Carter Starocci isn’t just chasing wrestling history—he’s igniting it. The Penn State sensation has already conquered the 174-pound division with four straight NCAA titles to his name. Now, with an extra year granted by the pandemic, the 23-year-old is eyeing an unprecedented fifth title. However, one name aims to derail his well-set plans: AJ Ferrari.

The 23-year-old Texan, who burst onto the scene with an NCAA title as a freshman at Oklahoma State, is finally making his return to the mats, now repping Cal State Bakersfield. Wrestling fans are buzzing with excitement to see how Ferrari stacks up against the current king of the 174-pound division, Carter Starocci. And Starocci? He’s not losing any sleep over it. Instead, he’s been taking shots at Ferrari, publicly taunting him and suggesting that Ferrari’s best days are firmly in the rearview mirror.

Starocci, never one to shy away from a showdown, threw down the gauntlet and has even hinted at moving up a weight class just for the chance to face Ferrari. “I’ll go heavyweight. I mean, it really don’t matter…Another has-been NCAA champ that needs added to my collection,” Starocci quipped in an Instagram post, daring Ferrari to meet him at Penn State for the All-Star Classic. He didn’t pull any punches, boldly declaring his intention to “bend [Ferrari] over in front of the world.” But Ferrari wasn’t about to let that slide.

In a fiery response on Instagram, AJ Ferrari flexed his muscles and claimed to be “the fastest ever at 197.” He warned Starocci that if he’s aiming for his weight class, he’s in for a rude awakening. Ferrari, who’s packing around 210 pounds, reminded Starocci that he’s built differently and mockingly advised him to “get that weight up” if he’s serious about stepping up to 197.

After Carter Starocci took a swipe at AJ Ferrari with some sharp words, Ferrari decided to respond with both a rebuttal and a touch of class. While Starocci chose to throw shade with derogatory comments, Ferrari took a different approach, focusing on predictions from wrestling fans and his own impressive track record.

Ferrari retorted, “I haven’t touched 190 since I was in high school, bro. What you got to say to that? You got nothing… Your excuse is invalid.” Demanding a reply from his rival, AJ Ferrari stated, “Again, I called you out. Answer the call out. 197, whatever the term it is, whatever the call it is, try my season, bud. 197, greatest ever. Woo-hoo! Put some respect on my name.”

Will Starocci finally face AJ Ferrari in wrestling’s most anticipated showdown, overcoming the weight-class drama?

Just two days ago, when Carter Starocci called AJ Ferrari out, he also stated that the loser of the match should make a tattoo on their chest that would read, “Starocci is my NATTY DADDY” However, in the very same post, he stated he’ll go up to 190 lbs. This provoked a few fans to question why he would not move up to 197 lbs. A few questioned if he was ‘scared’. Is that the truth? 

AJ Ferrari won the gold medal in the 197-pound weight class at the 2021 NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis. He also claimed first place in the 197-pound division at the 2021 Big 12 Championships in Tulsa. While Carter Starocci has aced the 174-pound weight class. From gold at the NCAA Division I Championships four years in a row, with victories in St. Louis (2021), Detroit (2022), Tulsa (2023), and Kansas City (2024). In the Big Ten Championships, he secured first place in the 174-pound division in Lincoln (2022) and College Park (2023), and earned a silver medal in State College (2021).

Now that AJ Ferrari is the official name for Cal State Bakersfield’s wrestling team for the upcoming season, Ferrari would look to reclaim the title again after a series of setbacks he had to face, including an unfortunate car accident. And, with Ferrari signing the season for CSUB, there’s renewed hope for the team. On the other hand, the wrestling world is concerned about the weight class that Carter Starocci settles for. Many presume that he is trying to play safe and duck the potential bout.

There were also rumors that he might be stepping up to 184 lbs, and now he himself marked it to be 190 lbs. Only time would solve the confusion regarding Starocci’s weight class before the most anticipated fight unravels. With tensions escalating between these two wrestling giants, one thing is certain: the wrestling world is in for a showdown. Just one thing remains to be seen: whether Starocci stays at 174 or steps up to face Ferrari. Who will come out on top when history and pride are on the line? Share your thoughts in the comments below!