Wyatt Hendrickson achieved the monumental feat every aspiring heavyweight dreams of. He conquered Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. This wasn’t just an NCAA heavyweight title; it was the “biggest upset in the history of the NCAA,” a seismic shift delivered by an Air Force lieutenant against an icon. Draping himself in the national flag, Hendrickson, the sheer magnitude of conquering the unconquerable washing over him. “It’s bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything,” he gasped, the emotion raw and real. For Hendrickson, that night was the pinnacle. A victory that should have catapulted him into wrestling’s absolute elite spotlight, Hendrickson finds himself facing a jarring reality check.

As Final X 2025, the U.S. world-team trials taking place June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.—approaches, the stage where World Team spots are forged, the man who felled an Olympic champion isn’t headlining. Amidst a stacked card of 20 bouts, Hendrickson’s crucial showdown with Trent Hillger has been relegated firmly to the midcard. For an athlete whose stock soared to unimaginable heights on the sport’s biggest collegiate stage, this positioning feels less like more like pulling the short end of the straw, overshadowed once again despite proving he belongs center stage.

Justin Basch took to X, Final X Match Order is set! And for all the buzz surrounding Wyatt Hendrickson’s shocking triumph over Gable Steveson, you’d expect him to headline or at least close the show, right? Think again. Sitting third on the card, Hendrickson vs. Trent Hillger is sandwiched between Levi Haines vs. Evan Wick (79 kg) and Josh Barr vs. Trent Hidlay (92 kg). It’s a midcard slot that raises eyebrows—not just because of Hendrickson’s recent heroics, but because it seems the biggest upset of the season is being treated like business as usual. Meanwhile, it’s Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. David Carr at 74 kg that’s getting the headliner spotlight. And to be fair, the rematch does pack drama.

Mesenbrink dismantled Carr at the U.S. Open, but Carr, an ex-U20 world champ got his revenge at the World Team Trials. With national pride and personal redemption on the line, it’s a razor-thin matchup that could go either way. Still, given the sheer shock factor of Hendrickson’s NCAA victory, it’s hard to argue that this bout carries more weight than knocking off a reigning Olympic gold medalist. Other matches slated before and after Hendrickson also carry intrigue. Hidlay’s underhook game at 92 kg is elite, but Barr brings U20 silver pedigree and that unpredictable freestyle spark.

But Hendrickson isn’t just another solid wrestler with “potential.” He’s the man who toppled an Olympic giant with a grip that he described in his own words, “I knew I had a good grip on him. I knew he was feeling my pressure… it was just a long 20 seconds.” A grip, a hold, a miracle. That moment could’ve opened or closed the show. Instead, he’s in the middle, quietly gunning for a Vegas win. One that could punch his ticket to represent Team USA at the 2024 World Championships in Croatia.

Legacy in the making: Wyatt Hendrickson’s mission beyond the mat

Wyatt Hendrickson is gearing up for one of the most critical moments in his career: the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open in Las Vegas. With Olympic dreams on the horizon, the stakes couldn’t be higher. After capturing the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy and dominating the collegiate circuit, Hendrickson now shifts his focus to the senior level, where the U.S. Open serves as his first major launchpad toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This perfectly encapsulates just how deeply rooted this journey is in something more meaningful than just medals.

What sets Hendrickson apart isn’t just what he does on the mat but how he balances it all off of it. As a full-time member of the U.S. Air Force through the World Class Athlete Program, Hendrickson juggles military discipline with global athletic ambition. The Air Force not only supports his Olympic pursuit but also provides a structured platform that fuels his relentless drive. It’s a rare synergy. An elite wrestler and a serviceman fighting not just for victory, but for something greater. Wrestling, for Hendrickson, is a vessel of purpose, leadership, and grit, a chance to prove that excellence can be forged in service as well as sport.

With his eyes on Olympic gold, Hendrickson is not just chasing wins. He’s chasing a legacy. Each match is a building block in a much larger mission: to be remembered not only as a champion but as a symbol of resilience and purpose. As he moves from NCAA dominance to global contention, Hendrickson remains laser-focused on the long game. His story is still being written, but the vision is crystal clear. And with all the stars aligning, one has to wonder. Can Wyatt Hendrickson become the ultimate embodiment of service, sport, and legacy?