The collegiate wrestling icon, AJ Ferrari, had such glorious moments on the mat, from clinching an NCAA title in 2021 to setting a very high bar for his career and competitors. Everyone expected him to keep the streak on, but now it seems like he’s getting laid back, allowing new stars to take over. Currently, AJ’s absence from essential competitions due to injuries and various setbacks is hampering his throne. His spot at the very top is slowly slipping off his hands.

The noteworthy fact — AJ Ferrari had a grave car accident on January 24, 2022, that resulted in severe internal bleeding combined with fluid in his lungs. This pushed him to put a stop to his wrestling career for a whole season. This was a huge setback for him, because of this, he had to withdraw from the rest of the matches for 2021-22. Since that point, his return to his true form has been wobbly, with multiple missed opportunities, keeping him from reclaiming everything he once owned.

AJ’s missing out opens doors for the latest talents

Ferrari’s injury-related absence has created space for others to claim the spotlight, and that’s exactly what’s happening. Wrestlers like Carter Starocci and Keegan O’Toole are proving their consistency and showing up when it counts. Without Ferrari in the mix, they’ve seized opportunities to rise to the top of their weight classes, making the most of his unplanned breaks.

His most recent setback came when he missed the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (CKLV) due to lingering injury concerns. This event, considered one of the toughest regular-season contests, featured top competitors in the 197-pound category, including Zach Glazier and Jacob Cardenas, both eager to take advantage of Ferrari’s absence. Ferrari’s withdrawal from CKLV disappointed fans, who were hoping for a rematch with Glazier after their heated encounter at the 2023 Soldier Salute tournament.

This situation is even harder for the fans to accept. AJ’s admirers are getting touchy with his lack of involvement this season, and who wouldn’t want their favorite one to have win streaks again? He has only participated in two games so far. In a simpler manner, Ferrari has embodied the danger of losing ground to wrestlers who have joined the circle, are staying engaged, and are leaving their own marks, while excelling.

Ferrari’s past Dominance vs. current hurdles

AJ Ferrari’s rise to fame was fast and fierce. In 2021, he grabbed the NCAA title in a big way, making history as one of the few true freshmen to do so. He also won the Big 12 Championship, earning the title of Most Outstanding Wrestler, and cemented his reputation as a future star in wrestling.

It’s sad to say, but his dominance has been going down the hill due to his inconsistent participation. As of January 21, 2025, AJ Ferrari is ranked third in the NCAA Division I 197-pound wrestling rankings and competes as a redshirt sophomore at CSU Bakersfield. Even though his ranking remains top-notch, on the other hand, it also reflects his struggle to stay at the top without consistent competition, and that is what we call impressive. Think what he can do with full force.

Plus, in the 2024-25 NCAA DI Wrestling Rankings released by FloWrestling, AJ Ferrari has a spot at 4th place, behind those who have been actively taking part and collecting up wins. AJ’s past victories at events like the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals and the Cadet World Championships, finely depict his potential, but his recent track record leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

If AJ Ferrari wants to reclaim his spot as the top dog, he needs to stay healthy and start to compete consistently. His comeback story isn’t over yet, but one fact is that the time is running out for him to prove that he still belongs at the top.