The match was circled on every wrestling fan’s calendar — not just because of what was at stake, but who was stepping on the mat. It pitted the most decorated collegiate wrestler in NCAA history against a legend of the freestyle world. Carter Starocci, Penn State’s five-time NCAA champion, is still fresh from writing his story in college wrestling history against Kyle Dake, a four-time world champion, two-time Olympic medalist, and one of the most accomplished freestyle wrestlers the U.S. has ever produced. Teammates at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, separated by experience but united by greatness, were about to clash for a spot at Final X. Starocci, just entering his post-college career. Dake, 34, is nearing its twilight. It wasn’t just a match — it was a collision of eras, styles, and legacies. And what unfolded left the wrestling world in stunned debate.

In one of the most explosive finishes you’ll ever see at a World Team Trials final, Carter Starocci thought he had done the unthinkable—upending the veteran, Kyle Dake, at 86kg. With seconds left, he got in deep on Dake’s legs. He drove through Dake’s defense, elevating and returning him to the mat in what appeared to be a takedown. The referee’s hand shot up and awarded two points as the time expired. The scoreboard flashed 5-3 Starocci. Dake immediately signaled for review. Officials huddled around monitors while tension gripped the arena.

The replay showed Starocci had indeed secured Dake’s legs and initiated the takedown motion, but the critical question was whether he had established full control before the clock hit zero. After a lengthy review that seemed to stretch for eternity, the verdict came down. The decision? No points. No win. Dake survived—barely. It ended 3-3. But by the criteria, Dake walked off the mat victorious.

This wasn’t just any match. This was a legacy checkpoint. For Dake, 34, it meant one more run. One more Final X, where he’ll now rematch Zahid Valencia, the man who beat him at the U.S. Open in April. It is also another step toward what could be a final world title run. He’s already got four world golds. Starocci, meanwhile, has nothing to hang his head about.

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His transition from folkstyle to freestyle is just beginning. If this match proved anything, it’s that he belongs on the senior stage—and he’s coming. So, was it a takedown? The result says no! So what does the fan think?

Fans are divided over who should get their support between Starocci and Dake

The wrestling world lit up with debate after Premier Wrestling handle Saturday Night Live Wrestling dropped a new video that kindled the debate. The clip, posted to X (formerly Twitter), wasn’t just any replay but was enhanced, showing the final moments with a timer, a clearer clock, and slow-motion footage. And just like that, fans were off to the races, dissecting every frame of those last few seconds to figure out one thing: was it a takedown?

One fan succinctly captured the confusion that had everyone scratching their heads: “Folks, I think that’s a takedown. The reaction was Kyle Dake swinging his legs in. Free, I have no idea.” And to be honest, this comment perfectly summed up how the same sequence can be interpreted differently depending on whether one applies collegiate folk-style rules (where Starocci excelled as a five-time NCAA champion) or international freestyle criteria (where Dake built his four-time world champion status).

Well, at first glance, it looked like Carter had it. But then the slow-motion hit, and minds began to shift. One viewer admitted, “Assuming the clock in the graphic is correct, that’s no takedown. In real time, I thought it was definitely a TD.” It was the kind of reversal only wrestling fans could appreciate—going from 100% sure to  wait a minute… after seeing the clock tick down in agonizing detail.

Timing, it turned out, was everything. But even that was up for debate. Another fan pointed out a detail that threw the entire argument into question: “The score bug wasn’t the official clock. This was announced during the review. The camera angle from the Judge’s side showed that time ran out.” Suddenly, the playing field shifted again.

If the clock the fans were watching wasn’t the same one the officials used, then the whole debate might be based on incomplete info. It left everyone wondering—did we ever really see what the refs saw? Of course, not everyone was looking for a technical ruling. One commenter summed up what a lot of fans were thinking, albeit in more personal terms: “My only opinion was to give the takedown to Carter simply because I’d rather see him vs. Zahid than Dake vs. Zahid again lol.”

Sometimes, it’s not about rules or angles or milliseconds. It’s about matchups. Starocci vs. Zahid felt fresh. Dake vs. Zahid? A bit more “been there, seen that.” But with the call going Dake’s way, it’s him who’s heading to Final X on June 14 for a rematch with Valencia. The controversy is clearly hinged on freestyle wrestling’s specific difference in takedown rule.

To the wrestler who overcomes and then controls his opponent by passing behind (three points of contact: two arms and one knee or two knees and one arm or head or elbow). Whether Starocci established this control before time expired remains the question that has divided the wrestling world into passionate camps, with each side convinced they’re seeing the definitive truth in those final crucial milliseconds.