By Richard Immel
USA Wrestling

2025 Senior World medalists Kennedy Blades, Kylie Welker and Real Woods have each requested and received medical delays for their 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, best-of-three championship series. 

These Final X series were originally scheduled for June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.—Blades against Isabella Mir at 68 kg in women’s freestyle, Welker against Dymond Guilford at 76 kg in women’s freestyle, and Woods against Bo Bassett at 65 kg in men’s freestyle. Mir, Guilford and Bassett qualified for Final X by winning the 2026 U.S. Open. 

Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. World Team in two international disciplines—men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. In total, 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative at the 2026 Senior World Championships.

The Final X field includes Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winners Marcus Blaze, David Carr, Jax Forrest, Wyatt Hendrickson, Spencer Lee, Ridge Lovett, Chance Marsteller, Zain Retherford and Zahid Valencia and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winners Alexis Janiak, Everest Leydecker and Macey Kilty.

According to the 2026 World Team Trials Qualification & Procedures for men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle, only a 2025 Senior World medalist, who earned an automatic berth into Final X, may request a medical delay for competing in a Final X wrestle-off. Blades, Welker and Woods were bronze medalists for the U.S. at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. 

The request for a medical delay must be made by a returning World medalist no later than 48 hours before Final X weigh-ins and submitted in writing to the respective Sport Committee Chair for review, to include a written certification of the injury or illness from a USA Wrestling-approved medical doctor. Blades, Welker and Woods have fulfilled these requirements to request a medical delay as outlined in the 2026 World Team Trials Qualification & Procedures. 

USA Wrestling will provide updated information for these three Final X wrestle-offs once a new date and location have been determined. Wrestle-offs must occur before the departure for the 2026 World Team Acclimation Camp. 

Final X determines the 2026 U.S. Senior World Team in two-of-three international disciplines—men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. In total, 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative for the 2026 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. 

For more information about 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, please visit TheMat.com.