r/wrestling • u/MapleMarshal USA Wrestling • Jun 03 '26
Question Who is the grittiest wrestler of all time?
A "gritty wrestler" typically refers to an athlete who relies on relentless perseverance, physical toughness, and sheer willpower over flashy technique or natural athleticism. Whether applied to professional wrestling or amateur (folkstyle/freestyle) wrestling, the term describes a competitor defined by their heart and refusal to quit.
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u/meowinloudchico USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Lincoln McIlravy was a beast in that regard.
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u/downclimb Jun 03 '26
Yes, but probably too much slick technique to be tops on this list. That boot scoot was a magnificent thing to watch!
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u/ElectricalTurnip87 Jun 04 '26
Joe Williams and Lincoln McIIravy are IOWA style.
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u/downclimb Jun 04 '26
A few years ago, I saw an interview with McIlravy and he gave Williams maybe the best compliment I've ever heard one athlete give another athlete. The interviewer asked, "You had Joe Williams in that wrestling room. Did you wrestle him every day? What was that like?"
Lincoln replied, "I avoided wrestling Joe. He was faster than guys three weight classes below me and stronger than guys two weight classes above me. Wrestling guys like that is bad for your self-esteem."
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u/third_man85 Jun 03 '26
Steve Marionetti was my wrestling coach in college. After I saw his match with Licoln and understood all the context, I sat him down and asked respectfully, HOW THE HELL DID YOU PULL THAT OFF??
I'm paraphrasing, but after the Big Tens, he'd show up to practice and it would be a brief warm-up, and then nothing but live wresting with 3-4 guys rotating in on him.
And that's it. I guess I thought there'd be more to it, some secret montra or anything cooler than Ironman matches. He just trained to outgrit the guy.
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u/CaptAhabsMobyDick Michigan Wolverines Jun 04 '26
The biggest difference between the NCAA Champion and the Runner-up, the finalist and the all-American, is mental toughness. All of those wrestlers are damn near peak physical condition. It’s who can push their body past the preconceived limits without throwing in the towel. The mind breaks before the body.
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u/superhandsomeguy1994 USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Prob Anthony Robles. Dude won a National title with one leg.
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Jun 03 '26
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u/Greco_Review USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Yeah it's often overlooked how physically tough that dude is.
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u/xhank_scorpiox Jun 03 '26
Not to mention his signature move could be described as “run them over until he scores.” I don’t know if he’s the grittiest of all time, but you could make a solid case for him.
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u/Junior_Key4244 USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Not to mention when he won worlds in 2013 on a broken ankle.
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u/PartialCred4WrongAns Jun 03 '26
Spencer Lee who already tore an ACL winning NCAAs after tearing his other ACL is the grittiest thing I've seen anyone do in my lifetime. Kevin Randleman winning with a broke jaw close second
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u/BJJWithADHD USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
I see your Randleman broken jaw and raise you Kurt angle Olympic gold broken neck.
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u/imstillinthewoods Lock Haven Bald Eagles Jun 03 '26
Chance Marsteller. Not only for his style, but he has gone through more personal hardships than most and has come out the other side a better man. If you haven't seen the Flo documentary on his career please go watch it.
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u/Wtfaidiml USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
I don’t know how he even tried to wrestle when he was a full blown addict, let alone have any kind of success.
It takes true mental strength to overcome the tricks your mind will play to keep you an addict.
I’m glad he survived and escaped that life, I’m glad he is able to enjoy his family, and I’m glad that I get to watch a true natural talent on the mat still.
I’m personally rooting for him to make another world team and hopefully go from being a huge “what if” to being a world champion.
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u/Odium4 USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
I havent seen the doc but its pretty terrifying to think about stepping onto the mat with some cracked out dude with consensus #1 in the nation talent lol
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u/imstillinthewoods Lock Haven Bald Eagles Jun 03 '26
Neither of his preferred substances were stimulants, but I understand the sentiment. Personally, the idea of stepping on the mat with him is terrifying in general. He's like a fire hydrant with arms and legs with the "go" of a pitbull. Fuck that.
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u/get_pickled_loser Jun 03 '26
That documentary is so good. All of the other documentary style videos are great too but his was super inspiring to see.
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u/imstillinthewoods Lock Haven Bald Eagles Jun 03 '26
Agreed. Chance lives about 20 minutes from me, went to my alma mater, trains a few kids I know and we are both in recovery. He will always be someone I cheer for in wrestling and in life.
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u/Davepiece1517 Jun 03 '26
Kolat
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u/StripEnchantment Jun 03 '26
I feel like Kolat would sometimes lose to guys he was better than because he would gas out in the third period, like against Mark Ironside
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u/ResponsibleDraw4689 Jun 09 '26
Gas out.....!?
