Gantry

That top4 in 2009 is absolutely incredible, going with that. Especially since I believe Leen and Gillespie had already been champs, this isn't a situation where someone places 7/8 as a frosh and becomes a monster later. Didn't Pami make the finals too?

Mark Jayne was one tough customer, surprised he never placed higher than 7th

If that's the case and it isn't required, what is the point when people enter with "do not contact"?

Sebastian Rivera bumped up to face #1 Micic, iirc he weighed in at 125 and was also introduced at that weight during handshakes to keep the element of surprise. He lost, but respect.... Who did Mark Schultz bump up against?

Soon as I read this I remembered something, decided to check the edit history of Pendleton's page. Page creation and first edit of his page was over 20 years ago by some rando with a weird name:

Good match, Russian just had more offense and was killing LL from that front head position.

That exposure in the first by LL was a thing of beauty.

All's right in the world when there are Thorn's are wrestling, the family always has a fun style.

When watching in real time, it sure did look like Carr's points - I was surprised Japan got 2. But they had a brick and didn't use it.

Gomez goes down to Armenia 6-4

We're back, LL was down 6-2 later in the second but got an exposure then TD with 10ish seconds left. Clutch!

Looks like action is over, not sure when it's resuming. Streaming page has no info on schedule

There's about 12 people in the stands

Haines was getting countered pretty well, needs to shore up his attacks and pick his spots more often.

Haines goes down to Greece 7-3. Although a native Greek (based on his name) I think he's pretty solid and trains in Dagestan on occasion and the like.

Demetrius Thomas hits a big throw with 20 seconds left to beat Bulgaria 9-2 after the challenge.

Lilledahl taken down with 5 seconds left by Germany to go down on criteria 2-2 but gets a pushout on the restart with 1 second left on the restart. Was super close but LL wins the challenge and takes it 4-2

It's streaming now https://www.flowrestling.org/live/149395

OK, well I could certainly be wrong about how he uses his left arm - maybe that's his normal stance, like I said I don't know technique well. Seems really weird though, like he was avoiding to use it.

I have to disagree, he seemed very reluctant to scramble and didn't fight the first counter TD much that Jax got in the opening match. Plus this is hard for me to explain as I'm not a technique expert, but look at his left arm the entire time in neutral - he barely wants to use it or engage with it. He only does when Jax forced him to lock up - it's just always bent at his side. I feel like everything was precipitated from his right arm and right side. Sure he was still quick and maybe I'm seeing what I want to see, but it was pretty clear to me that Vito was avoiding certain positions and scrambles the entire time. He was not letting the fur fly as he normally does, I don't think he just hard gassed out.

Yanni did look amazing until he hit the wall and gassed out, I don't think anyone is going to crush Duke at World's like Yanni did in match #1 and the beginning of match #2. Vito was definitely off from jump street.

It really was

I think Vito is more likely to get teched or injury default out than win the next match. Would love to be wrong though as I'm a real negative Nancy in this here thread.

I'll repost what I said in the Final X predictions thread, sadly match #1 makes me fear I was right about his health: "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. "

Vito just doesn't look right, as I suspected. Just isn't healthy, that exchange in the first where Jax got two he didn't fight it much. Plus no tank, it's not happening.