PHILADELPHIA– AJ Ferrari has made a good bit of enemies over the years, and, at least for a time, Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci was one of them.
The two engaged in a social media beef this past fall, and some fans wondered if the two would meet each other this season.
But it wasn’t to be.
Starocci moved up to from 184 to 174 and Ferrari stayed at 197.
Ferrari respects what Starocci has done as a competitor but also feels the criticism he’s gotten due to his antics– this one being among them– didn’t line up with what he feels was a lack of criticism for Starocci.
“Slap on the wrist,” he said of the lack of public outcry for Starocci. “Not a big deal. Even though he said some crazy stuff on that social media post. He took it personal. I’m trying to promote wrestling.”https://x.com/joesmeltzer775/status/1903536584915325063?s=46
For Ferrari, what he does, he does to help wrestling be more popular.
“Everybody comes at me… I’m trying to grow the sport,” he said. “You guys that just want me to shhhhhh hide, run in the corner mocking, high-pitched voice and then the sport dies and they cut all our funding, you guys wonder why wrestling is dying. I’m being myself and I’m trying to grow our sport. If you guys want our sport to continue to grow and evolve, and not only do it in here but do it in 80,000-person football stadiums. That’s what I want to do. You can’t do that if you don’t embrace people’s personalities and a couple little “controversies.”
AJ Ferrari and Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci had a social media feud over the fall.
I gave Ferrari a chance to reflect on that feud andโฆ yeah, youโre gonna wanna hear this. pic.twitter.com/dHIKzrD7yn
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) March 22, 2025
Ferrari then mentioned President Donald Trump, who will be in attendance for the sixth and final session of the championships.
Penn State Wrestling: Stars Excited About President Trump’s Visit
“We have Trump coming here tonight,” he said. “Why do you think Trump’s elected? Because of all the BS, this and that, politically correct. Come on, man. Are we here to play patty cake or to watch wrestling?”
THE BEEF
Photo by Cal State Bakersfield Wrestling: AJ Ferrari
Time for some beef history.
AJ Ferrariย is a national champion, having won at 197 for Oklahoma State in 2021, the year Starocci won his first of four national titles at 174.
Amid a sexual assault investigationย in the summer of 2022 (the case was eventually dismissed), ย Ferrari left the Oklahoma State wrestling team and never wrestled again for John Smith and the Cowboys.
He wrestled unattached in December 2023 and his matchย went down in infamy.
Yep, that's how you lose all composure.
Terrible pic.twitter.com/1nqmksVtnJ— Mark Lundy (@LutteLens) December 31, 2023
Ferrari had heard the talk about Starocci, and this past September,ย issued a warning.
โA safe recommendation for Carter is to stay down at 174 or 184 poundsโ donโt come up to 197 pounds,โ he wrote.
โ ๏ธโก๏ธMr. FastTwitchโก๏ธ is preparing a comeback to take back his throne ๐ of 1๏ธโฃ9๏ธโฃ7๏ธโฃ Pounds โ ๏ธ
Thereโs a lot of talk ๐ฃ๏ธ about Carter Starocci @carterstarocci bumping ๐ ๐ค
A safe recommendation for Carter is to stay down at 174 or 184 pounds – donโt come up to 197 poundsโผ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/Vh0NwTutGT— AJ Ferrari (@mrfasttwitch) September 4, 2024
Every Penn State or general wrestling fan who has followed Starocciโs career knew Starocci would have a response, it was just a matter of when.
The time came on a Monday night, and accompanying the post was a picture with a โcertificate.โ
โBeen focused on training, recovery and business recently,โ Starocciย wrote to social media,ย โbut here we are againโฆ another has been ncaa champ that needs added to my collection.
โAll-star classic,โ Starocci wrote, referring to the NWCA All-Star Classic that took place Nov. 16 in Rec Hall. โItโs at Penn State this year because they want the king showing out again. Just notify the city district so the youth can stay a safe distance away. Iโll go over in weight just to bend you over in front of the world.โ
Starocci then made an obvious reference to Ferrariโs past.
โI know youโre broke, desperate and horny. Lawyers are expensive so letโs put it all on the line.โ
But the two never met, and that, for now, is that.
‘I’D BET ON CARTER STAROCCI’
With all of the history between Ferrari and Starocci, Ferrari respects all Starocci has done on the mat and is expecting him to win his unprecedented fifth national title.
He’ll have a tough foe in Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen.
โIf I was a betting man, Iโd bet on Carter Starocci.โ
I asked Cal State Bakersfieldโs AJ Ferrari about tonightโs title match between Starocci (Penn State wrestling) and Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa).
Hereโs his full breakdown. pic.twitter.com/T7tzZg8MrW
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) March 22, 2025
“I think it’s going to be a good match,” he said. “I think that Carter is a guy that has a lot of offense and he has that mental toughness, that mental tenacity. And listen, me and him have our stuff because of stuff he said, you know what I mean. But that was in the past. It is what it is. But he’s a winner. He finds a way to win. I’m a winner… but if I was a betting man, I’d bet on Carter Starocci.”
Ferrari also believes that whoever wins between Starocci and Keckeisen should be awarded the Hodge Trophy, which is wrestlingโs Heisman.
