Pendleton. 4x Finalist, 2x Undefeated National Champion, 2x Hodge winner, most pins in NCAA wrestling this quarter century, and he absolutely dominated his junior and senior years. 

[ScottishSteel]

8 hours ago, BruceyB said:

To start, I also think the quarter century team is dumb, especially when the majority of guys wrestled at multiple weight classes during their careers and there is picking and choosing regarding which weights guys are being considered. That being said..

I would 100% pick Askren over Pendleton. 4x Finalist, 2x Undefeated National Champion, 2x Hodge winner, most pins in NCAA wrestling this quarter century, and he absolutely dominated his junior and senior years. 

The challenge is you can spout off all of Askren's stats and someone is going to be on a soap box yelling about who he lost to in his other two finals. . . and it's a valid point; Pendleton owning Askren is definitely a thing but those in the Pendleton camp will say that's all that matters.

I think what Askren has that can't be quantified though is completely changing how Americans wrestle; he definitely brought scrambles/funk to the people and now basically everyone but a Cohlton Schultz type needs to know how to do what Askren was doing

[okokzach]

2 hours ago, ScottishSteel said:

The challenge is you can spout off all of Askren's stats and someone is going to be on a soap box yelling about who he lost to in his other two finals. . . and it's a valid point; Pendleton owning Askren is definitely a thing but those in the Pendleton camp will say that's all that matters.

I think what Askren has that can't be quantified though is completely changing how Americans wrestle; he definitely brought scrambles/funk to the people and now basically everyone but a Cohlton Schultz type needs to know how to do what Askren was doing

It wasn't just the two finals wins. Pendleton beat Ben 7 times in college and then a couple years after Askren was out of college he beat him again in freestyle. Pendleton was just better. 

[ScottishSteel]

1 minute ago, okokzach said:

It wasn't just the two finals wins. Pendleton beat Ben 7 times in college and then a couple years after Askren was out of college he beat him again in freestyle. Pendleton was just better. 

I know; was just easier to make a point of the two finals losses in the comment I was quoting.  I believe Ben did get him once in college but that's nothing compared to Pendleton's 7

[Hilton Head Joe]

Askren was the guy that could score 50 points in a match against guys he was better than. He was the father of the funk and the tech fall! Askren simply was not strong in comparison to the very top guys and when he met an equal opponent it was evident. Never could beat the top group of guys. He had an amazing marketable niche but should not be considered the greatest of an era. 

[BruceyB]

1 hour ago, Hilton Head Joe said:

Askren simply was not strong in comparison to the very top guys and when he met an equal opponent it was evident. Never could beat the top group of guys.

Who are these "top guys" you speak of? Pendleton and..

[Mr. PeanutButter]

1 hour ago, Hilton Head Joe said:

Askren was the guy that could score 50 points in a match against guys he was better than. He was the father of the funk and the tech fall! Askren simply was not strong in comparison to the very top guys and when he met an equal opponent it was evident. Never could beat the top group of guys. He had an amazing marketable niche but should not be considered the greatest of an era. 

Are you aware that he was our Olympic rep?

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

3 hours ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

Are you aware that he was our Olympic rep?

Exactly.

And was able to eventually handle Pendleton pretty well as well.

Had something like 90 pins, so I'm not sure about "father of the tech fall."  And everyone says how strong he was on the mat.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

5 hours ago, okokzach said:

It wasn't just the two finals wins. Pendleton beat Ben 7 times in college and then a couple years after Askren was out of college he beat him again in freestyle. Pendleton was just better. 

Ben got the last laugh, and during a match at Sunkist was talking smack to Pendleton as he dragged Chris (who was trying to get out of bounds) back to the center.