For weight classes that already have a World medalist waiting in the Final X, winners of last week's U.S. Open advance directly to the finals of the World Team Trials (WTT) Challenge Tournament, which is a best two-of-three format. So Ramos is sitting in the finals of the WTT Challenge Tournament b/c he won the U.S. Open. Ditto for Chamberlain at 70 kg, IMAR at 74 kg, Schafer at 97 kg, and Coon at 125 kg. (That's why it made sense for Ty Walz to wrestle at the U.S. Open last week, even though he had already qualified for the WTT Challenge Tournament - he could've secured a spot in the WTT Challenge Tournament finals.)

For weight classes that did not already have a World medalist waiting in the Final X, U.S. Open winners advance directly to Final X (which is also a best 2-of-3 format). That's Colon at 61 kg, McKenna at 65 kg, Dake at 79 kg, Taylor at 86 kg, and J'Den Cox at 92 kg.

Seems really convoluted to me, but at least we'll get to see a lot of great matches in May and June. And how cool is it that the U.S. has *five* returning world medalists at the same weights they medaled in last year?
[Post edited by samistone at 05/02/2018 08:21AM]