Seven years of dominance ended in a flash-and Kyle Dake hasn’t forgotten. At the US Open, Zahid Valencia did what no American had managed to do since 2018. He beat Dake, clean. The result sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, not just because of the loss, but because of what it meant. The king had been dethroned. But now, just weeks later, the tables are turning. Dake isn’t looking back in disbelief. Instead, he’s charging forward with one goal in mind: revenge.
It’s official. Kyle Dake will meet Zahid Valencia at Final X. That path was sealed after Dake narrowly edged out Carter Starocci in a gritty 3-3 criteria win at the WTT Challenge. However, the score doesn’t tell the full story. This was a war of attrition, a contest of control and poise. Starocci, the rising Penn State star, threw everything he had at the four-time world champion. But Dake, tested and tempered, found just enough in the final moments to escape with the win. And in doing so, he punched his ticket to the rematch every fan has been waiting for.
Dake versus Valencia, again. But this time, the stakes are drenched in drama. The last time they met, Valencia flipped the script on Dake’s legacy, delivering him his first domestic defeat since 2018. It wasn’t a fluke or a lucky moment. It was calculated, tactical dominance. Dake had come into that match looking sharp, dismantling his opening round opponent in seconds.
The Men’s Final X matchups are set and they’re FIRE! pic.twitter.com/FoaXrTTxBK
— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) May 17, 2025
Yet when it mattered most, it was Valencia who dictated tempo, forced errors, and walked away with a stunning 8-4 win. That loss still lingers, and on June 14, 2025, Dake gets his chance to answer back. This is no longer just about a Final X title or a spot on the world team. It’s personal. For Valencia, it’s a chance to prove his win was no anomaly.
And that there’s a new king at 86kg. For Dake, it’s a battle for redemption, a fight to reclaim the respect and dominance he’s built his name on. The hunter has become the hunted. But don’t expect Kyle Dake to play the prey for long. Meanwhile, Dake’s confidence was visible, as he didn’t flinch even after being left bloodied in his fight against Parker Keckeisen. Instead, he started to give out free autographs to the fans!
Bleeding and unshaken, Kyle Dake stuns crowd with bold act after brutal win
He could’ve walked straight to the medics. No one would’ve blamed him. Blood trickled down his face, his eye puffed, and bruises bloomed beneath the arena lights. But Kyle Dake wasn’t done yet. Especially not with the fans who had watched him turn a punishing semifinal into a masterclass. Seconds after dismantling Parker Keckeisen 11-1 in a high-voltage showdown at the American Team Trials, Dake stunned the crowd. However, not with another takedown, but with his heart.
As cameras zoomed in on his battered face, Dake turned to the sidelines. Instead of flinching or hiding, he stepped right into the sea of reaching hands and excited voices. He began signing autographs—methodically, patiently, unfazed by the blood and swelling. Kids and adults alike leaned over the barriers, and Dake gave each one a moment. No grimace. No complaint. Just gratitude and grace.
For Dake, it wasn’t about preserving image or masking pain. It was about showing up, fully, fearlessly. The kind of confidence that doesn’t need a scoreboard to prove itself. As he gears up for a climactic clash against Carter Starocci, fans won’t just remember the scoreline. They’ll remember the sight of a bloodied gladiator, smiling through the pain, pen in hand.
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