How to watch PWL 9, USA vs. Russia men’s freestyle dual, in Budapest, Hungary, Monday at 1 p.m. EDT

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Who you got, the United States or Russia, in the highly-anticipated PWL 9 in Budapest, Hungary on Monday?

For the first time in many years, the USA and Russia is reviving its over 60-year tradition of men’s freestyle dual meets against each other, when they compete on a card of 10 bouts at Kozma Istvan Magyar Birkozo Akademia Alapitvany in Budapest, Hungary on Monday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. local time.

Wrestling fans in the United States can enjoy these traditional world powers resume their intense rivalry through an online broadcast produced by the Professional Wrestling League at pwlworld.tv

Watch PWL 9, USA vs. Russia, live

With the night start in Hungary, this is at a convenient time for U.S. wrestling fans, starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight time. (12:00 noon Central, 11:00 a.m. Mountain, 10:00 a.m. Pacific)

Why is this important? The wrestling federations of the United States and Russia (the former Soviet Union) have been competing in men’s freestyle dual meets going back to the late 1950’s. These dual meets have been held in both nations in spite of the political situation between the nations at the time. For many years, Russian teams which attended the Freestyle World Cup held in the United States would also compete in dual meets in a variety of U.S. cities while on their visit. Likewise, when U.S. athletes attended major wrestling tournaments in Russia, they would often compete in dual meets in various Russian cities while on the tour.

With this match in neutral Hungary, there is hope that more dual meets can be organized, including perhaps a return to matches in Russia and the United States.

Who will you see? Both teams have a mix of veteran talent with some exciting new athletes who are rising on the international scene.

The United States team will include 2023 U20 World champion and 2022 U17 World champion Luke Lilledahl (57 kg), who is currently No. 2 on the U.S. Senior National Team. Other current U.S. Senior National Team members on the squad are Trent Hillger (125 kg), Jay Aiello (97 kg) and Dean Hamiti (79 kg). Other rising U.S. stars include Bryce Andonian (70 kg), Joey Blaze (74 kg), Marcus Coleman (86 kg) and Mike Macchiavello (92 kg).

The Russian team is led by 2021 World champion and 2023 World silver medalist Abasgadzhi Magomedov (65 kg). 2021 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion Zelimkhan Khizriev (125), a member of the 2021 Russian Senior World Team, will also compete. 2018 U20 World champion Saiyn Kazyryk (70 kg), 2024 World Military Championships silver medalist Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (79 kg) and 2022 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist Amanula Rasulov (86 kg) will also wrestle on the Russian team.

There is one change in the U.S. lineup. Dylan Koontz will compete at 61 kg, replacing Seth Gross.

For more information on the Professional Wrestling League, visit https://wrestliga.com/

Freestyle Wrestling. PWL 9

Russia vs USA Dual Meet

Monday, July 21, Budapest, Hungary

57 kg. Luke Lilledahl (USA) vs. Musa Mekhtikhanov (Russia)

61 kg. Dylan Koontz (USA) vs. Muslim Mekhtikhanov (Russia)

65 kg. CJ Composto (USA) vs. Abasgadzhi Magomedov (Russia)

70 kg. Bryce Andonian (USA) vs. Saiyn Kazyryk (Russia)

74 kg. Joey Blaze (USA) vs. Magoma Dibirgadzhiev (Russia)

79 kg. Dean Hamiti (USA) vs. Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (Russia)

86 kg. Marcus Coleman (USA) vs. Amanula Rasulov (Russia)

92 kg. Mike Macchiavello (USA) vs. Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)

97 kg. Jay Aiello (USA) vs. Konstantin Pshenichnikov (Russia)

125 kg. Trent Hillger (USA) vs. Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia)

(The event is 7:00 p.m. local time. Budapest is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone, so it will air at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time in the USA, 12:00 noon Central time, 11:00 a.m. Mountain time and 10:00 a.m. Pacific time).