USA Wrestling’s premier Senior-level showcase, the 2026 Final X presented by Kerberos Capital Management, is set for Friday, June 19, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will run in conjunction with the 2026 Beat the Streets New York (BTSNY) Annual Benefit.
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 different 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.
This exciting competition will serve as the 2026 BTSNY 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.
BTSNY provides a safe, positive environment for student-athletes to learn critical life lessons of discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic through the sport of wrestling.
Session times for Final X will be 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Eight U.S. wrestlers captured a medal at the 2025 Senior World Championships and are eligible to advance directly to the Final X best-of-three series. These athletes must accept their Final X berth and compete in the same weight class in which they won a World medal last summer. The deadline to accept the automatic berth to Final X is Monday, April 13, 2026.
Athletes eligible to advance directly to Final X include Real Woods (65 kg), Levi Haines (79 kg), Zahid Valencia (86 kg), Trent Hidlay (92 kg) and Kyle Snyder (97 kg) in men’s freestyle, plus Helen Maroulis (57 kg), Kennedy Blades (68 kg) and Kylie Welker (76 kg) in women’s freestyle.
Outside of the 2025 Senior World medalist pool, the remaining Final X competitor field will be decided at the U.S. Open on April 23-25 at The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and at the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on May 14-15 at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
In weight classes in which an athlete has advanced directly to Final X, the U.S. Open champion will earn the opposing Final X spot. In weight classes where no athlete earned an automatic Final X berth, the champions of the U.S. Open and World Team Trials Challenge Tournament will wrestle at Final X.
The U.S. Open does not require any prior qualification to enter the field, outside of being an eligible U.S. citizen and a current member of USA Wrestling. Conversely, athletes must qualify for the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in accordance with the approved World Team Trials procedures for each Olympic discipline, which are available here.
“USA Wrestling, in partnership with Beat the Streets New York, is excited to bring Final X back to Prudential Center to showcase wrestling’s top stars in a world-class venue,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “The Final X property continues to elevate in large part due to our event partners and this unique platform provided to our athletes. Come out to Newark and cheer for America’s best, while supporting the foundational work being done by Beat the Streets to build up youth wrestling in New York City.”
BTSNY is equally thrilled to announce its partnership with USA Wrestling and return to Newark, New Jersey, for Final X, to help fundraise for NYC youth wrestlers and help round them out into better humans.
“We are honored to partner with USA Wrestling to bring Final X once again to the world-class Prudential Center,” said Bob Seidel, Beat the Streets Executive Director. “As our Annual Benefit, the funds raised through this event help ensure that thousands of New York City boys and girls continue to have access to free wrestling, mentorship and life-skills programming that empower them both on and off the wrestling mat.”
Providing a topnotch venue for the Final X experience has been an honor for the Prudential Center, according to Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President of Sports Properties and Special Events at HBSE/Prudential Center.
“Prudential Center is proud to host Final X for the third time in four years, establishing Newark as the home of the USA Wrestling World Team Trials,” Wanagiel, said. “Final X showcases our nation’s top wrestlers as they compete to represent Team USA on the world stage. We are excited to continue our partnership with USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets to deliver this high-profile event to Newark, and we look forward to welcoming fans from across the country for another historic Final X.”
For more information about Final X, please visit TheMat.com.
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