By now, you’ve probably heard about The Dual, a groundbreaking six-part docuseries that dives deep into one of the most iconic wrestling duals of all time: the 1986 showdown between Dan Gable’s Iowa Hawkeyes and Jim Gibbons’ Iowa State Cyclones. Packed with drama, high-stakes matchups, and larger-than-life personalities, this series takes you back to a golden era of college wrestling when Iowa was at the pinnacle of dominance and the state of Iowa lived and breathed the sport.

To make this legendary series even more accessible, we’re excited to introduce The Dual: Prime Cut. These abridged, action-packed versions of each episode are designed specifically for YouTube. In just 15-20 minutes, you’ll experience the must-see highlights and key storylines that made this dual unforgettable. Every week, a new episode of Prime Cut will be featured, giving fans an easy way to dive into the intensity and excitement of this historic event.

Episode 1: Setting the Stage

The series kicks off with Episode 1, setting the stage for the epic battle to come. The story begins with the Cyclones hosting the Hawkeyes in Hilton Coliseum, a venue known for its electric atmosphere and passionate fans. On one side, you have Dan Gable’s powerhouse Hawkeyes, riding a 36-match dual winning streak and boasting one of the most dominant lineups in wrestling history. On the other side, Jim Gibbons and his scrappy Cyclones, eager to prove they could topple the giants.

The opening matches set the tone for what would become one of the most intense duals in NCAA history. With early surprises and a raucous crowd, the drama begins to unfold as both teams battle for control. Could Iowa State pull off the unthinkable and end Iowa’s reign, or would the Hawkeyes find a way to prevail, as they so often did during Gable’s tenure? This is where the drama begins, and you won’t want to miss a second.

What to Expect from Prime Cut

The Dual: Prime Cut condenses the full episodes into high-energy highlight reels, perfect for fans who want to relive the key moments or dive into the action for the first time. Each Prime Cut captures the essence of the series, featuring the biggest storylines, the most exciting matches, and the personalities that make this dual unforgettable.

Embedded below is Episode 1 of The Dual: Prime Cut. Experience the electric atmosphere of Hilton Coliseum and witness the incredible drama as it all unfolds.

The Dual: Prime Cut – Episode 2 | The Rivalry Heats Up

After a wild start to the dual, The Dual: Prime Cut – Episode 2 dives deeper into the action as Iowa looks to recover from an early setback. This episode features three huge matchups, starting at 126 pounds with Iowa’s Brad Penrith, a fiery competitor from New York known as “The Flea,” taking on Bill Kelly of Iowa State. Then, at 134, Iowa’s Greg Randall faces off against Jeff Gibbons—the brother of Iowa State head coach Jim Gibbons—adding another layer of intensity to the rivalry.

The final match of the episode brings one of the most anticipated battles of the night: Iowa’s Kevin Dresser, now the head coach at Iowa State, clashes with Joe Gibbons, another brother of the Cyclone head coach. With Dresser ranked #2 and Gibbons ranked #1 at 142 pounds, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

With Hilton Coliseum rocking and the Cyclones fighting to keep their upset hopes alive, the tension continues to build. Can Iowa turn the tide, or will Iowa State keep the pressure on? Watch Prime Cut – Episode 2 to find out.

The Dual: Prime Cut – Episode 5 | The Heavyweights Decide It All

Everything comes down to this. After trailing the entire dual, Iowa has battled back to tie the score at 16-16 heading into the final match at heavyweight. With the sold-out Hilton Coliseum crowd on its feet, the Cyclones send out John Heropoulos, a 197-pounder bumped up to heavyweight, coached by none other than Ed Banach—an Iowa legend turned Iowa State assistant. The Hawkeyes counter with Mark Sindlinger, a tough competitor but one who joined the team late in the season after playing football for Iowa. With limited mat time and questions surrounding his wrestling conditioning, the pressure on him couldn’t be higher.

The entire dual meet hangs in the balance. One match to decide it all. The intensity in Hilton Coliseum reaches a fever pitch as Heropoulos and Sindlinger square off in a battle that will go down in history. Would Iowa State pull off the impossible and snap Iowa’s 36-match dual winning streak? Or would Gable’s squad once again find a way to win when it mattered most?

When the dust settles, it’s Iowa State celebrating a massive upset victory in front of their home crowd. But while the Cyclones won this battle, the war was far from over. In true Dan Gable fashion, the Hawkeyes turned their disappointment into fuel, storming back to dominate the Big Ten and NCAA Championships later that season. Legend has it that Gable made his team run nine miles home from the bus ride back to campus that night before launching into an intense practice. Whatever the truth may be, one thing is certain—this loss only made Iowa stronger.

Watch Prime Cut – Episode 5 to witness one of the most unforgettable finishes in college wrestling history.

Don’t Miss the Full Episodes

While Prime Cut delivers the highlights, the full episodes of The Dual on FloWrestling are a must-watch for die-hard wrestling fans. Each hour-long episode dives deeper into the context, the matchups, and the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped this historic dual. You’ll hear from the wrestlers and coaches who lived it, see never-before-seen footage, and experience every takedown, pin, and scramble in its entirety.

Stay Tuned for More

Every week, we’ll update this article with the next episode of The Dual: Prime Cut. Make sure to subscribe to FloWrestling and our YouTube channel so you don’t miss a moment of this incredible series.

Get ready to relive one of the greatest moments in wrestling history. This is The Dual. This is Prime Cut. Let’s go!