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2026 FINAL X
BEAT THE STREETS
ANNUAL BENEFIT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FINAL X-BTS ANNUAL BENEFIT
- 01Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, is USA Wrestling’s Senior World Championship Team Trials, held in non-Olympic years like in 2026. Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. World Championship Team in two international disciplines: men's freestyle and women’s freestyle. A total of 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. In each weight class, the top two U.S. athletes will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative at the 2026 Senior World Championships in Manama, Bahrain. The 2026 Senior World Championships are the premier annual international wrestling competition, featuring the best athletes from around the world. Final X also serves as the 16th Annual Benefit for Beat the Streets New York, helping raise critical funds to support youth wrestling and life-skills programming for K-12 New York City boys and girls. Why is it called Final X? “Final” represents the last stage in the process for selecting the U.S. World Championships Teams in men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. The “X” symbolizes the Roman numeral for 10, reflecting the number of weight classes contested in each discipline. What are the rules of freestyle wrestling? Final X features freestyle wrestling for both men and women. Freestyle allows the use of both upper- and lower-body offense and defense (including leg attacks). The Rules of Freestyle Wrestling - EXPLAINED! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp-hWr-opUc
- 02Friday, June 19, 2026 Prudential Center Newark, New Jersey What is the 2026 Final X schedule? 12:30 p.m. ET – True-third matches 2 p.m. ET – Best-of-3 series Round 1 5 p.m. ET – Best-of-3 series Round 2 & Round 3 (if necessary) Each Final X matchup is a best-of-three series. The first athlete to win two matches wins the series. Matches are scored independently (not cumulative).
- 03Sponsorship packages are available through Beat the Streets New York and include: • Premium event access • Brand visibility • Hospitality benefits These partnerships directly support youth wrestling and development programs across New York City. For inquiries, contact Beat the Streets New York Executive Director Bob Seidel at bseidel@btsny.org.(mailto:bseidel@btsny.org)
- 04Beat the Streets New York website – BTSNY.ORG (https://give.btsny.org/2026FinalX) VIP tickets and sponsorship packages offer premium seating and exclusive access to the Final X after-party. Proceeds directly support Beat the Streets New York and its mission to empower New York City boys and girls through wrestling and life-skills development. For more information on ticket packages, email BTSNY Executive Director Bob Seidel at bseidel@btsny.org.(mailto:bseidel@btsny.org) Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02006446B152A439) Standard event tickets (without after-party access) are available on Ticketmaster. At checkout, you can make a generous donation to support BTSNY. How can I get 2026 Final X group tickets? Discounted group tickets are available through Beat the Streets New York. • 20% off 8 or more tickets • Valid on lowest 3 price levels ($54, $90, $130) For details and seating availability, contact Eileen Swick at eswick@btsny.org.(mailto:eswick@btsny.org)
- 05Athletes can qualify through one of three pathways: 2025 Senior World Championship medalist Medalists automatically advance to Final X if they compete at the same weight class they won a 2025 Senior World Championship medal at. U.S. Open Champion Winners of each weight class at the U.S. Open earn a Final X spot. U.S. Open: April 23-25 at The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Winners of each weight class at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament that do not have a 2025 Senior World Championship medalist will earn a Final X spot. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament: May 14-15 at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville, Kentucky Who is eligible to advance directly to the 2026 Final X? Below is a list of the 2025 Senior World Championship medalists who are eligible to advance directly to the 2026 Final X. All medalists accepted their automatic bid to 2026 Final X. Men’s freestyle • 65 kg: Real Woods (bronze)(https://www.btsny.org/post/real-woods-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) • 79 kg: Levi Haines (silver)(https://www.btsny.org/post/levi-haines-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) • 86 kg: Zahid Valencia (gold)(https://www.btsny.org/post/zahid-valencia-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) • 92 kg: Trent Hidlay (gold)(https://www.btsny.org/post/trent-hidlay-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) • 97 kg: Kyle Snyder (gold) (https://www.btsny.org/post/kyle-snyder-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) Women’s freestyle • 57 kg: Helen Maroulis (gold)(https://www.btsny.org/post/helen-maroulis-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) • 68 kg: Kennedy Blades (bronze)(https://www.btsny.org/post/kennedy-blades-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling) • 76 kg: Kylie Welker (bronze)(https://www.btsny.org/post/kylie-welker-final-x-2026-usa-wrestling)
- 06Matchups are determined as follows: If a 2025 Senior World medalist is present and accepts their automatic bid: • 2025 Senior World Medalist vs. 2026 U.S. Open Champion If a 2025 Senior World medalist is not present: • 2026 U.S. Open Champion vs. 2026 World Team Trials Challenge Champion What are true-third matches? True-third matches determine the No. 3 athlete on the 2026-27 U.S. National Team. These matches are held when the second- and third-place finishers from a qualifying event did not previously compete against each other. Winners receive National Team support, including funding, training, and competition opportunities.
- 07The venue is two blocks from Newark Penn Station, connection available via: • NJ Transit • PATH Train For more information, visit the Prudential Center website.(https://www.prucenter.com/transit) What parking is available at Prudential Center? There are multiple parking garages and lots near the venue. For more information, visit the Prudential Center website.(https://www.prucenter.com/parking)
- 08Supporters can make a tax-deductible donation at btsny.org.(https://give.btsny.org/give/766791/#!/donation/checkout) Contributions help fund youth wrestling programs and provide life-skills development opportunities that empower New York City boys and girls both on and off the mat.
- 09Beat the Streets New York and USA Wrestling are seeking volunteers to assist with: • Athlete escorting • Event operations • Compliance with United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) procedures Requirements: • 18+ years old • Complete USA Wrestling SafeSport Certification Volunteers can sign up via the official registration form.(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBz8-ewLiSX6PGbqkJr-i9RXvIeEdKBLw1lEFZHCMNrVJksA/viewform)
- 10Official Final X merchandise will be available for purchase through event partners RUDIS and on-site at Prudential Center.
- 11FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcast partner for Final X. Fans can watch the event live or on-demand at FloWrestling.com.(http://FloWrestling.com) A FloWrestling subscription is required to watch this event.
- 12All journalists seeking credentials to 2026 Final X at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. will apply through usawmembership.com.(http://usawmembership.com) The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. (ET) on Monday, June 1. For any questions regarding the application process, please visit the USA Wrestling Media Center (https://www.themat.com/media-center)or email communications@usawrestling.org. (mailto:communications@usawrestling.org)
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