Darrion Caldwell vs. Brent Metcalf: 2009 NCAA wrestling championships (149 lbs.)

[@Redleader52]

Caldwell had Metcalf's number. They call it a huge upset, but Caldwell topped him 3 times. Looking back, Metcalf's 2008 was one of the best seasons ever, so the win here was pretty awesome. Great job Darrion!

[@norberto169]

U wise guy lol

[@PJP1112]

Kinda like how the wrestling world calling Ramos over Lee as the biggest upset since Gable lost to Owings, yet the first time they wrestled Ramos had a 8-1 lead prior to getting pinned.

[@chadsdadbrad]

I think Caldwell only beat him twice

[@jmsmith1767]

@@chadsdadbradyup Metcalf won the exhibition Caldwell won when it counted.

[@kristopherwilson506]

@@PJP1112 "prior to getting pinned" is the key there, though. Caldwell beat Metcalf; Ramos, despite having the lead, never beat Lee.

[@spectrumifs]

The big loser(s) in this match were the commentators.

[@user-cq6dg6ql9j]

For real. They were hanging on Metcalf’s nuts the entire time. Sorry their golden boy lost to a relatively unknown to them, but people from NJ have been well aware of Caldwell’s insane talent for years.

[@ajlett7279]

I was just staying that! " Now he needs to get off the mat like a winner?"" They have no clue how it feels to win a NCAA Championship.

[@evanthompson6]

"NEUTRAL! NEUTRAL!"

[@humbertogonzalez8643]

Great official.

[@gerpsh]

Seems like Metcalf always won by forcing his opponent to wrestle the kind of match he wanted, so he was always able to muscle down and contain him. Caldwell was so much of a loose cannon wildcard that Metcalf's strategy couldn't work, Metcalf was always getting caught off-guard. Nobody expects a single leg shot from 6 feet away, or a headlock hip toss from a routine tie up. Caldwell also had some serious tenacity and funk when it came to takedown defense.

[@Buckshotshorty1221]

Hear that bs from the commentator? He needs to get up and walk off. Let’s win right too? What a crock, the kid did nothing wrong. Let him have his moment

[@jasoncortez1238]

That was crazy. Caldwell was celebrating for like 10 seconds showing some emotion and this guy couldn’t hold back his anger that he won.

[@user-cq6dg6ql9j]

The kid pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA finals history (and by scoring 4 takedowns and riding time). He earned the right to bask in a moment that many won’t soon forget.

[@maliklowry1236]

I love how this match triggers so many people!

[@thatgui88]

I wonder why lol

[@steinervision7643]

Great wrestlers! Caldwell was impressive!!

[@andreszamora6437]

Jersey boi!!!! I grew up in roselle park nj same county as Caldwell in Rahway he’s a legend in NJ HE DESERVED THIS. Metcalf was terrible in the final for that (keeping Caldwell from celebrating) and I loved metcalf

[@caseyschoenleber1760]

Will never forget a young freshman caldwell upsetting my favorite wrestler i looked up to in the pre-quarters that year (2004??) Boardwalk hall legend for sure

[@dangerpowers4582]

​@caseyschoenleber1760 I love learning about wrestling lore. Who did he beat?

[@andreszamora6437]

Also a jersey boi Caldwell he thanked god for that!! As all us do bro god family country and New Jersey

[@landonova]

whats darrions wing span? brent couldnt handle his length

[@B00glefop]

74 inches which is around 6'1

[@simpleagain1]

Yup. Short guy trying to wrestle a tall guy’s game. Ain’t happening. It’s simple physics

[@mitchellbowman22]

Joe buck: THAT IS A DISGUSTING ACT FROM DARION CALDWELL

[@davidtrani190]

To me the ref was on NC state side, and Iowa was having a brain freeze.

[@Ur2ez4me81]

They took a team point from NC for Caldwell’s early celebration but didn’t do nothing about Metcalf?

