But the favored Burroughs stunningly lost two matches in one day in an Olympic performance in Rio that is still difficult to comprehend.
Burroughs is back now and he launched his comeback earlier this year when he went unbeaten with a strong showing at the World Cup in Iran at 163 pounds.
The road toward winning a 2017 world freestyle title will continue for Burroughs when he is scheduled to compete at the U.S. Open this week in Las Vegas. That will set the stage for the U.S. World Team Trials in familiar territory in Burroughs' home of Lincoln, Neb. in June.
The United States World Teams in Greco-Roman and women will be determined in Vegas, with this being a World Team Trials for both styles. Champions in Greco and women qualify for the World Championships in Paris, France.
Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis also is expected to compete in Vegas in her first tournament on American soil since she won the Olympic Trials last year.
Olympic and World champion Kyle Snyder and Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox aren't expected to compete at the Open. Both wrestlers have clinched spots in the freestyle finals of the World Team Trials after winning medals in Rio.
Here are some of the top storylines to watch this week in Las Vegas:
Kyle Dake shoots on Jordan Burroughs at the 2015 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Burroughs vs. Dake
Kyle Dake is moving back down to the loaded weight class of 74 kilograms that Jordan Burroughs has ruled domestically every year, and most years internationally, since 2011.
Dake was second to Burroughs at the 2013 and 2015 World Team Trials, and many observers think this year is Dake's best chance to beat Burroughs after he stumbled at the Olympics.
Burroughs also will have a more difficult time since he won't receive an automatic berth into the finals of the World Team Trials this year.
Dake bumped up a weight class last year and finished second to Cox at the Olympic Trials, but he was noticeably undersized at 189.
Moving back down to 163 will be a much better fit for him.
Dake is very strong and is excellent at gaining points in the international style with his ability to lift and turn. With his Greco background, he is comfortable wrestling in just about any position.
Burroughs is one of the best wrestlers in American history. And one of the best competitors we've ever witnessed. He's not someone you ever want to count out. Look for him to be ready for a strong performance in Vegas.
A Burroughs-Dake final would be a treat for fans to watch, that's for sure.
This weight class could also feature past Junior World silver medalist Alex Dieringer, a three-time NCAA champion who has gained considerable international seasoning in the past year.
Recently crowned NCAA champion Mark Hall, a Cadet and Junior World champion, also could make some noise in this division. Hall may not quite be ready, but not many people expected Snyder to win Worlds as a teenager.
Hall has a tremendous upside, no question about that.
David Taylor at the Freestyle World Cup (Photo/Justin Hoch)What will happen at 86 kilograms?
The dynamic David Taylor looks like he is finally starting to look big enough for 86 kilos.
Taylor jumped up 26 pounds in moving up one weight class last season and he has steadily grown into his new division.
And that's bad news for the rest of the guys in this class because Taylor is a gold medal waiting to happen for the U.S. He's a tremendous technical and tactical wrestler with an enormous gas tank to match.
Taylor certainly proved that with a phenomenal performance at the World Cup where he wore down and broke 2016 Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani of Iran before eventually pinning him.
Taylor has all of the ingredients and components to be the best wrestler in the world and this may be the year it finally happens.
With Cox possibly not wrestling this year, as he considers other options including maybe playing football, Taylor is the clear favorite here to make his first World Team.
Zain Retherford was dominant en route to winning his second straight NCAA title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Frank the Tank vs. the Zain Train?
Frank Molinaro emerged last year to have a breakthrough season where he not only was a surprise member of the Olympic Team, but he was just one win away from winning a medal in the process.
Molinaro is a tough, hard-nosed, physical wrestler who wears down and frustrates opponents at 143 pounds.
Molinaro may have to beat a star from the same program he wrestled, Penn State, to maintain his No. 1 spot.
Zain Retherford, a past Cadet World champion and two-time NCAA champion, just won the Hodge Trophy and now he's jumping into freestyle.
Retherford has a very bright future ahead on the international level, but is he ready to break though and overtake Molinaro?
Heavy hitters
Who is next at heavyweight for the U.S.? This has been Tervel Dlagnev's weight class for nearly a decade, but with the two-time Olympian and two-time medalist done now who will step up in Dlagnev's place in 2017?
Veteran Zack Rey has significant international experience and replaced an injured Dlagnev at the 2015 Worlds. He's very strong and very difficult to score on, but doesn't put a lot of points on the board.
Two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski is an offensive, athletic wrestler with superb leg attacks and who can light up a scoreboard. But can he break through the strong defense of Rey?
Two-time NCAA champion Tony Nelson and NCAA runner-up Connor Medbery are two other wrestlers who could be factors in Vegas.
Helen Maroulis at a press conference before the Rio Olympic Games (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)She's baaaaaaaack! Return of Helen
Helen Maroulis took a well-deserved break after making history and winning the first Olympic gold medal for a U.S. athlete in women's freestyle wrestling in 2016.
Maroulis did it in style by stunning three-time gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan in the finals in Rio. It was a landmark win that has given a huge boost to the already strong American program.
Maroulis returned to competition earlier this season, wrestling up at 60 kilograms after competing at 53 kilograms in the Olympics.
Maroulis' days at 53 kilos likely are done. She is expected to compete at 58 kilograms/128 pounds in Vegas.
With the 2020 Olympics still more than three years away and with United World Wrestling changing the weight classes after the 2017 Worlds, Maroulis has plenty of time to figure out which weight class works best for her.
Maroulis will be a force at no matter which class she competes in. She certainly proved that in Rio.
With Gray out, who else will step up on the women's side?
With three-time World champion Adeline Gray sidelined after shoulder surgery, U.S. coach Terry Steiner is looking for his team to try and fill the void.
Veterans like World champion Elena Pirozhkova, World silver medalist Alli Ragan and World fifth-place finisher Victoria Anthony will be counted on again, but which young wrestlers will emerge?
Young prospects like Olympian Haley Augello, Olympic Trials champion Tamyra Mensah, World Team member Sarah Hildebrandt and talented Becka Leathers are among those who could be in that category.
One more run for Robby?
Colorful heavyweight Robby Smith, who narrowly missed winning a World medal in 2015, is back this season. Smith can wrestle with anybody, and if the fire and hunger is at the level it has been in the past, look for him to contend for a medal.
Greco looking to bounce back
It was a rough Olympics for the Americans in Greco-Roman, but the U.S. has potential for a big bounce back year under Coach Matt Lindland.
A tough and deep group is at 130 pounds, led by Olympian Jesse Thielke and talented Ryan Mango.
Two gifted Junior-age wrestlers won titles at the U.S. Open this season with Kamal Bey (75 kilograms/165 pounds) and G'Angelo Hancock (98 kilograms/216 pounds) leading a big youth movement in Greco. Bey and Hancock are big-time athletes with big-move arsenals.
Two-time Olympian Ben Provisor and two-time World Team member Patrick Martinez are expected to battle in a tough 85-kilogram/187-pound weight class.
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