After delay, Vito Arujau vs Jax Forrest Final X series clash gets rebooked

The Final X best-of-three championship series between Vito Arujau and Jax Forrest has now been rescheduled for July 14 in Fargo, N.D. Following the approved series delay, the rest of the matchups remain scheduled for June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Arujau secured his spot in Final X with his podium finish at the 2024 Senior World Championships, while Forrest qualified for the series by winning the 2025 US Open title. Both athletes will compete in the 61 kg weight class to earn a spot to represent the US at the 2025 Senior World Championships, scheduled to take place later this year in Croatia.

Oklahoma State commit Jax Forrest bested former NCAA champion Seth Gross by tech fall in a 19-8 bout to secure the US Open title. The championship run was marked by his dominant performances, with victories over Nathaniel Johnson, Kyler Golhoffer, Nahshon Garrett, and Ben Davino in the earlier rounds, all achieved by technical falls.

Meanwhile, Arujau is a two-time NCAA Champion for Cornell University at 133 pounds. He continued his momentum internationally by winning gold at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships, followed by a bronze medal in 2024 in the 61 kg category.

According to the approved 2025 World Team Trials Qualification & Procedures – Men’s Freestyle:

“Only a 2024 Senior World Medalist or 2024 Olympic Medalist, who earned an automatic berth into Final X, may request a medical delay for competing in the Final X Wrestle-Off.”

As a 2024 Senior World bronze medalist, Arujau was eligible to request a medical postponement. He submitted the required documentation at least 48 hours before the scheduled weigh-in, in compliance with the established guidelines, and was granted a reschedule for his Final X best-of-three series against Forrest.

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Jax Forrest opens up about becoming one of wrestling’s biggest names after the victory

Following his US Open victory, Jax Forrest told Sports Illustrated that his initial plan was to compete in the U20 61 kg category before deciding to enter the senior men’s freestyle 61 kg division.

“So, originally I was planning on just doing U20 61 kg, but I felt like I had been training really well. I talked to my parents and all of my coaches and told them how I thought I could win this weight,” he said.

Forrest, the No. 2 overall recruit in the class of 2026, has committed to David Taylor’s Oklahoma State wrestling program. The high school standout also shared his goals for the Cowboys, saying:

“My team goal for the Cowboys is to win the national title. I want to help this team become the best individuals, and then on top of that, we are going to take over as the best team in the country for a long time to come.”

Now, fans eagerly await the Final X best-of-three series between Vito Arujau and Jax Forrest, which will mark their first-ever matchup.