In a significant development ahead of the 2025 Final X event, reigning World bronze medalist and 2023 World champion Vito Arujau has officially postponed his highly anticipated bout against rising star Jax Forrest. The 61 kg best-of-three series was initially scheduled for June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as part of USA Wrestling’s marquee Final X event. However, Arujau has been granted a medical delay, and the match will now take place at a later date.
Arujau, a standout for both Cornell University and the United States national team, earned an automatic berth to Final X by securing a bronze medal at the 2024 Senior World Championships in Belgrade. His performances over the last two years have positioned him as one of the most technically gifted and tactically sound freestyle wrestlers on the global stage.
Jax Forrest, on the other hand, is part of a surging new wave of American talent. Still a high school athlete, Forrest captured the 61 kg title at the 2025 U.S. Open, a performance that not only turned heads but also earned him a direct path to Final X. A 2022 U17 World silver medalist, Forrest has built a reputation for fearless wrestling and maturity far beyond his age.
According to USA Wrestling’s official 2025 World Team Trials Qualification & Procedures, wrestlers who have earned automatic Final X berths via World or Olympic medals are eligible to request medical delays, provided strict criteria are met. Arujau complied with the necessary documentation, including a signed certification from a USA Wrestling-approved physician submitted more than 48 hours before the scheduled weigh-in.
The delay has temporarily removed one of the event’s most anticipated showdowns, but the rest of Final X will move forward as planned. The June 14 showcase in Newark will still feature nine men’s and ten women’s freestyle championship bouts, along with multiple Greco-Roman matchups. The event also serves as the annual benefit for Beat the Streets New York, an organization dedicated to empowering New York City youth through wrestling.
The new date and venue for the Arujau vs. Forrest bout have not yet been finalized. Per USA Wrestling guidelines, both athletes and the National Coach must mutually agree on the rescheduling details. If no agreement is reached, the Men’s Freestyle Sport Committee will step in to determine the time and place.
The winner of this matchup will earn the right to represent Team USA at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, this coming September. For Arujau, it would mark yet another shot at global gold. For Forrest, it could mean a meteoric rise to the world stage while still in his teens.
While fans will have to wait a bit longer for the clash between veteran dominance and youthful momentum, one thing is certain: when Arujau and Forrest finally take the mat, the stakes couldn’t be higher.