[@bradyrobin6356]

Dude, metcalf got the unsportsmanlike. Not Caldwell

[@WilliamKreutinger]

@@bradyrobin6356 they both did lol

[@jmsmith1767]

0:45 how? How is hitting a nasty headlock and not getting rolled through no respect? The wanted DC to lay down for Metcalf but, he’s a fighter!

[@jessmoore8707]

I gave different reading of that comment. I took Blantick as paying Caldwell the ultimate complement. He was saying that Caldwell wasn't scared of Metcalf or his 70~ match win streak.

[@ywmedia]

​@@jessmoore8707 you're exactly right. It's the same as calling someone "disrespectful" for dunking on someone. It's not literal (or at least not entirely). He was saying that Caldwell had some cajones and wasn't wrestling scared. Almost anybody else against Metcalf in this moment of magnitude would probably wrestle timid.

[@fangiscool1]

This was a compliment on his lack of fear of Metcalf. Wrestling scared = showing (too much) respect

[@jdog299]

he meant no respect in a good way

[@traviswilliams8943]

White commentator announcer could not contain or conceal his bias against Caldwell during the match and during the victory celebration. But he hardly condemned Metcalf’s sore loosing shove of an airborne competitor after the clock had run out!

[@samcarp7815]

He’s from Iowa

[@Mma-basement-215]

Lol he's from Iowa dude

[@derekgill5953]

Maybe don't attempt a backflip with time still on the board. Lesson learned.

[@jt519]

@@derekgill5953The match was over with already, he didn’t attempt the backflip until one second left. The ref blew his whistle at least 10 times to try and get Metcalf to stop. No defending Metcalf in this one. Caldwell won Nationals something that only 1% of all wrestlers ever accomplish. HES ALLOWED TO BE FUCKING EXCITED. Lame

[@derekgill5953]

​@@jt519 If that's Freestyle that's 4 and match.

[@Leggoh26]

Iowa meat rider

[@gunnerjax9012]

11:20 “now he needs to get up and he needs to walk off” racism is crazy 😭😭

[@gkraith2995]

? How???

[@emmanuelrodriguez9612]

Calling it racism is a reach honestly😭 but that commentator a metcalf meat rider

[@gunnerjax9012]

@@emmanuelrodriguez9612 fair

[@jordansmith4089]

If everything is racist then I’m reality, nothing is racist. Can’t cry racism 24/7, clown

[@hotspot131638837]

@@gunnerjax9012 nerd

[@Wendover0911]

R.I.P May Osterman

[@number3stunner118]

Who's May Osterman? Is that the announcer lady?

[@anthonymuex8387]

He said Caldwell needed to walk off, however, Metcalf did a cheap shot where someone could have been hurt! How was this an upset?

[@Nate_Burre]

Aside from Gable-Owings... this is the biggest upset in NCAA history

[@number3stunner118]

@@Nate_Burre He's asking "How?". They were both undefeated, and Caldwell had beaten him the year before.

[@Nate_Burre]

@number3stunner118 what your saying is true "on paper"... however, that spladle was looked at as a fluke by most, & let's be honest, he really wasn't stuck... & Metcalf was absolutely destroying everyone in a true "1987 Mike Tyson" fashion... generally speaking, nobody saw that coming (except Caldwell).

[@number3stunner118]

@@Nate_Burre I think the point he was making was that that's what he was looking for. I don't think it's under Gable Owens for those other reasons, though. I don't feel strongly about it being called an upset - but I think second greatest is a bit much - as, even without the faulty call, we don't know that he wouldn't have made it out of that spladle - and if he did, he'd be 5 points down, and still could have lost. Darrion wasn't a pushover for him - although it's possible that match would've turned around. And with them both being undefeated in the finals - I know it's not the same as say, MMA, but there you shouldn't totally count out an undefeated guy - I'd say even in wrestling when there is a history before that season that can be true by the time you get to the D1 tournament - because even against a guy who's assumed to be better, he's a wildcard.