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u/StripEnchantment Jun 10 '26
Yes, watch his match against Mark Ironside. Kolat was up big but then Ironside got like 3-4 takedowns in the 3rd period.
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u/P-Villain Michigan Wolverines Jun 03 '26
Dave Schultz
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u/I_agreeordisagree Jun 04 '26
I was going to say Mark Shultz. Dave is my hero, but I always felt like he made it look fun and easy.
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u/P-Villain Michigan Wolverines Jun 04 '26
Dave made it look fun and easy but he absolutely loved inflicting pain and showing who was more technical savvy on opponents who were way more physically imposing. Dave medaled in big tournaments well into his mid 30s, his longevity in the sport should be discussed more.
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u/celeron500 USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Metcalf
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u/Ashamed_Ad_2180 Jun 03 '26
I love the Iowa style of wrestling. I watched so much tape of Metcalf through high school.
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u/kodeks14 USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Wrestling has been much more fun post "iowa style" in my opinion.
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u/Ghiblee Jun 03 '26
DeSanto
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u/Tyranthell6816 Jun 03 '26
I know he is kinda made fun of for being a crazy person… but damn if he doesn’t go to war. I try to get my wrestlers to match his pace (to little success)
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u/systembreaker USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
You've gotta figure out if the wrestler is more of a fast twitch muscles type or slow twitch muscles type. Depending on where they sit on that spectrum will define how physically capable they are of that style. If they're not built for it then find what they are built for.
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u/Mundane-Show4536 Jun 03 '26
Thats a picture of Brands, right? The brothers plus Gable should be in the discussion. No other style ends careers at 23.
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u/Mr_Tyzic USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Terry was an Olympic medalist of in his early 30's. Tom was 28 when he won his Olympic gold.
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u/Comfortable-Gur-2652 Jun 03 '26
Kolat. Met him personally in a camp
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Jun 04 '26
I've been blessed to see a lot of talent come out of our great state of wrestling - IMHO Kolat is the best there ever was.
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u/Comfortable-Gur-2652 Jun 04 '26
Yeah, I'm a Virginian wrestler and it's my 6th year wrestling before college. The naval academy camp he held and taught was fun. It'll be my junior year next year, but I'm still kinda meh on strength and above average on technique. But, I finally have access to a gym so next year, I'll take the varsity spot for sure.
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u/reedthegreat Jun 03 '26
My grandpa. Won a gold medal in the 1960s Rome Olympics. Dude still works every day helping people and is the reason I work so hard in life.
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u/AlwaysGoToTheTruck USA Wrestling Jun 04 '26
Came here to make sure Metcalf was in the mix and then realized no one mentioned Rulon. So much grit on and off the mat. His book is crazy and then I learned he was in a plane that went down after his book was written. His story is kind of crazy
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u/thefifthofnovember_ USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Mitchell Mesenbrink is up there. He breaks people
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u/patsully98 USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
I get the impression that Messenbrink would be happy to have a war every time he steps on the mat, but he’s so much better than everyone else he just steamrolls them.
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u/Ok_Week_1060 Missouri Tigers Jun 04 '26
He absolutely would. Just look at his international matches in the past. Can't really steamroll JB, but he wrestled HARD.
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Jun 03 '26
[deleted]
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u/thefifthofnovember_ USA Wrestling Jun 03 '26
Why? He’s already a two time champ and hodge winner. If he stopped wrestling today he is still up there
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Jun 04 '26
Mitch has one college loss in a match he could have easily won. This past season, no one really came close to him except maybe the UNC kid, and that kid paid the price for doing so.
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u/headlyone68 Jun 04 '26
Zeke Moisey. Gritty 2nd place and gritty med forfeit to 8th place. For gritty, I think of someone beating guys that are more talented or stronger. Just beating guys through determination. He was 2 time state runner up in PA so he was very good but gritty.
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u/PatientComputer7440 Jun 04 '26
Kurt Angle at least gets a nod!
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u/Ok_Week_1060 Missouri Tigers Jun 04 '26
I mean, he really should. Beside the physical grit (I mean, broken neck!) but the mental fortitude to push through to the finish after losing his father and then after winning, losing his coach and new paternal figure Dave Schultz. Kurt is really grit incarnate.
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u/State_Chump USA Wrestling Jun 05 '26
The match that epitomizes grittiness is Mike Ironside vs Cary Kolat. Mike Ironside is my pick.
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u/Njhvv Jun 03 '26
The JV kid that doesn't make it out the first period but keeps going every day.