Kendall Cross vs Tom Brands

NCAA Semifinals 1989. One of the best 1-0 matches ever seen.

[@tmt1675]

The classic OK state slickness style vs Iowa hard core run you into the mat style! It’s so crazy how most wrestlers like Cross Scott Oliver had that John Smith slick speed technical style and the Brands Bro’s Metcalf and guys like Ironsides and Schwab has that third period hard and strong and fast no mercy Gable Style!

[@jeffdarnell3154]

I love Iowa wrestling...but neither one of the Brands are the most technical of wrestlers...are they?? Retherford or Nolf would have teched Cross with just takedowns, they're so skilled at them...

[@nicoross5065]

no Kendall was unorthodox and could figure you out after a couple of match ups. Brands beat him badly once but Kendall could adjust and was always a threat to beat you

[@OneManParade]

Aaron Pico says "Fuck Zain Rutherford"

[@JS45678]

Retherford or Nolf would have TF’d Kendall Cross on their feet? Well, being that those PSU guys were 3-4 weight classes above Cross, I guess you have a point. 🥴

[@christopherroth7239]

Those guys were quite a bit heavier so those aren't the best examples. Comparing eras is always tough but personally I think Seth Gross and Kendall Cross would be a fun match. Gross with his 2 on 1 and Cross with that underhook. Both are very flexible, unorthodox, and willing to take chances.

[@henry-joemurphy1286]

Kendall Cross is so tough because he's in fantastic condition, deceptive strength, great hips, balance and lots and lots of leverage which all makes his un-orthodox style so difficult overcome. (And he wrestles really smart once he gets a lead).

[@craigfawcett5745]

His conditioning is what he is lacking. Watch his 4 previous matches with tom(1) and Terry(3). He was clearly out worked and stalled during match and during breaks.

[@jeromyhenning]

Cross controlled the elbows during hand fighting, displayed ridiculous shoulder flexibility with those wizzers, and had great hips throughout. Backing up is not stalling as long as you are working for countermoves and circling in, as was the case for most of this match regarding cross. The fact that Brands didn't get tossed or ankle picked in this match shows how aware he was of his own positioning. overall, this was a great match.

[@JamesJDillon]

How was Cross not called for stalling about 5 or 6 times? Did stalling not exist back then? All he did was back out time after time.

[@Thinkmacflythink]

+JJD Agree. He was backing up/out a lot. Glad he wasn't called. Go Kendall!

[@henry-joemurphy1286]

You've probably been watching a lot of freestyle? (They're not as tough on stalling in folk style).

[@davidgdmz4551]

IDK, sure Tom Brands is great, so is Kendall Cross, so I watched it, and IN the 3rd period saw plenty of shots by BOTH. But Iowa fans, yea I get it, whenever an Iowa wrestler loses, out come all the excuses, accusations and nasty bullcrap. Here's what happened, incredibly close match by 2 Olympic gold medalists, one guy got the W, the other guy didn't, in the sport of wrestling that's how it works.

[@JS45678]

Stalling did not exist back then. They probably invented it when they read your comment. 🙃

[@ianshue2890]

@@davidgdmz4551 I’m not gonna make the excuse about the stalling. I actually think that it was Tom’s fault. Tom has his choice in the 3rd period, and he chooses neutral. The only points scored in the match was an escape by Kendall Cross. Had Brands chose bottom and got his escape, Kendall would’ve been forced to commit to some real action and that’s where Tom is good. Regardless of who you like more, I think everyone knows Tom has better conditioning, and in the 3rd period or OT, Tom is edging out Brands. But Brands chose bottom, and to this day I still have no idea why

[@tbuttz]

Thanks for posting this. Cross redeemed himself from the earlier meeting. Brands should of chosen down to start the third. Great 1-0 match for sure.

[@OneManParade]

Mr Kendall Cross. The only man to beat both Brands brothers.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

Hmm. Maybe there was someone in high school, junior level freestyle or someone in senior level freestyle?

