Final X 2025: PJ Duke pins Yianni Diakomihalis in Match 3, wins Team USA spot

PJ Duke hasn’t stepped foot into the Penn State wrestling room yet, but he’ll be representing the United States at the 2025 World Championships in September. The incoming freshman pinned four-time NCAA champion and 2022 World Silver Medalist Yianni Diakomihalis in Match 3 at Final X.

It was a stunner to say the least. Duke lost 10-0 in Match 1 and look overwhelmed at first. Jokes on us. Duke won 17-10 in Match 2 and stuck Diakomihalis in Match 3 to blow the roof off the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

You can see the result and celebration below. Duke will wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions beginning next season.

PJ Duke PINS Yianni Diakomihalis to win the 70kg #FinalX2025 series and make the Senior World Team for 2025. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/7HBMm21C26

— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) June 14, 2025

PJ Duke stuns Yianni Diakomihalis, wins Final X in wild night

Duke highlighted the end of the night at Final X among other crazy results. His series with Diakomihalis was the only one that went three matches in the best-of-three among the men.

Duke was already a special talent and it was on display once again. You can see the scores of all the matches below.

Men’s Freestyle Final X

57 KG: Spencer Lee (Hawkeye WC) 2-0 (7-2, 6-0) over Luke Lilledahl (Nittany Lion WC)
65 KG: Real Woods (Cliff Keen WC) 2-0 (7-3, 5-4) over Joey McKenna (Cowboy RTC)
70 KG: PJ Duke (KD Training Center) 2-1 (0-10, 17-10, Fall, 3:07) over Yianni Diakomihalis (Spartan Combat) 1-1
74 KG: David Carr (Cyclone Regional Training Center) 2-0 (4-3, 4-4 on criteria) over Mitchell Mesenbrink (Nittany Lion WC)
79 KG: Levi Haines (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) 2-0 (10-0, 6-1) over Evan Wick (Askren Wrestling Academy)
86 KG: Zahid Valencia (Cowboy RTC) 2-0 (5-3, 4-1) over Kyle Dake (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club)
92 KG: Trent Hidlay (Wolfpack RTC) 2-0 (6-1, 3-2) over Josh Barr (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club)
97 KG: Kyle Snyder (Nittany Lion WC) 2-0 (8-0, 8-2) over Hayden Zillmer (Gopher Wrestling Club)
125 KG: Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC) 2-0 (10-0, 20-14) over Trent Hillger (Gopher Wrestling Club)

Women’s Freestyle Final X

50 KG: Audrey Jimenez (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) 2-0 (10-2, 12-2) over Erin Golston (New York Athletic Club)
53 KG: Felicity Taylor (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) 2-0 (2-1, 6-4) over Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa Women’s WC)
55 KG: Cristelle Rodriguez (Tiger WC) 2-0 (12-8, 8-5) over Everest Leydecker (Thorobred Wrestling Club)
57 KG: Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md.) 2-0 (Fall, 1:50; Fall, 4:42) over Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC)
59 KG: Jacarra Winchester (US Olympic Training Center) 2-1 (4-6, 9-7, 11-2) over Abigail Nette (U.S. Army WCAP)
62 KG: Adaugo Nwachukwu (Army WCAP) 2-1 (14-8, 3-4, 8-4) over Kayla Miracle (Valiant WC)
65 KG: Macey Kilty (Iowa Women’s WC) 2-0 (10-0, 10-0) over Aine Drury (New York AC)
68 KG: Kennedy Blades (Hawkeye WC) 2-0 (10-4, 5-2) over Brooklyn Hays (US Olympic Training Center)
72 KG: Alexandria Glaude (Beaver Dam RTC) via FF (Amit Elor withdrew from Final X)
76 KG: Kylie Welker (Iowa Women’s WC) 2-0 (2-1, 9-1) over Dymond Guilford (US Olympic Training Center)