NEWS: Delayed Final X series officially set for Woods, Blades and Welker

[Tanner Lafever]

This has been known for a while now, but USA Wrestling has officially released details for the delayed Final X series involving three Hawkeyes:

Final X, Presented By Kerberos Capital Management, Wrestle-Off Set For Sept. 25 In Ohio

The three outstanding best-of-three series for 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, will take place on Friday, Sept. 25, at Hilliard Davidson High School in the greater Columbus, Ohio, area.First-round matches will start at 6 p.m. (E...

www.themat.com

Real Woods (65kg - MFS), Kennedy Blades (68kg - WFS) and Kylie Welker (76kg - WFS) will all contest their respective best-of-three series on Friday, September 25th at Hilliard Davidson High School in (greater) Columbus, Ohio.

First Round matches begin at 5:00pm (CT), followed by Round Two at 6:30pm - and any if necessary Round Three matches held 30 minutes after the conclusion of Round Two.

As a reminder, Woods will face former Hawkeye commit (and recent U20 World champ) Bo Bassett. Blades will face former Hawkeye (and 2026 NCAA champ) Bella Mir. And Welker will have a rematch against last year’s Final X opponent - Dymond Guilford.

 

[Iron Doc]

What are their odds?
I don't follow freestyle much.

 

[grapplefan]

This has been known for a while now, but USA Wrestling has officially released details for the delayed Final X series involving three Hawkeyes:

Final X, Presented By Kerberos Capital Management, Wrestle-Off Set For Sept. 25 In Ohio

The three outstanding best-of-three series for 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, will take place on Friday, Sept. 25, at Hilliard Davidson High School in the greater Columbus, Ohio, area.First-round matches will start at 6 p.m. (E...

www.themat.com

Real Woods (65kg - MFS), Kennedy Blades (68kg - WFS) and Kylie Welker (76kg - WFS) will all contest their respective best-of-three series on Friday, September 25th at Hilliard Davidson High School in (greater) Columbus, Ohio.

First Round matches begin at 5:00pm (CT), followed by Round Two at 6:30pm - and any if necessary Round Three matches held 30 minutes after the conclusion of Round Two.

As a reminder, Woods will face former Hawkeye commit (and recent U20 World champ) Bo Bassett. Blades will face former Hawkeye (and 2026 NCAA champ) Bella Mir. And Welker will have a rematch against last year’s Final X opponent - Dymond Guilford.

I DO want Woods to leash Bassett, and for Blades to put a BIG whoop'n on Mir.
Want Welker to win as well, but I think that she'll have that match under control.

 

[T8KUDWN]

My prediction is Woods, Blades and Welker all take their series in 2 matches.

 

[sdvike]

Bassett best change it up a bit. Last thing you want to do is come charging into Real, he don't play.

 

[ChicagoHawk2020]

Reals gas tank might be an issue.

 

[Sunshinedynomite 1]

I hate to say it but Bassett will win 2-0 probably 2 TF's

 

[so cal hawkfan]

I hate to say it but Bassett will win 2-0 probably 2 TF's

I’m sure about 2 TFs, but I’ll be shocked if Real doesn’t lose the series 0-2. That Bassett de-commit is going to sting for a long time.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

What are their odds?
I don't follow freestyle much.

Assuming they’re all close to 100% fit/healthy?

I’d probably make Woods/Bassett a toss up, Blades an 80/20 favorite and Welker an 85/15 favorite.

Welker probably has the toughest opponent on paper - a legit top-10 wrestler in the World at 76kg - but she swept her a year ago at Final X. And the last time we saw Welker (at Pan-Ams) she teched/pinned two reigning Olympic bronze medalists and the reigning World champion.