[@Nate_Burre]

@number3stunner118 ya I get what your saying, after all it's the finals & they're both undefeated... I think the all-star match @ Ohio State plays into the perceived levels between them... however, what you say about a 5pt from the spladle's true

[@TheInternetShow12]

When it’s a black guy he needs to “walk off and win right to “ fuck outta here

[@Discipleofthelordandjesus]

Yeah I’m really starting to see a double standard on the online world.

[@davidgenovese3799]

You make no sense this is always the case win with composure the black kid also had none this match between the celebrating during the match and the cheap tactics he had during the match like hands to the face and in the headgear you clearly know nothing

[@TheInternetShow12]

@@davidgenovese3799 how many national titles have you won??

[@davidgenovese3799]

@@TheInternetShow12 2

[@TheInternetShow12]

@@davidgenovese3799 division ?

[@JG-re2bb]

Caldwell had crazy athleticism

[@jdyer1231]

Caldwell better on his feet. Quicker. Love this match. Metcalf poor loser.

[@anthonymuex8387]

Now he needs to get up and walk off after being cheap shot by Metcalf

[@stephenoni2019]

a win's a win!!

[@billybud9557]

Caldwell stalled well; he was tired, adjusting his headgear, milking injury time, using the tricks to extend his small gas tank. But his wrestling was truly outstanding.

[@keyboard2758]

Holy cope

[@darylc2799]

See it all the time...guys screaming like their leg came off and then wrestling hard 1 minute later. Caldwell was the better wrestler

[@johnfrans4878]

The only correct part of your comment was, "his wrestling was truly outstanding". Funny, you thought he had a small gas tank with an undefeated record AND in the NCAA finals.

[@arizonaron5149]

he was gassed.. knew him from hs wrestling.. he used the system to his advantage.. wasn't the first guy to ever do it and won't be the last.. Burroughs stalled all the time and still does.. fixes his socks or knee pad at all the right moments.. go back and look..

[@ethanbirden6589]

You are 100% right Dake, Taylor, and Andrew Howe had below average gas tanks. The only reason JB won was because he was smarter and mentally tougher.

[@mickmill3314]

I would have scratched his eye out

[@sandiwilliams-e7u]

Caldwell had to take 10 breaks to even get through the match , I wouldn't even consider that a win.

[@crimsonchin142]

Thank god nobody gives bout your thoughts

[@Corey-r9u]

It's funny how the commentator said, " He needs to get up and walk off" after he just won a National Championship? I've seen other(black & white) wrestlers celebrate and nothing was said about their celebrations. Some cried, some ran and hugged their coaches while lifting them in the air, some even walked in a circle waving and so on but I've never heard this mentioned to a wrestler. I followed that season and Metcalf did get him in an earlier match winning with no problem. I believe because of the earlier win he thought he was going to coast it....he was wrong! This shows that you always have to stay on your game, always!!

[@davidgantz9378]

Yes this announcer was a PATHETICALLY biased Iowa fanboy. Incredibly unprofessional and though I hate when whites are falsely accused of the bs 'racism' allegation, with this announcer it was barely veiled. Horrible announcing performance > DO BETTER !

[@mitchellbowman22]

Caldwell looks older then than he does now

[@joedirte1029]

No arguing with the 4 takedowns, but the hands to the face and hanging on to the headgear is pretty low.

[@teehills007]

Dominant

[@ianmiles8635]

So the announcer is the one who decides what winning right is. How bout almost paralyzing the winner is definitely losing wrong.

[@maxs2395]

He started backing up and celebrating right away face your opponent, and wrestle to the whistle doesn't matter who you are.

[@zuriwes3491]

Caldwell pinned metcalf in 2007

[@ianmiles8635]

Metcalf could've broke the champions neck.

