Mike Macchiavello | The Bader Show (Ep. 485)
May 27, 2026
Mike Macchiavello won his third US Open title and is headed back to Final X for the second time. He will face returning World Champion and friend, Trent Hidlay, whose wedding he will attend this summer.
0:50 - Why the headgear in freestyle?
2:00 - The young guys are so tough and hungry
4:30 - Internal emotions tied to wrestling
8:20 - How Macch and Trent Hidlay became friends
11:00 - Trent was Macch’s Final X training partner in 2023
11:30 - Feeling Trent improve over time
13:40 - Realizing Trent could be an opponent
14:30 - “See you at Final X” - they joked
19:00 - Emotionally preparing to wrestle a friend
21:00 - Macch and Trent wrestled in Zagreb this past February
27:00 - Gameplanning for Trent Hidlay
28:30 - Trent and Macch talk lately?
31:15 - Wedding talk, when’s the Final X wrestle-off?
33:40 - Watching Trent win a World title last year!
38:00 - How does Macch use artificial intelligence?
41:45 - Who is Macch’s all-time favorite wrestler?
44:35 - Wins and whoopins
48:06 - Macch will be on staff at West Point
49:15 - Macch looks like Jorge Masvidal
51:45 - Macch’s final word
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