While Final X 2025 is all set to crown the U.S. World Championship Team on June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, it’s the true third-place matches, kicking off earlier, that are genuinely stealing the spotlight! These 12 intense bouts—five in men’s freestyle, seven in women’s—are far more than just warm-ups for the main event. As part of the 15th Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit, these matches promise raw intensity and truly career-defining moments. But why are these contests so incredibly pivotal?
Well, for wrestlers like Carter Starocci and Marcus Blaze, they represent a high-stakes shot at redemption and a vital lifeline to elite status in the sport. But is there a road to redemption for Starocci and Blaze’s heartbreak and hope? Carter Starocci, the incredible five-time NCAA champion from Erie, Pennsylvania, and Marcus Blaze, the U17 World champ from Perrysburg, Ohio, both agonizingly missed their Final X berths at the 2025 Senior World Team Trials in Louisville.
At 86 kg, Starocci battled his Nittany Lion teammate Kyle Dake in a nail-biting final. He was leading 3-1 before a late caution call and a failed challenge heartbreakingly handed Dake a 3-3 criteria win. Meanwhile, at 65 kg, Blaze fell 4-1 to Jesse Mendez in the semifinals, later securing third with a 4-0 win over Carter Young—but it just wasn’t enough to reach the best-of-three series.
Now, Carter Starocci faces Parker Keckeisen, and Blaze takes on Brock Hardy for that coveted No. 3 spot on the U.S. Senior National Team. Can they rebound from this heartbreak and seize their chance? As it is, more than just a bronze medal is at stake. These true third matches are anything but bronze-medal afterthoughts, as a win here unlocks crucial benefits.
We’re talking about stipends, performance bonuses, highly sought-after international tours, and access to elite training camps—all vital resources that fuel a wrestler’s entire career. For Starocci and Blaze, it’s their golden opportunity to stay firm in the World and Olympic conversation. Adding even more heart to the event, the Beat the Streets mission aims to raise over $1 million for New York City youth wrestling programs.
“Final X is about crowning champions and building futures,” noted BTSNY’s Brendan Buckley. With renewed hope, can these incredibly important bouts propel Starocci and Blaze to new heights in their careers? Well, that remains to be seen.
Final X is going to be an epic battle of titans with Starocci and Blaze
Well, on June 14, 2025, the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is going to be buzzing as it hosts Final X—the ultimate showdown to crown the U.S. National Wrestling Team. This isn’t just any tournament; it’s a high-stakes, heart-pounding battle where dreams of representing the USA on the world stage hang in the balance.
Doors swing open at noon, and by 12:30 p.m. ET, the intense “true-third” matches kick off, setting the tone with gritty, do-or-die performances. But what exactly makes this event so incredibly electric? The very heart of Final X lies in its nail-biting best-of-3 series, with Round 1 starting at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 at 5 p.m. if needed.
These epic matches, streamed live on FloWrestling, will pit wrestling titans against each other—think NCAA champions squaring off against age-group World champs, like the highly anticipated clash between Mitch Mesenbrink versus David Carr at 74kg, Yianni Diakomihalis versus his close friend PJ Duke at 70 kilograms, and Wyatt Hendrickson (the guy who defeated Gable Steveson at the NCAA finals) versus Trent Hillger at 125 kilograms.
Every single takedown, every hard-fought point, could be the moment a wrestler secures their coveted spot on the national team. Who will rise under this immense pressure? History in the Making: Witnessing Greatness Live. For fans, it’s a front-row seat to an incredible display of raw athleticism, fierce competition, and heart-pounding drama.
With brand-new, first-time matchups like Vito Arujau versus Jax Forrest at 61kg, the stakes truly couldn’t be higher. Who will etch their name into wrestling history on this monumental day?
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