#GrecoMonday: Watch one of the greatest Greco bouts ever, Hall vs. Paulson at 2004 Olympic Trials

Dennis Hall vs. Brandon Paulson. 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis. Third and final match of the best-of-three Championship Series. The winner goes to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

It took a record 16:54 to determine the winner.

Many consider it not just one of the greatest U.S. Greco-Roman matches of all-time, but also one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. The accolades of the two competitors, the relationships between them, the buildup, the close first two matches, the physicality, the 10 minute 54 second overtime, an all-time classic.

Going into the 2004 Olympic Team Trials, Hall was a seven-time World Team member, winning a bronze medal in 1994 and a gold medal in 1995, and a two-time Olympian winning a silver medal in 1996. Paulson was a three-time World Team member, winning a silver medal in 2001, and a 1996 Olympic silver medalist.

In addition to being teammates at the 1996 Olympics, the two were friends and training partners.

What is often forgotten about the finals of the 2004 Greco-Roman 55 kg/121 lbs. final is how hard it was for Hall to even make it there. After failing to make a World Team in 2003, Hall made the decision to drop down a weight class to 55 kg/121 lbs., a weight he hadn’t seen since high school.

After making weight, Hall had to go through a ringer of a challenge tournament just to meet Paulson in the best-of-three final. First Hall defeated 2011 World Team member Joe Betterman, then 2018 World Team member and 2012 Olympian in freestyle Sam Hazewinkel, and lastly three-time World Team member and 2006 World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher in the finals.

Hall and Paulson were as close as two wrestlers can be with Hall taking the first match 3-2 and Paulson taking the second match 3-1, setting up an all-time classic in the third match.

After finishing six minutes of constant hand fighting and high paced wrestling, that included a big three point throw by Hall and a nice late escape by Paulson, the score was tied at three forcing an unlimited sudden victory overtime. It took almost 11 minutes into that overtime, but Hall finally scored the winning point. 

What followed was a special moment between two competitors and friends when Hall consoled Paulson.

Paulson would go on to be Hall’s training partner in Athens, Greece for the Olympics.

Brandon Paulson and Dennis Hall embrace after their historic Championship Series final bout at the 2004 Olympic Trials. USA Wrestling file photo.