The shocking news that the International Olympic Committee’s executive board voted to boot wrestling from the 2020 Games has rattled both the wrestling and MMA communities as well as those who live in both (and some who live in neither). While it’s not entirely confirmed wrestling won’t be back in 2020, the chances are extremely slim.
Still, amidst the surprise, members of both communities are vowing to fight back and make sure the sport that’s been a aprt of the Olympics since it’s modern re-introduction in 1896 doesn’t lose out to …modern pentathalon. Below are their reactions on Twitter.
MMA FIGHTERS VOICE THEIR DISAPPROVAL
If I did not start wrestling in Jr High & high school I would of got into trouble! Lets change this & make a Difference j.mp/V3dE6g
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) February 12, 2013
How do you tear one sport down to try and build another up?#stupid @ssbtown1982
— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) February 12, 2013
There has been a push to get MMA in the Olympics, but at the cost of the greatest sport of wrestling? No f’ing way!
— Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) February 12, 2013
The IOC removing wrestling from the Olympics is very disturbing. What do people think WAS the original olympic sport? Disgusting suits!!!
— Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) February 12, 2013
Supposedly wrestling has been dropped from the Olympics!?!?? Someone please tell me that’s not true
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 12, 2013
The Olympic Committee Drops #Wrestling for 2020. Heaven forbid we actually have a hard sport in the Olympics. #Stupid #Idiotic #Cowards #IOC
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 12, 2013
Hearing wrestling dropped from 2020 Olympics & having 2 fight forreintroduction. How is this possible? Wrestling was core of 1st Olympics
— Tom Kong Watson (@TomKongWatson) February 12, 2013
You have got to be fucking kidding me. abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireSto…
— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) February 12, 2013
Wow the IOC dropped Wrestling from the Olympics?? Some BS!!!!
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) February 12, 2013
Why yall complain about no wrestling in the Olympics. All that means is @twooodley vs @alliseeisgold for the Welterweight title in UFC 165
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) February 12, 2013
#SaveOlympicWrestling All other sports are gr8 and gives back to the athlete but no other sport on this planet gives u what WRESTLING does
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) February 12, 2013
If it wasn’t for wrestling I wouldn’t be in the UFC , the talks of them getting rid of wrestling in 2020 Olympics… fb.me/2eTiUjzD6
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 12, 2013
Wrestling is the oldest sport in the world. Keep it in the Olympics!
— Matthew brown (@IamTheImmortal) February 12, 2013
#saveolympicwrestling RT @microtechceo: I agree @graymaynard! This makes no sense! @dc_mma @cainmma @sonnench twitter.com/MicroTechCEO/s…
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) February 12, 2013
Wrestling saved my life and millions of other peoples, I hope the IOC knows this won’t stick. What a buncha bullshit #SaveOlympicWrestling
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 12, 2013
It’s so sad all because of TV views they get rid of Wrestling thanks guys for crushing kids dreams #SaveOlympicWrestling #assholes
— kurt pellegrino (@kurtpellegrino) February 12, 2013
Wrestling = discipline, fun, focus, learning, overcoming obstacles. Kids need this more than ever & they need goals! #SaveOlympicWrestling
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 12, 2013
CURRENT AND FORMER ELITE WRESTLERS VOW TO FIGHT BACK
It’s not over yet. We will keep fighting to save the sport we love. Don’t stop dreaming and don’t stop believing. #SaveOlympicWrestling
— Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) February 12, 2013
Don’t know what to think about wrestling being dropped from the Olympics.It is a travesty and I am trying to get my head around it.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) February 12, 2013
Not on our watch!!! “IOC drops wrestling from 2020 Olympics usat.ly/14POnx6 @zekejones @usawrestling @jakevarner211@alliseeisgold
— Cael Sanderson (@caelsanderson) February 12, 2013
Flood IOC Executive Members with POSITIVE letters on why wrestling should be a part of Olympics.Names & address here: caelsanderson.com/latest-news/ca…
— Cael Sanderson (@caelsanderson) February 12, 2013
Absolutely shocked by the decision by the IOC to drop wrestling after the 2020 games. Let’s get it back!!! @espn @nbcsports #Olympics
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) February 12, 2013
Email everyone on this list 2 do your part 2 #SaveOlympicWrestling. Please b respectful & b an ambassador 4 our sport twitter.com/HenryCejudo/st…
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) February 12, 2013
Wrestling has alot to do with who I am today! #saveolmypicwrestling
— Coleman Scott (@CScott60kg) February 12, 2013
Let’s keep #SaveOlympicWrestling trending as long as we can wrestling community!
— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) February 12, 2013
For the future of our sport! #saveolympicwrestling twitter.com/Sara_McMann/st…
— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) February 12, 2013
#SaveOlympicWrestling #SaveWrestling I’m trying to win 3 Olympic titles and now they say I can only have one?!?!?!!!!???!?!?
— Kyle Dake (@kyledake444) February 12, 2013
She just heard she couldn’t wrestle in 2032! #SaveOlympicWrestling twitter.com/AirFrayer/stat…
— Jared Frayer (@AirFrayer) February 12, 2013
Unbelievable! What do u tell the kids on my youth team who want nothing more than to be like Jordan Burroughs! #saveolympicwrestling
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 12, 2013
THEN THERE IS THIS
Wrestling dropped from the Olympics? Has the IOC lost its senses?
— Donald Rumsfeld (@RumsfeldOffice) February 12, 2013
Wrestling has been dropped from the olympics?! What a terrible decision re one of the greatest sports ever salon.com/2013/02/12/wre…
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) February 12, 2013
If you’d like to help wrestling be re-instituted as part of the 2020 Olympic Games or stay informed on how the situation develops, you can do the following:
1. Use the hashtag #SaveOlympicWrestling on Twitter or like the page of the movement on Facebook.
2. Use USA Wrestling’s Facebook page to keep the sport in the 2020 Games.
3. Sign petitions like this one.
4. Write members of the IOC using the information listed in Cejudo’s Tweet.