Jesse Mendez vs Zain Retherford - 65kg semi final - 2024 U.S Olympic Team Trials

[@jolIyjoeker]

Mendez is the future of this weight. Kid is making leaps and bounds early in his career

[@joef3423]

Méndez Is awsome but there are so many young studs coming up. There are three or four guys in that Wright that could medal at the Olympics.

[@mikemcnut3204]

Yes. Mendez is also training with Logan Stieber, JJaggers, and Nick Bouzakis. AND HE IS BUYING IN. He will be on a world team.

[@Zoomer-te9us]

Great match. Mendez is gonna be a beast in the years to come.

[@batchlad]

I dislike the tie goes to latest scorer. Ignoring the “passivity point”, this match was 1:1 takedowns, retherford did not really outscore his opponent

[@jwin814]

He didn't have to. These are the rules Zain got the last take down so he didn't have to score anymore. We know Zain can score he was one of the most prolific wrestlers on his feet. But you don't need to take chances if you are winning.

[@batchlad]

@@jwin814 yes I understand the rules. I am annoyed by the rules, not Zain’s performance.

[@SteveWildasin]

3rd match of the day for Mendez. Didn't have the energy level needed. It was Zains first match of the day.

[@johnnyshepherd3055]

That’s crazy they didn’t hit Retherford with passivity

[@jimbailey9915]

100%

[@stephenmoist623]

Zain is a BEAST ! Hopefully he and Spencer qualify their weights for the USA !!!!

[@allphornunn]

Awesome thanks man

[@TSWAG92ALLCAPS]

The refs knew the script to follow. Who doesn’t hate pennstate?

[@bradyh2908]

No passive call? Mendez was pushing the pace the whole match

[@rsmonge]

terrible reffing. if you're gonna call one way, to win the match. you gotta call it the other way too.

[@teamkirin7]

I counted Zain being up on shot attempts before the 1:37 mark, Zain had more total ring generalship time. Last 45 seconds couldn’t had him hit for passivity but it would’ve been for naught.

[@ShinySephiroth1]

​@@teamkirin7I agree

[@brianruby7712]

Zain kept center the whole match What pace did Mendez set? No shot attempts but fakes?

[@jaredpogoloff8402]

Enjoyed watching Zain stall

[@jordanjmdjmd74]

Other dude didn't really take any shots

[@xenonmaster6668]

Mendez didn’t really shoot at all. Besides the shot at the beginning that got him a takedown Jesse didn’t shoot at all. Zain shot way more than Jesse did.

[@chloethacker]

Zain didn’t do anything. Honestly I believe Zain was a little worried about getting beat by a 19 year old. Especially after he beat yanni. Mendez pushed the pace

[@tylerdurden9135]

@@chloethacker - "Honestly I believe Zain was a little worried about getting beat by a 19 year old." - Most unintelligent thing I've read in awhile. You just don't like Zain, we get it. Mendez is damn good, but Zain is in the Olympics.

[@jeremykooi6215]

Wow. Where is the stalling

[@sethjones2712]

well can’t say Zain didn’t stall but as a fan of Mendez I think he deserved this match more but he needed some more attacks and just couldn’t break the head hands defense of Zain

[@Poisonshartfrog]

This was so painful to see… I’d feel much more comfortable having Mendez representing USA in the Olympics. Look at the death row of opponents Mendez faced prior and a fresh Zain comes in a BAAAARELY gets it done. Smh

[@what.3380]

fix vs suriano next?

[@RandyLex-wu6jy]

Zain barely pulled that off if Medes keeps improving he will be one of the best he came so close zain escaped by the hair on his head a little luck

[@tylerdurden9135]

Yeah, that same luck that won him a world tile, two Hodge Trophies, and three NCAA championships.

[@JesseStevenTrumm3992]

@@tylerdurden9135The butthurt in you is strong

[@teamkirin7]

@@JesseStevenTrumm3992 Men lie, women lie but the numbers don’t so reduce the projecting

[@tylerdurden9135]

@@JesseStevenTrumm3992 - Judging by that pic, you shouldn't talk about hurt butts.

[@chloethacker]

He’s already one of the best. He’s better at 20 years old than Zain was.

[@tajjmelat1577]

Rahman Amouzad form Iran wating for zain😅

[@jimbailey9915]

Can not believe Zain was not put on shot clock in last minute , stalled the whole time .

[@joef3423]

Controlled the Center for the entire match.

[@drdlin]

Zain gets embarrassed in rd1 of Olympics...bleh

[@redsuddenmist3941]

Jesse shoulda won

[@mosshark]

Henry Cejudo made the olympic team and won gold without even graduating high school.

[@BoomBamBronson]

Then got out wrestled by Merab, who won nothing in wrestling 😂

[@petercipriano5106]

In mma also Henry was out of his prime and still made it competitive.

[@BoomBamBronson]

@@petercipriano5106 Was he competitive when Merab picked him up like a child and ran him across the cage? 🤣🤣

[@globalpatron1114]

Mendez would have won without three matches prior.

[@RandyProctor-l7z]

Wow you can predict outcomes,your amazing,I always wrestled better the more matches I wrestled in a tournament.

[@globalpatron1114]

@@RandyProctor-l7z- yup! thanks. Mendez would have been much fresher to overcome Zain working the clock and edge. Mckenna, Green and Yianni all of whom have defeated Zain.

[@americanaamerican]

Not impressed with zains performance here

[@tylerdurden9135]

Not impressed or your boy didn't win?

[@tylerdurden9135]

A lot of butt hurt Mendez fans here.

[@richardkendzierski7627]

You would probably be familiar with that being a Pedo St. fan. Take a few showers with the coaches before?

[@FellowGlitchhh]

I personally think mendez is the better matchup at the international level. 65 is probably the most loaded it’s ever been. And USA’s 65 isn’t even qualified yet for the olympics.

[@tylerdurden9135]

@@FellowGlitchhh - Retherford is ranked number one in the world at 70 (that's international), and he just proved that the weight cut didn't bother him.

[@FellowGlitchhh]

@@tylerdurden9135 65 is the best weight and tbh zain barley cracks top 5. There’s a reason we didn’t even go last year at that weight. Let’s see if he can qualify in Turkey.

[@tshinn]

haha right, The fact is Mendez didn't get it done. He should have pushed the pace sooner, you cant just expect to win off passivity points. Retherford was on his legs more the Mendez also despite all the pushing around.

[@smaswqa4208]

these guys are toys for Rahman Amouzad