American Star Exposes Biggest Flaw With Wrestling Community in Explosive Rant Against Ugly Practise

Now, anyone who follows wrestling knows just how tough it is. Not only that, but the US boasts one of the best developmental systems. Yet despite all this, most wrestlers find it extremely hard to find a career for more than a few years. Rarely do grapplers sustain a career longer than a decade. And the reason? While there are a few, the biggest and perhaps the most shocking is that very developmental system that made the US a powerhouse. But why? Well, one NCAA wrestler takes his time to explain just that. So what does he have to say?

All-American Seth Gross has been in dominant form in recent times. Facing off against Iowa legend Austin DeSanto, Gross completely dominated the proceedings. Back on February 16, 2025, Gross secured a 10-0 victory, cementing his name as one of the best in the NCAA realm. However, all the glitz and glamor might be vanishing from Gross’s life. Why? Because the culture says so! In a recent X post, Gross took a shot at the popular belief that a wrestler must retire after finishing college.

Calling this one of the ‘dumbest’ ideas, Gross stated, “Telling wrestlers to retire after college is one of the dumbest things we do in this sport.” To further justify his point, Seth mentions that athletes who fail to make the world teams are considered underachievers. And according to Gross, this is an outrageous notion. “We’ve built this weird culture where if you’re not making world teams every year, it’s time to move on. Only ONE guy gets the spot. So every other elite wrestler should just quit? That’s wild,” Gross chimed in.

Talking about what the right approach should be, Gross dropped a million-dollar statement. “Still healthy? Still hungry? Keep going. Wrestling isn’t just for champs. It’s for lifers,” said Gross. And well, he was not shooting arrows in thin air. The NCAA athlete had the perfect examples to show. Gross pointed out that an average UFC champion is 33 years old.  Legendary wrestler David Taylor won his maiden Olympic medal at 30.

Similarly, Joe Burrows won a world title at 33, and Dake failed to qualify for the World team until the age of 27. He also took examples of jiu-jitsu, where athletes aged 30, 40, and 50 years old are constantly shining. Gross concluded his statement by saying, “This ‘retire if you’re not #1’ or ‘go get a real job’ mentality? It’s toxic. And honestly, it’s usually coming from people who quit too early and want you to follow them.” Surely, such a bold take from Gross has riled up the entire internet. Fans soon wanted to make their voices heard. 

Fans give mixed reactions to Seth Gross’s take

As soon as the post went viral, fans flocked to the comments section. One fan joked about registering for the open, highlighting the suppressed passion many adults still carry for wrestling. They wrote, “You keep talking like that, I might get inspired to register for the open 😂.” Gross’s rant validates their lingering desire, challenging the belief that competition is only for the elite or young.

It proves how such motivation exists, buried under years of being told to “move on.” Calling for a real pro league, one fan exposes the systemic flaw that Seth points out. That wrestling lacks long-term infrastructure. Unlike jiu-jitsu or MMA, wrestling offers no visible post-college path, discouraging continued pursuit. This echoes Gross’s argument—if the sport truly valued its athletes, it would build around them beyond their early 20s.

Adding a tone of humor, the wrestling enthusiast commented, “There should be an actual pro wrestling league, and I’m not talking about WWE lol.” Another X user who is currently 50+ in age reflected, “51 and still getting my BJJ fix 5 days a week. Someday, it will be golf or pickleball for me…but not today. 😉 Wrestle until the wheels come off…” Reflecting the endurance of passion in combat sports, the 51-year-old BJJ fan embodies Gross’ comparison to jiu-jitsu, where age isn’t a barrier but a badge.

Their lifestyle shows how wrestling could also embrace longevity and recreational joy, but instead pressures athletes to quit. Gross’s message directly supports people like him: keep going until you decide to stop. One user skeptically claimed retirement isn’t cultural but financial. However, Gross’s rant targets the underlying attitude—the societal expectation that unless you’re a champ, you’re wasting your time.

The X user commented, “Nobody really says this; it just must be in y’all’s heads. Nobody is telling anyone to retire except for maybe their pockets.” Financial constraints exist, but dismissing cultural pressure ignores how many could keep wrestling if they weren’t told it was “pointless” past college. Another comment from a recreational wrestler in Russia affirms Gross’ broader point—wrestling should be a lifelong sport for all levels.

Highlighting the worth of the sport, the fan added, “Yes! Great post and good perspective. Even lower-level wrestlers like me can and should also stay in the sport or go to jiu jitsu or mma. I saw older recreational people wrestling in Russia when I wrestled there years ago.” Not every athlete has to chase World medals. Gross’ message gives legitimacy to casual or “lower-level” competitors who still love the grind and want space in the wrestling world. Thus, with the situation looking quite interesting, it remains to be seen what happens next.