[@dougmasters4620]

Refs handed the match to Caldwell with all the “neutral” Bs

[@hawgifan]

Injury time out then stall for rest time and do back flip then admit bm is 3 rd period dominator because of conditioning. ?? No excuse for pushing after back flip

[@caseyschoenleber1760]

He smoked iowa's golden boi for 6 straight minutes before that hahah shut up

[@rayfamily4893]

Back when wrestling was racist lol

[@jt519]

Still is lmao

[@chrislee7929]

Two idiots

[@bigsticky9474]

Fr I’ve never noticed any racism

[@user-cq6dg6ql9j]

Wasn’t racism, just severe Tom Brands/Iowa/Metcalf bias. Ed Ruth is black, won 3 titles, and every commentator heralded him. The commentators couldn’t get off of Metcalf’s nuts. They were pissed that some unknown dude for NC State beat their golden boy. But people from NJ have known how gifted Caldwell is from his 3 NJ state titles.

[@rayfamily4893]

You are probably right! It was just out of control. Also when he won just felt like they were hating bad.

[@nickwilliam78]

What a cheater..he went from an injury timeout to doing backflips seconds later.. WTF

[@Tdinh79]

How is 5:30 not a take down for Metcalf? Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?

[@romeldelmundo2584]

Cause of the lock and i think cause their still scrambling

[@Tdinh79]

@@romeldelmundo2584 technically he can still lock as he transitions Caldwell to his butt. However, as soon as he hits his butt and his head is to the side, that is an automatic 2. It's no different than if wrestler has a bodylock behind their opponent and get them to touch their hands to the mat if even for a millisecond. It's an automatic 2 points regardless if they are scrambling.

[@marleywashington6218]

He wasn’t in control

[@darylc2799]

No control

[@johnfrans4878]

@@Tdinh79 Nope. You are just wrong. It's ok. It happens. move on.

[@MrJeremytaz]

Ha ha ha commentators saying metcaf gas tank last into the third period looks like it’s empty in the third! That’s what I hate about the kids wrestling now they cut back on the time in each round so what are we teaching our kids? To not have a gas tank? I mean my kid has come back in the third a lot but now that it’s shorter time it just gives kids an upper hand that can’t go the distance. Look at what Ali did to foreman!!

[@anthonybrown7650]

Caldwell is a dirty wrestler but he's really good tho

[@davidgantz9378]

Its not about joining the church choir. The rules allowed everything for hat match to conclude w/o disqualification. Also Metcalf was punching him in face also

[@yankeesny1572]

Metcalf always overrated

[@joebuck4957]

Hawkeye wrestling in general

[@XaviGotBandz1]

You can say whatever you want, his lefty high crotch was fucking disgusting

[@tfries72]

He’s a 2 time champ…what are you smoking

[@otto8936]

With the modern 3-point takedown, Caldwell sort of manhandled him

[@DavidJohnson-qq9qb]

With the neutral danger rule along with the 3-point takedowns though, Metcalf would have scored a 7-point move in the 2nd. With modern college rules, I have the match scored at 14-12 Metcalf (the intentional release at the end would have been unnecessary), and that also excludes any stalling Caldwell could have potentially gotten for holding the ankle or riding below the waist (it was close to a 5 count a few times, but I’m not confident enough to say any points should have been awarded). At the end of a day though, a great match between 2 really talented wrestlers. Caldwell wrestled a really aggressive, smart, and gritty match - very deserving of a national title.

[@otto8936]

@@DavidJohnson-qq9qb lol, what “7-point move”?

[@DavidJohnson-qq9qb]

Around the 5:45 mark in the video, they got into a scramble, and Caldwell tried to roll through and was caught on his back for 8-10 seconds. With the neutral danger rule, Metcalf would have been awarded 3 takedown and 4 nearfall for that sequence. All I’m saying is we can’t pick and choose which modern rules we want to apply to the match if we’re gonna talk about how the match would play out today. Either apply them all, or don’t apply any of them. Only applying the 3-point takedown rule is an inaccurate representation of how the match would have been scored.

[@otto8936]

@@DavidJohnson-qq9qb I counted maximum 3 seconds of exposure - no takedown and no near falls, even with modern rules

[@DavidJohnson-qq9qb]

3 seconds of exposure would have been 3 takedown, and he was still on his back after that for 4-5 seconds 🤷‍♂️ that’s a 7-point move.