The Greatest Bracket of Them All

[Wrestleknownothing]

This one was a ton of work.

I hope you enjoy.

https://wrestling.guru/2026/01/18/the-greatest-bracket-of-them-all/

[email protected]
@wrestleknownothing.bsky.social

 

[MPhillips]

[BruceyB]

We miss you, brother. Interesting work as always.

[bnwtwg]

Thank you for easing the pain of the Bears gut punch last night. This is like an IV after a Vegas pool party.

Also, your analysis is wrong and belongs in a marketing consultancy. Any bracket with a single senior team rep cannot be considered the greatest bracket. If you want to pick NCAA nits, then only two guys were ever a champion which once again doesn't pass the eye test.

[Warm Up Champ]

Thoughts about 2000 184lbs?

3 Olympians: Cael Sanderson, Daniel Cormier, & Andy Hrovat

World Silver: Brandon Eggum

Other notable: Rob Rohn (NCAA Champ), Vertus Jones (2x runner-up), Cash Edwards (2x AA), Kyle Hanson (AA), Scott Justus (2002 #1 seed), Jessman Smith (AA)

[bnwtwg]

I'll stand on business: If Jordan Oliver is not an olympian then neither is Cormier. He missed weight, he didn't compete. But yes that 2000 184 flight was always one of the nastiest in my mind. The backup was the second best in the world. Says a lot!

[jchapman]

11 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

I'll stand on business: If Jordan Oliver is not an olympian then neither is Cormier. He missed weight, he didn't compete. But yes that 2000 184 flight was always one of the nastiest in my mind. The backup was the second best in the world. Says a lot!

Cormier made weight.  He was too sick/injured to compete.

[Antitroll2828]

14 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

I'll stand on business: If Jordan Oliver is not an olympian then neither is Cormier. He missed weight, he didn't compete. But yes that 2000 184 flight was always one of the nastiest in my mind. The backup was the second best in the world. Says a lot!

DC made the 2004 Olympic Team and made the bronze medal match. 

Edited January 20 by Antitroll2828

[bnwtwg]

1 hour ago, Antitroll2828 said:

DC made the 2004 Olympic Team and made the bronze medal match. 

I am absolutely wrong. 2008 is permanently burned into my mind when he had kidney failure from cutting bad.

Edited January 21 by bnwtwg

[Dogbone]

20 hours ago, Warm Up Champ said:

Thoughts about 2000 184lbs?

3 Olympians: Cael Sanderson, Daniel Cormier, & Andy Hrovat

World Silver: Brandon Eggum

Other notable: Rob Rohn (NCAA Champ), Vertus Jones (2x runner-up), Cash Edwards (2x AA), Kyle Hanson (AA), Scott Justus (2002 #1 seed), Jessman Smith (AA)

You could make an argument the 1999 184lb was better (with a lot of the same guys obviously). 

Also had 3 Olympians Cael, Hrovat, Brad Vering (2x Greco and World Silver)

It also had Eggum and Jones.  

And Mark Munoz (future NCAA Champ). 

So it had 3 Olympians, 3 NCAA Champs, 2 Freestyle World Silvers a Greco World Silver and 1 Olympic Gold. 

With Vering, Munoz and Cael, the 184 bracket had the 2000, 2001 and 2002 197 NCAA champs in it. 

[strange_daze]

Robust analysis mixed with compelling exposition. Strong work.