2019 Final X

FloSports, USA Wrestling Announce Final X Series To Determine World Team

FloSports, USA Wrestling Announce Final X Series To Determine World Team

FloSports and USA Wrestling Announce Final X Series to Determine U.S. Senior World Team.

Jan 16, 2018 by Kyle Bratke
FloSports, USA Wrestling Announce Final X Series To Determine World Team

AUSTIN, Texas — Today FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, and USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, announced a partnership to launch a new competition, Final X. FloWrestling will provide exclusive live and on-demand coverage of the three-event series that will determine the 2018 U.S. senior world teams in men’s and women’s freestyle.  

During Final X, the top men’s and women’s freestyle wrestlers will compete in a best-of-three series, earning spots on the U.S. senior world team and the opportunity to compete at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Oct. 20-28, 2018. Final X will be held over three consecutive weekends and in three different cities.

USA Wrestling has determined which weight classes will he held on each specific date. Details on the host cities will be announced at a later date.

June 9, 2018
- Men's freestyle weight classes (57kg, 70kg, 74kg, 97kg)
- Women's freestyle weight classes (55kg, 59kg, 68kg)

June 16, 2018
- Men's freestyle weight classes (65kg, 79kg, 86kg)
- Women's freestyle weight classes (62kg, 72kg, 76kg)

June 23, 2018
- Men's freestyle weight classes (61kg, 92kg, 125kg)
- Women's freestyle weight classes (50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 65kg)

“Final X is not just an event series but a status,” FloSports co-founder and CEO Martin Floreani said. “Only the best American wrestlers of our generation make it to Final X, and those that become Final X have the opportunity to represent the most glorious country on earth.”

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said: “We are confident that this new process will provide the opportunity to showcase these fantastic athletes and create excitement around their very important pursuit. We are grateful to Mike Novogratz, Xander Schultz, and Matt Novogratz for their vision and passion to help develop this concept. With our partners at FloWrestling, we believe Final X will become a foundational platform to elevate attention for wrestling and its outstanding competitors.”

In men's freestyle, 2017 senior world medalists who return at the same weight class will advance directly to Final X, based upon approved team selection procedures. In women's freestyle, the 2017 senior world medalists may advance directly to Final X if they compete in a specific weight class determined in the approved Team Selection procedures. Visit TheMat.com to review the team selection procedures.

In weight classes which do not have a 2017 world medalist who qualifies for Final X directly, the winner of the 2018 U.S. Open in Las Vegas on April 26-28 will advance to Final X.

The Final X field will be finalized at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament for men’s and women’s freestyle, set to take place in Rochester, MN, on May 18-20. The winner in each weight class in Rochester will advance to Final X as the second athlete in the best-of-three series at that weight.

The 2018 U.S. Open and the 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament both will air live and on-demand only on FloWrestling.com.

FloWrestling is the leader in showcasing elite wrestling events, offering fans across the world access to live and on-demand coverage of hundreds of competitions per year. Additionally, FloWrestling provides comprehensive wrestling content, including original documentaries, technique videos, athlete rankings, breaking news, studio shows, podcasts and more.

The United States was the 2017 world team champion in men's freestyle wrestling, and was the 2017 world team runner-up in women's freestyle.