#BudaWrestle2018

Wrestling Releases Top Seeds for 2018 Senior World Championships

Friday, October 5, 2018 - 11:32 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (October 5) – With less than three weeks until the start of the Wrestling World Championships in Budapest, United World Wrestling has released the names of wrestlers eligible to receive seeds in all 30 weight categories.

The 2018 Senior Wrestling World Championships are the first to utilize a ranking system for determination of competitive seeds. Previously athletes were randomly pulled into the brackets via a random draw. The new ranking series and seeding system were announced at the 2017 World Championships in Paris.

“We are excited to see the results of this year’s rankings on the competitiveness of the world championships,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “We will pay close attention to the results and of course, if necessary, adjust some parts of the rankings to make better conditions for athletes and fans.”

Only wrestlers finishing within the top four of the pre-World’s competition calendar are eligible to receive a seed, and the seed is non-transferable to other wrestlers of the same national federation. If a seeded wrestler does not enter at their designated weight the seed goes to the next ranked wrestler.

For example, if the N°1 seed withdraws, the N°2 seed will take his position. Then the N°3 seed will take the position of the N°2 seed and the N°4 seed will take the position of the N°3 seed. The position of the N°4 seed will be free and be randomly drawn.

Wrestlers also may not carry their seed to a new weight class.

The rankings were determined by tallying points acquired at Continental championships and several Ranking Series tournaments (listed below). Results from the world championships will also be added to the rankings and final results will be listed later in the year.

Men’s Freestyle

Ivan Yarygin (RUS) | Tbilisi GP (GEO) | Yasar Dogu (TUR) | Medved (BLR)

Women’s Wrestling

Klippan Lady Open (SWE) | Mongolia Open (MGL) | China Open (CHN) | Poland Open (POL)  

Greco-Roman

Takhti Cup (IRI) | Granma y Cerro Pelado (CUB) | Hungarian GP (HUN) | Vehbi Emre (TUR)

** The full list of seeds can be found, here. **

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Best Move: Blades Suplex

Friday, February 14, 2025 - 15:22 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 14) -- Kennedy BLADES (USA) is making the suplex her own. After thrilling a packed Champs de Mars Arena with a majestic suplex at the Paris Olympics, the 21-year-old star began her 2025 season with two of them at the Zagreb Open last week.

"When I get behind, in my mind, I am like I have to execute this because it's so rare to hit a suplex," Blades said in Zagreb. "So every time I get behind in matches or big stages, I try to hit the suplex. I want to do it at the world stage because I know it will be on the highlights."

At the Zagreb Open, Blades was at 68kg, two weight classes down from 76kg, in which she won the silver medal at the Paris Games. She debuted at 68kg with a fall over Kendra DACHER (FRA) and another fall over world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE).

The first glimpse of her suplex in the match against Noémi SZABADOS (HUN). Close to a minute had gone in the bout when Blades used her reach for a outside single-leg. Instead of going for a takedown, she stood up and locked Szabados from behind and out came the throw.

However, the perfect arch was missing and it was awarded four points.

Blades wasn't satisfied. In Round 5 and leading 7-0, Blades countered Karolina POK (HUN) in a perfect set up for a suplex. Pok made a half-hearted attempt for a headlock but Blades snuck out and moved behind.

Pok knew it was coming. She did not resist and Blades did not relent. A picture-perfect arch, a beautiful throw, safe landing and a cheeky smile at the end. Blades was content.

"I just feel like when someone gets a headlock, they probably have to throw it really hard because growing up, I used to wrestle Greco in the summer," she said. "So my coach always taught us how to set up the suplex if they grab your head for a headlock and they don't go. When someone gets in a headlock position and they don't go super hard, then the suplex is there. If I would ever be in that position, I just go flat because I know that they can probably throw me. "

While it has become relatively easy for Blades to throw her opponents at 68kg, she still needs to tackle their speed and movement.

"I think at 68kg, the girls just feel lighter and that's what makes it a tiny bit easier," she said. "The difference though is that they wrestle a little bit more so my conditioning and footwork needs to be better. Whereas at 76kg, they're kind of hand fighting. It's more like strength. But at 68kg, it's speed and technique. It's hard to distinguish if it's easier or not, but I think the fact that I was able to lift the girls up easy was the best thing ever."

The suplex isn't new to Blades. She performed one at the U20 World Championships back in 2021, then at the Olympics and now in Zagreb. However, Blades picks the one in Paris as the best one so far.

"The best suplex is probably my Olympic one because that was straight back on her neck, on the Olympic stage, first match." she said. "I was on fire. I kind of want to see that the suplex I just hit because I think it was pretty nice. But the Olympic one is so hard to beat and I was in a pink singlet."