Spencer 2026 World Team

[Crablegs1]

Interesting how so many get all worked up over one loss, "the sky must be falling".
Spencer will win the Trials and win Final X.

I think Spencer is better than LL and would be my pick to win WTT and Final X, but bro where have you been if you think this is just “one loss”?

Spencer was teched at worlds, pinned at RAF, and now loses to a 20 year old in the US. This is all in the last 7 months for a guy many people (me included) think is the best in the world. His results recently are making it hard to continue to think that.

 

[dtripp26]

Interesting how so many get all worked up over one loss, "the sky must be falling".
Spencer will win the Trials and win Final X.

Look at me all worked up...

Nothing I wrote was worked up, and noting I wrote was wrong.

 

[Comment123]

I’m most surprised by Spencer not fishing the takedowns. He finishes 2 out of 3 of those and he wins. Seems like an issue Iowa has had frequently over the years

 

[T8KUDWN]

Look at me all worked up...

Nothing I wrote was worked up, and noting I wrote was wrong.

Came off as worked up to me.
No, I don't like the loss & it should not happen.
It's a bump in the road on Spencer's path to be our representative at 57 kg at the World Championship.

 

[SodaCostanza]

Spencer is regressing where LL is progressing. It doesn’t feel like Spencer is either able or willing to go hard the full match.

Spence has become a very tactical wrestler where I think he would be much better served to get in top notch shape and let it fly.

Sadly that’s not Iowa’s style anymore and if he wants that Olympic gold he should probably find a different training situation.

Although the Brands bros wrestled and preach an attacking style, they just haven’t found a way to get guys to consistently wrestle that way in quite a few years.

 

[Mattski]

Closing the gap by not wrestling offensively in all of the first and most of the second period.

Unfortunately that's proven to be the best formula to beat Spencer. Play defense, avoid a td and turns, and hope he tires late. Even without the late throw LL did score the only td of the match and was close to another in the 2nd per. If you can't see LL is improving (as he should be, he's 20) and closing the gap in don't know what else to tell you. My money is still in Spencer (assuming he didn't tear his UCL) but it clearly won't be a cakewalk.

 

[lookleftgoright]

Closing the gap by not wrestling offensively in all of the first and most of the second period.

That is how you beat SL. Keep it close in the first period and then score and win in the second. He can blow you out early, but if he doesn't is in trouble - against elite wrestlers.

Closing the gap by not wrestling offensively in all of the first and most of the second period.

 

[T8KUDWN]

Unfortunately that's proven to be the best formula to beat Spencer. Play defense, avoid a td and turns, and hope he tires late. Even without the late throw LL did score the only td of the match and was close to another in the 2nd per. If you can't see LL is improving (as he should be, he's 20) and closing the gap in don't know what else to tell you. My money is still in Spencer (assuming he didn't tear his UCL) but it clearly won't be a cakewalk.

I understand what you're saying and I'm not trying to be argumentative,
I just have a hard time that closing the gap is playing defense and not taking an offensive shot until about 1 minute and 15 seconds left in the match.
I'm very confident Spencer will win the Trials and Final X.
The biggest thing I see for the future is Spencer needs to medal at the World Championship and be in the "driver's seat" for the rest of this cycle.

 

[maxpain]

Some good discussion on the missed step out call that came back to bite Spencer. Starts around the 30 minute mark…

 

[mvattivo]

Some good discussion on the missed step out call that came back to bite Spencer. Starts around the 30 minute mark…

 

[BroncHawk]

What a waste of water. You that is. Not the AI used to make that.
@mvattivo

 

[maxpain]

 

[azchief32]

Spencer gets beat by big, Hail Mary moves. Happened in RAF and now at the Open. Also happened at NCAAs. Guys wrestle like they have nothing to lose against him. He needs to adjust and stay low and not be straight legged. Guys will spend minimal effort and just play defense in the first, stay close, and beat him in the last minute.

 

[mvattivo]

What a waste of water. You that is. Not the AI used to make that.
@mvattivo

I think you missed an opportunity to make fun of the fact that there is clearly a Tiger behind the wheel, making me even more of a "waste of water". Also, I meant to type "Ironbird (All)" for one of the choices and I accidentally typed "Ironman"

 

[inspiteofourselves]

Spencer gets beat by big, Hail Mary moves. Happened in RAF and now at the Open. Also happened at NCAAs. Guys wrestle like they have nothing to lose against him. He needs to adjust and stay low and not be straight legged. Guys will spend minimal effort and just play defense in the first, stay close, and beat him in the last minute.

His grip strength is one of his biggest attributes. I'd like to see him implement a Russian tie 2 on 1 with leads.

 

[HugoHugo]

His grip strength is one of his biggest attributes. I'd like to see him implement a Russian tie 2 on 1 with leads.

If he squeezes too hard, I would be very concerned about an adrenaline dump.

 

[dtripp26]

I think you missed an opportunity to make fun of the fact that there is clearly a Tiger behind the wheel, making me even more of a "waste of water". Also, I meant to type "Ironbird (All)" for one of the choices and I accidentally typed "Ironman"

How did you not make Brands one of the options?