David Taylor was all set to make history at the 2024 World Wrestling Championships. Wrestlers don’t exactly come out of retirement every day, so when “The Magic Man” announced he was hitting the mat again, fans knew they were in for something special. The journey back wasn’t a stroll in the park, either; it was an all-out push to prove he still ruled the mat. But as the competition heated up in Tirana, Albania, reality hit—the match on Thursday was going to be Taylor’s last dance. For fans, it was bittersweet; watching a legend go all in one last time always comes with a heavy dose of farewell feels.

On October 31, David Taylor claimed the bronze medal in the 2024 World Wrestling Championships. In the repechage round (92-kg weight bracket), he faced former world champion Kamran Ghasempour as the barrier between him and his fifth world championship medal. But nothing stood a rock for the Magic Man on D-day. He kept his emotions under his sleeve and overpowered the Iranian juggernaut by a 6-2 setpoint. A perfect end to a phenomenal career! Meanwhile, the X-handle of USA Wrestling dropped the congratulatory post, worshiping the old guard of USA freestyle wrestling. But the moment stood to be heavy for the fans. 

After a decade of dominance, it was finally time to bid farewell to David Taylor—the heart of Penn State wrestling and a pillar of Team USA. But someone had to put this emotional goodbye into words, and Team USA delivered just the right tribute. In a heartfelt send-off, they wrote, “Farewell, Magic Man. Congrats on an incredible career.” And that was it—the perfect summation of Taylor’s journey, from his rise as the young phenom toppling giants to his reign as one of wrestling’s greats.

In the 2012 Olympic wrestling trials, David Taylor performed more than expected. In the team trials, he registered a 3-2 victory. But the Olympic journey in London didn’t seem to be great for him. But Magic Man knew how to turn tables from an early age. In 2013, he set his eyes on the big titles. His first chance to earn the limelight came at the US Open. There, Taylor had to confront the 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs to take up the title. However, the fight ended on Burroughs’s side, but David had his flowers as well. He left the mat as the runner-up of the US Open. A fitting start for a youngster! And the rest, as all they say, is history! 

In the next 11 years, David Taylor clinched six medals in the US Open in two different weight brackets (74-kg and 86-kg categories). And not only at the national level, his mastery of freestyle wrestling earned him tickets to the global contests and Taylor accepted the chances by both hands. 

While competing at the World Wrestling Championships, the Ohio native won three gold medals in the 86-kg weight category; at the Olympics, he kept his smile intact by winning one (in Tokyo). Those performances led to expectations to see him defend in Paris as well. Yet, the story had something different this time. 

In April this year, in the US Olympic wrestling trials, David Taylor had to suffer a shocking defeat to his Penn State successor, Aaron Brooks. Thus, the expectations around him hit rock bottom, and Taylor announced his retirement from wrestling. But his engagement with the sport didn’t let him go out of the park. David Taylor soon came back as the head coach of Oklahoma State wrestling. An immense responsibility, filling in John Smith’s shoes! Yet, a glimmer of hope had been there to see David Taylor at the wrestling mat again, grappling to snag the gold. 

Meanwhile, the World Wrestling Championships in Albania handed the fans the prized chance. David Taylor appeared on the mat again, for one last time. However, his defeat to Abdulrashid Sadulaev in the group match resulted in hiccups. But in the end, he left the mat with his head high. With that, his fans had the moment to soak up the emotions. As Masanosuke Ono did after today’s match. 

David Taylor’s fans show up to celebrate his imprint in the sport of wrestling

On October 31st, after the repechage round, Masanosuke Ono made a beeline for David Taylor. Why? The Japanese freestyle wrestler wanted to swap jerseys with the Magic Man himself. Taylor happily obliged, grinning for a photo with Ono. Who says wrestlers don’t have hearts? Just then, another tribute rolled in via Instagram.

Mason Paris, one of the many who idolizes Taylor, took to his story to make it known yet again: “What a way to finish.” Because, let’s face it—age is just a number, and David proved that at 33 by powering past a former world champ to claim bronze in a higher weight class. Fans were all in, filling the comments with support.

One chimed in, “What an era this has been for about the past dozen years for the USA Freestyle Team. A high standard has been set.” And they’re not wrong; Taylor’s reign in the 86-kg category raised the bar and brought the USA team some serious gold. As one fan summed it up simply, “Well done!” Taylor’s officially left the mat as a legend, but his impact? Still here, loud and clear.

For David Taylor, it is time to return to Stillwater as the coach. One fan reminded everyone, saying, “Top shelf wrestler, will be great to see him rebuild Oaklahoma State’s program.” Because Taylor’s wrestling days aren’t over; they’re just shifting to a new phase. Now, he faces a fresh challenge, not on the mat but from the sidelines, ready to shape the next generation. And with NCAA wrestling season right around the corner, all eyes will be on the Magic Man to work his magic from the coach’s corner!