Joey McKenna and Real Woods will wrestle at Final X on June 14 in a best-of-three series to determine the world team member at 65 kg. The winner will represent Team USA at the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, September 13-16. Check out the article below for a full breakdown of the matchup, along with our predictions for how the matches will unfold. 

Key Credentials

Joey McKenna

• Hometown: Towaco, New Jersey
• College: Stanford (2015-17), Ohio State (2018-19)
• College Record: 105–11
• Senior Level RTC: Pennsylvania RTC (2019-25), Cowboy RTC (current)
• Senior Level Record: 124-51
• 3X NCAA All-American 
• 2019 NCAA finalist
• 2017 U23 Wold bronze medalist
• 2014 U20 World bronze medalist

Real Woods

• Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
• College: Stanford (2019-22), Iowa (2023-24)
• College Record: 81-14
• Senior Level RTC: Cliff Keen Wrestling Club (2024-current)
• Senior Level Record: 12-3
• 3X NCAA All-American
• 2023 NCAA finalist

How They Got To Final X

Joey McKenna was the first of the pair to qualify for Final X. He did so by winning the US Open in April. The Cowboy RTC athlete defeated Tom Crook, Aden Valencia, and Jesse Mendez en route to the title.

Watch Joey McKenna defeat Jesse Mendez in the US Open finals below.

After losing to Aden Valencia twice at the US Open, Real Woods rebounded by defeating him at the World Team Trials. He would then go on to defeat Jesse Mendez and Brock Hardy en route to the title that qualified him for Final X.

Watch Real Woods defeat Brock Hardy in the World Team Trials below.

The Storyline

Is this the start of a successful senior-level career for Real Woods or can Joey McKenna finally get over the hump and help bolster the newly invigorated Cowboy RTC?

Winning the 2018 US Open, McKenna has been a threat to make the 65 kg Senior World Team since his college days, but has always fallen just short. He has senior level wins over Zain Retherford, Yianni Diakomihalis, Nick Lee, James Green, Jesse Mendez, Ridge Lovett, Beau Bartlett, Nahshon Garrett, Seth Gross, and many others, but just hasn’t been able to beat them all when it really counts. 

Kyle Snyder and Helen Maroulis are the only Final X competitors with more senior level matches than McKenna, so there would be an experience gap between almost anyone and McKenna. However, it’s extra pronounced in this matchup, considering Woods only has three senior level tournaments under his belt. Don’t let this fool you, however. I think Woods doesn’t just have a good chance of winning this series, but also bring home a World medal if he does. 

Breaking Down The Matchup

This is a tough match to play out in my head. I like the strength, speed, and physicality of Real Woods. I like the savyness and gamesmanship of Joey McKenna. Both wrestlers have multiple ways to score from the feet. Woods is going to paw and pull at McKenna's head. Can he do it enough to get him out of position and score? Woods presents one big problem that McKenna doesn't - his par terre offense. For someone with little freestyle experience, Woods' ability to score with a gut-wrench or leg lace is unbelievable. I credit this to his freak strength.

Keys To Victory For Woods

• Get turns from top
• Avoid stepouts
• Set the tone early

Keys To Victory For McKenna

• Avoid getting caught in front headlock/short offense
• Score when you get the chance
• Don't let Woods out to a big early lead

Listen to CP breakdown this match below.

Prediction

This is one of the tougher Final X matchups to predict. Joey McKenna is a more accomplished senior-level freestyle wrestler, but there's something about Real Woods. I think Woods gets in done in three matches. The margins are super thin, so I'm going with the guy with the par terre x-factor. Real Woods represents Team USA in Croatia to kick off a successful freestyle career, and the Senior level team monkey stays on McKenna's back.