Bo Bassett, being only 17, has already done enough to put under his belt that most wrestlers could only dream of achieving. Because of his toughness and innovative style on the mat, Bassett has already made the history of wrestling as great as David Taylor, who had accomplished youth records such as Ironman Championships. Just as Ironman champion Taylor clinched the prestigious Ironman Championship at a young age, Bassett’s narrative of success is gradually taking shape as an example for future athletes. How did Bassett perform at the Super 32 championship?

In the 144-pound finals at the Super 32 Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Wunderkind met Daniel Zepeda, a well-known foe. In the semifinals, Zepeda defeated Nikade Zinkin with a score of 8–4 and defeated Noah Nininger with 23–9. Following Zepeda’s defeat in FloWrestling’s “Who’s #1,” the 17-year-old triumphed once more. The 144-pound finals, which were billed as one of the most anticipated matches in the championships, ended when both teams scored seven points apiece. However, the prodigy defeated his opponent 10–7 after an exciting overtime match and won the Super 32 title.

Bo Bassett has clicked three Super 32 titles with a win in October, and his performances on the mat are always a treat to watch. But sometimes a simple move on the mat is enough to let others criticize you despite the victory. Why is Bassett getting criticism?

A Reddit post with a video of Bassett from his Super 32 match is going viral, claiming that Bassett didn’t use a penetration step. The caption reads, “I saw that Bo didn’t take a penetration step before shooting for his fireman carry. Why exactly is this? The guy doesn’t seem to be giving enough pressure to just fall into it; was Bo already in good positioning to shoot?” The video shows Bassett’s move on the mat, and he didn’t use the penetration step, which is generally used while performing the moves on the mat and helps wrestlers cover the distance between themselves and their opponents.

At the age of 17, he is so talented that every university wants him to be on their team (about to make his final decision to choose a program for his future). Recently, Oklahoma sponsored his flight from Penn State to Oklahoma for a match with 40 people along with him. It might be a gift for him so that he might join OSU for his college. But sometimes great performances or having talent is not enough, and they find a small loophole. However, Bassett has earned loyal fans, and they defend him with their best efforts.

Fans are defending Bo Bassett’s move

With such a great performance on Super 32, Bassett is making headlines on the mat and getting criticism for a small move, a move that is used to break through the opponent’s defensive posture. Fans have come in Bassette’s support; one fandom commented, “If you have seen some of his other firemen, I think he was a little out of position here, thus requiring the second step with his knee to compensate. He tends to drive hard into the arm on his dumps like you would on a no-leg fireman. But because he was slightly out of position, he ended up with a slightly weird typical dump.”

While some saw this as a minor imperfection, others recognized it as a testament to Bassett’s adaptability in high-pressure situations. One fan even explained Bassett’s move in detail; the fan wrote, “As that second knee comes down, it creates the momentum for him to swing the kid (opponent) to his back by pulling down hard on the arm Bo has trapped. This style of fireman’s carry is commonplace for higher-level wrestlers because rarely will shooting your hips under and pulling the guy over work against higher-level competitors. The ugliness of the finish here was because the opponent shifted his weight and caught Bo’s far ankle.”

Another also agreed and supported and shared his experience, “This is 100% correct. I do this fireman because high-level wrestlers will counter by ripping the arm that is holding their arm backward. Mine was more of a knee tap, driving them over their right shoulder. It helps that I have a 6’6” arm span and I’m only 6’ tall.” This analysis underscores the fact that at elite levels, traditional methods often give way to innovative solutions tailored to the opponent’s reactions.

One user remarked, “This reminds me of people who nitpick the form of people who lift crazy amounts of weight, way more than they ever did.” Such comments applauded Bassett’s remarkable achievement and also critiqued the tendency to overanalyze successful athletes. Another fandom also supported Bassett and claimed that he was trying to take the approach and that there was no harm in it. The comment reads, “He’s just changing levels and letting his arm tie pull the guy over the top. This is a high-level approach.”

Some even compared Bassett with legends like Spencer Lee; a fan wrote, “This is a lazy fireman’s. Done often by Spencer Lee and Austin DeSanto. Can be done without a penetration step.” This explains how Bassett has a good fan following who can defend him like crazy. Bo Bassett is reaching heights and breaking records. What do you think of his journey? Do tell us in the comment section.