[@JS45678]

Alan Fried of Lakewood, St Edward High School and Oklahoma State University technical falled both Brands in the same tournament (Junior Freestyle Nationals) and later pinned Tom at Midlands not to mention, when Fried was in redshirt freshman year, defeated Tom at Northern Open. So Alan Friend defeated both Brands brothers long before Kendall did.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

John Smith Damn!

[@JS45678]

@@daytonasayswhat9333 Jason Kelber also defeated both Brands brothers my friend. He destroyed Tom by score of 10-1 in State Finals (final minute of that match on KZbin). He also defeated Terry Brands years later in the NCAA Finals. Tough guy that Kelber was!

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

@@JS45678 From State Center, Iowa.

[@billybud9557]

two future Olympic Gold medalists...................great athletes

[@jeremypacker2441]

brands probably didn't take down because cross was a good leg rider

[@jeffdarnell3154]

Jeremy Packer yeah he was...

[@alexandro420]

That is one of the most exciting matches I have seen.

[@sanitary103]

Tom should have chosen neutral..also, does it look like Tom was a bit on the tired side? maybe the grueling tournament was getting to him?

[@FightingSheep1]

Actually, on the beautiful knee pick, Brands made one careless mistake in his haste to score. He let go of the far knee/leg too quickly. Had he released the undertook and secured the leg, he scores what may have been the winning takedown granted he would have had to ride cross out.

[@TheJ-manT800]

Did Cross end up winning in the Finals?

[@gwilly51]

Except the many shots he took. But maybe you were looking away every single time he shot.

[@cvwinkle1]

think tom should have picked down in the third

[@josefino72]

brands was perplexed

[@andizzyJD12]

It’s not on the video….After the match, Cross was doing the OSU “guns up”. Brands bull charged him from behind. Once he hit Cross, Kendall flipped in mid-air, landed on both feet and kept doing the “guns up”. Iowa lost a team point.

[@ianshue2890]

To this day I have no idea why Brands chose neutral. Is Cross dangerous on top? Yes. But even now he’s not gonna turn Brands in a folk style match. Eventually Brands will get away and he’ll tie it 1-1. Had he chose bottom, he would’ve forced Kendall to commit some offense, leading into those action packed scrambles that go back and forth, which Brands loves. Brands had better conditioning and was better in action positions. Had he chose down, he’d have been a 4 timer

[@douglastovey2685]

Is Cross dangerous on top? No! He’s brutal. If you manage yo not get turned then do you give up riding time? Are your shoulders still intact. Cross is a dirty leg rider. Maybe the best of all time. Brands chose the right position and stuck to his game plan. Great match.

[@burtonfan2]

kendall cross is from mustang ok. im from mustang ok.

[@superhuther]

The single greatest defensive effort in NCAA history. The armlock he applies on Brands in every situation is known to me as a Wizzerd. It pins ur opponents shoulder to the ground and controls their movement. One of two will happen, applying the wizzerd becomes painful foryou, when they gain leverage and u let go. Or you stop one of the greatest scorers of all time with 1 move. Lastly, in the grapple Kendell is grabbing his elbows to avoid ankle picks. He knew not to attack Brands head.

[@henry-joemurphy1286]

"Wizzer" no "d".

[@superhuther]

@julioindahouse He never established control.

[@turbojb]

that was a crazy match.

[@fightingfan21]

NCAA semifinal 1989

[@justintime519]

Kendall stalled the whole match. Glad that shit doesn't fly nowadays

[@Radiant26]

tom brands, the king of wrist control.

[@OneManParade]

Not in this match he wasn't.

[@throatpiece]

Is it just me or does Kendall kind of remind you of Timmy from Southpark?

[@YuppItsKoko]

What the fuck. I thought that was brands match.

[@prespa9]

Brands got spanked

[@work4thewicked]

yes guy NCCA FINAL 1999

[@Rightwingman09]

Typical OK State stalling.

[@chrisaldrich7770]

C Taylor you wish you could have wrestled or wrestled at OSU PUNK

[@lindauvonhipple]

In retrospect, Brands made a bad decision to start neutral for the last period.