DT mentioned in his interview on Sunday that the US Open is next for him and he wants to win that to earn a spot in the Final X. (that might not be his exact words)
John Smith and the other announcer also said at one point during the weekend that Cox needs to figure out if he wants to go 86 or 92 because at 86 he's guaranteed a spot in the Final X and at 92 he has to start over.
86 kg is in an interesting place because of this scenario.
Let's say Cox goes 92 kg and DT goes 86 kg at the US Open. Cox doesn't win, DT does. So, DT has a spot in the Elite X and doesn't need to wrestle in the WTT.
But....then Cox decides he's dropping to 86kg and taking that spot in the Elite X which takes DT's spot away. So, now DT has to wrestle in WTT to try to get the other spot.
Except, I don't know the deadlines here. When does Cox have to declare which weight he's going at? I do think it's well within his right to attempt to win 92 at the open and then go back down if he loses. However, if he does that, when does he have to declare he's taking the Elite X 86kg spot. Could he wait until the week of WTT, everyone thinks that he's going to WTT at 92 and then back out to go 86? That could screw Taylor if he was planning not to wrestle at WTT. I'm sure Cox would have to declare in time that Taylor would know he has to go to WTT.
Also, for weights where the US Open winner gets a spot due to no world medalist, is the US Open winner then not allowed to go to WTT? And if he is, then does second place just get the second spot?
All of this being said, if Cox goes to the US Open at 92, I don't see anyone beating him. Can he win at 92 and then choose to take the 86 spot or if he goes at the US Open at 92, is he out at 86?
I do think it's best for Team USA with Cox at 92 because that team they had this weekend was really good.
Also, 65 kg is going to be crazy. Steiber, Zain, Frank, JO, etc. I think it would be best for the team if Steiber dropped back down but doesn't look like he will.
John Smith and the other announcer also said at one point during the weekend that Cox needs to figure out if he wants to go 86 or 92 because at 86 he's guaranteed a spot in the Final X and at 92 he has to start over.
86 kg is in an interesting place because of this scenario.
Let's say Cox goes 92 kg and DT goes 86 kg at the US Open. Cox doesn't win, DT does. So, DT has a spot in the Elite X and doesn't need to wrestle in the WTT.
But....then Cox decides he's dropping to 86kg and taking that spot in the Elite X which takes DT's spot away. So, now DT has to wrestle in WTT to try to get the other spot.
Except, I don't know the deadlines here. When does Cox have to declare which weight he's going at? I do think it's well within his right to attempt to win 92 at the open and then go back down if he loses. However, if he does that, when does he have to declare he's taking the Elite X 86kg spot. Could he wait until the week of WTT, everyone thinks that he's going to WTT at 92 and then back out to go 86? That could screw Taylor if he was planning not to wrestle at WTT. I'm sure Cox would have to declare in time that Taylor would know he has to go to WTT.
Also, for weights where the US Open winner gets a spot due to no world medalist, is the US Open winner then not allowed to go to WTT? And if he is, then does second place just get the second spot?
All of this being said, if Cox goes to the US Open at 92, I don't see anyone beating him. Can he win at 92 and then choose to take the 86 spot or if he goes at the US Open at 92, is he out at 86?
I do think it's best for Team USA with Cox at 92 because that team they had this weekend was really good.
Also, 65 kg is going to be crazy. Steiber, Zain, Frank, JO, etc. I think it would be best for the team if Steiber dropped back down but doesn't look like he will.
