“Masanosuke Ono defeats Spencer Lee 3-2 in the main event of the evening! 😳 #LEEvsONO,” read the tweet that FloWrestling dropped back on February 26. What followed that wasn’t just shock but a whole riptide of wrestling fans across the country going crazy. After all, the fans had just witnessed their national pride, Spencer Lee, get bested on the mat. But the fact that the grappler fell to the Japanese was an even bigger deal. But if you thought that the former Hawkeye was done, then you’re mistaken. After all, it seems the comeback for Spencer is already building.

And with Ono now part of Cael Sanderson’s Penn State, things are about to be rowdy. After all, Spencer vs. Ono wasn’t just any match. It was a moment. One that proved to both Spencer and the US faithful that the script can be flipped at any moment. But now, with a reality check at his way and more hunger than ever, Lee is ready for redemption. And can you believe the stage is already being set? Namely, the 2025 US world team trials.

But as for Spencer himself, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, three-time NCAA champ, and all-around wrestling machine has officially accepted his automatic bid to Final X, as revealed by FloWrestling. That’s right, Yoda is locked in for a shot at the 57 kg spot on the 2025 U.S. World Team. The location? The bright lights of the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on June 14. But mind you, it won’t be yet another wrestling meet for Lee. It will be a proving ground.

His resume speaks for itself. Three age-group world title medals, 2024 Senior Pan Am championship status, and a 2025 Zagreb Open win, along with a record of unyielding triumphs. Through earning the Hodge Trophy twice at Iowa while becoming an Olympic winner in Paris, Spencer Lee accomplished all goals, and he has never lost his competitive drive. That defeat to Ono? It didn’t break him. It lit a fuse.

The Olympic medal enables Lee to enter the Final X tournament, aiming to take his position on the World Team while establishing strong dominance before Croatia is aware of his impact. But here’s where it gets even juicier. Lee’s Final X opponent? Still unknown. That mystery man will emerge from the U.S. Open in Las Vegas on April 26, where the nation’s best will throw down for a chance to face Lee in a best-of-three war.

Twenty weight classes. Ten for men’s freestyle. Only one spot at 57 kg. The stakes? As real as it gets. If Spencer wants to carry the flag into the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, he’ll have to first conquer Newark and whoever dares to meet him there.

Spencer Lee reflects on defeat and reloads for Final X revenge.

Masanosuke Ono claimed victory with a razor-thin 3-2 scoreline, leaving Spencer Lee to process a rare loss. For some, the upset was shocking. Veteran supporters recognized the true talent of Ono, even though novices were surprised by his win at the tournament. Before this match, Ono had secured the U20 and senior world championships at 61kg through his victories during the previous year.

He arrived for the bout equipped with the full extent of his first-class wrestling background. Ono controlled match speed through his constant grip of the right underhand during every play, which enabled him to maintain relentless yet subtle pressure throughout the bout. A penalty opened brief scoring potential for Lee, but ultimately, Ono maintained perfect control during the match.

But perhaps even more impressive than the match itself was what came after. In a brutally honest post-match reflection, Lee didn’t dodge, deflect, or downplay. “It seems that when I wrestle these guys who are gaming me and they’re good at what they do, I’m not doing a lot of offense,” he admitted to On3.com. “I think I respected him too much. There’s a lot of hype around him—not putting him down by any means—he beat me, and I’ll take the loss as a man.” No excuses. No hiding.

Just a champion who knows what accountability looks like. Spencer Lee, who spent years steamrolling NCAA opponents en route to three national titles with Iowa, was now staring his shortcomings in the face and owning them. “I think I put him on a little bit of a pedestal, and I need to go out and wrestle a little more,” Lee added. That quiet admission says everything. The hype around Ono? Real.

But is the fire still burning inside Lee? That’s the part we should all be watching. With Final X just weeks away, the question now isn’t just whether Lee can win. It’s will we see the sharper, grittier, more dangerous version of Spencer Lee return? One thing’s for certain: whoever stands across from him had better be ready for a man on a mission.