Now we all know just how big of a deal Spencer Lee is. Right from his rookie days at the Hawkeyes, everyone who knew a thing about the mat knew that he was meant for great things. And now three NCAA titles and one Olympic silver later, there aren’t many who are as prolific as Yoda when it comes to 57 Kilos. That is, until his surprise upset at the hands of Masanosuke Ono earlier this year. But Spencer has one more chance at redemption and to secure his ticket to the world championships. But for that, he’s got a long road ahead.

After all he’s had to battle through some major stuff, most notably needing surgery on both his knees after injuries just kept coming back. It got so bad he had to take a medical redshirt in his final college season, even though he started strong at 3-0. His whole story is just incredibly inspiring. But guess what? Spencer is back on top now, and the entire wrestling world is buzzing like crazy! So, what does this mean for what he does next on the global stage?

Then, boom! May 7, 2025, rolls around, and FloWrestling drops this bomb that just sent shockwaves everywhere: Spencer Lee is officially the number one ranked wrestler in the world at 57 kg! These rankings put him right at the pinnacle of a weight class that’s been stacked with tough competitors lately, which has added huge pressure to Lee.

Although this huge achievement comes after he had a really solid performance at the 2024 World Olympic Games Qualifier over in Istanbul, Turkey, and then, of course, his showing at the Paris Olympics, where he got that silver medal. He didn’t get the gold, though. Now, with that number one spot locked down, he is ready to make a huge statement. But the big question is, how is this new ranking going to change things heading into the upcoming World Championships?

The implications of Spencer’s new ranking for the World Championships are massive, especially if he qualifies through the Final X process. Historically, those world rankings play a huge role in seeding at the Championships. Higher-ranked wrestlers often get better seeds, which can lead to more favorable brackets. This means they might avoid wrestling other elite guys early in the tournament.

Back in 2019, they looked at it and saw that six out of eight returning world champions, all seeded in the top three, ended up winning. For Spencer, being the top-ranked guy could mean getting a top seed, potentially putting him on the opposite side of the bracket from his toughest opponents. But first, he has to get through Final X—that super tough series that decides who makes the U.S. World Championship team.

It pits U.S. Open placers against World Team Trials winners, and sometimes Open champions even get a direct pass to the final if there’s no returning world medalist in their weight class. So, can Spencer lock in his spot and take advantage of this potential seeding boost?

Lee to square off with reigning U20 World Champion at Final X

Alright, let’s get even more pumped about this potential showdown! It’s not just a potential match anymore—it’s happening! We’re talking about Spencer Lee, the guy just ranked world number one, squaring off against Luke Lilledahl at the 2025 Final X! This is a genuine clash of generations—Lee, the established 26-year-old veteran, versus Lilledahl, the 19-year-old reigning U20 World Champion who’s just exploded onto the scene.

It’s going to be fascinating because they’ve got intriguing styles: both are super savvy in freestyle, but Lee is deadly with turning takedowns into offense and from the top position, while Lilledahl is known for those lightning-fast leg attacks and controlling where the match happens on the mat. Get this—they have met on the Senior level before, back at the 2023 Bill Farrell tournament.

Lee was getting ready for his Olympic run then, and Lilledahl was still in high school! The stakes are through the roof because this Final X series is the battleground for that single spot on the U.S. World Championship team. You’ve got the three-time NCAA champ from Iowa (Lee) against the true freshman Big Ten champ and NCAA All-American from Penn State (Lilledahl).

It’s the proven superstar against the rapidly rising phenom, both fighting for the chance to represent the U.S. on the biggest world stage. Who gets to go? It’s going to be a must-watch mat classic!