By Richard Immel
USA Wrestling

Reigning World champion Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC) has accepted his automatic bid to 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, and will battle for the men’s freestyle 92 kg spot on the 2026 U.S. World Team. Final X is set for Friday, June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

Hidlay was a force at the 2025 World Championships en route to claiming the gold medal at 92kg, which automatically qualified him for Final X. His World final against Russia’s Amanula Gadzhimagomedov was perhaps the most electric match of the event. Hidlay overcame an eight-point, first-period deficit to win his first World title by 13-10 decision. 

It was a banner 2025 for Hidlay, who won three international medals on top of his World gold. He finished with a bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series before topping the podium at both the Pan American Championships and Budapest Ranking Series. He is off to a nice start in his 2026 title defense with a silver medal performance at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series. 

Hidlay was a four-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA finalist for North Carolina State, where he currently trains full-time. He also owns two age-group World medals—bronze from the 2019 U20 Worlds and silver from the 2022 U23 Worlds. 

What’s at stake at Final X?  

Final X will determine 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 Manama, Bahrain. 

Who will Hidlay face at Final X? 

The Final X opponent for Hidlay will be determined on April 25 at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada. The men’s freestyle 92 kg champion from the U.S. Open will advance to face Hidlay in a best-of-three series at Final X. 

Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit 

Final X will serve as the 2026 Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit, its 16th to date. These unique electrifying events help BTSNY raise critical funds each year to support local youth wrestling programs, which empower young people in New York City. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after-party takes place at the conclusion of Final X. 

It is Hidlay’s third appearance at a BTSNY Annual Benefit event. In 2022, he lost a 6-4 decision to Mark Hall in a U.S. National Team true-third match at Final X. Last year, Hidlay defeated Josh Barr two matches to none (3-2, 6-1) in a Final X series.                                                                                                                                                        

Get Tickets 

BTSNY Annual Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages, which include access to premier seating at Final X, plus the exclusive after-party, are currently available at btsny.org. For more information on ticket packages, email BTSNY Executive Director Bob Seidel at bseidel@btsny.org. Donations and BTSNY Annual Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages directly help BTSNY make a lifelong impact on New York City youth in need. 

Event-only tickets for Final X without access to the BTSNY after-party celebration are available on Ticketmaster. 

Event Schedule 

12:30 p.m. (ET) – U.S. National Team true-third matches

2 p.m. (ET) – Session one (Round one)

5 p.m. (ET) – Session two (Rounds two and three, if necessary)

Match order for each session will be provided at a later date 

How To Watch 

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcast partner for Final X. Fans can watch the event live or on-demand at FloWrestling.com. Online results for Final X will be available on USA Bracketing. 

For more information about Final X, please visit TheMat.com. 

2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, Qualifiers (As of April 9, 2026) 

June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey  

Men’s Freestyle 

65 kg – Real Woods (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC) 

Women’s Freestyle 

57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Scottsdale, Ariz./Titan Mercury WC)

68 kg – Kennedy Blades (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC)

76 kg – Kylie Welker (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC)