Real American Freestyle

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Real American Freestyle
Company typePrivate
IndustryFreestyle wrestling promotion
FoundedApril 30, 2025; 3 months ago (2025-04-30)
FoundersChad Bronstein
Terri Francis
Hulk Hogan
Headquarters
United States
Key people
OwnerLeft Lane Capital
Websiterealamericanfreestyle.com

Real American Freestyle (RAF) is a professional freestyle wrestling promotion owned by Left Lane Capital. It was founded in 2025 by Chad Bronstein, Terri Francis, and Hulk Hogan.

Competitors include current NCAA athletes, along with past collegiate wrestling and Olympic wrestling stars. The promotion provides an opportunity for wrestlers to profit from their craft, as historically both collegiate and Olympic wrestling do not allow compensation. A partnership with USA Wrestling allows current NCAA wrestlers to compete for prize money and bonuses.

The promotion will debut with its inaugural event, RAF 01, on August 30, 2025. Events air live on Fox Nation, the promotion's official broadcast partner.

History

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Hulk Hogan, co-founder

Chad Bronstein and Terri Francis partnered with Hulk Hogan to launch Real American Beer in 2024, which carried Hogan's likeness.[1] The beer was a nod to "Real American", Hogan's longtime professional wrestling theme song.[2] That same year, they began to develop plans for a new sport wrestling venture.[1]

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff announced the formation of Real American Freestyle on April 30, 2025.[3] The freestyle wrestling promotion is backed financially by Left Lane Capital and the venture capital fund Cassius.[3] Chad Bronstein will serve as chief executive officer, Bischoff as chief media officer, and former UFC coach Israel "Izzy" Martinez as chief operating officer.[3][4]

Hogan and Bischoff said their goal with the promotion was to elevate and develop top-level competitive wrestlers into stars.[5] They planned on doing that by emphasizing the backstories of each athlete like The Voice does for its singers.[6] More importantly, the promotion would allow amateur wrestlers who excelled in collegiate wrestling and Olympic wrestling to continue their careers and earn money at a professional level.[5]

In May 2025, Brandon Wimbush was hired as the promotion's chief of staff, and MatScouts founder Willie Saylor was hired as the vice president of talent development.[7]

Wyatt Hendrickson was signed to the promotion's roster in June 2025.[8] Hulk Hogan cited mainstream coverage of Hendrickson's upset of Gable Steveson in the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships as a testament to the sport's popularity.[9]

Co-founder Hulk Hogan was the promotion's commissioner before his death on July 24, 2025.[10]

The promotion's inaugural event will be held in co-founder Chad Bronstein's hometown of Cleveland, Ohio on August 30, 2025.[11] Future events will be held monthly, with Chicago, New York City and Tampa named as host cities.[11]

Rules

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Each event will feature twelve 9-minute matches, with men competing in eight weight classes, and women competing in four.[12]

USA Wrestling is a partner organization, allowing active NCAA wrestlers to compete for prize money and bonuses without it affecting their eligibility.[12]

Roster

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As of August 12, 2025[13]

Events

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RAF 01

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RAF 01: Nickal vs. Cardenas
PromotionReal American Freestyle
DateAugust 30, 2025
VenueWolstein Center
CityUnited States Cleveland, Ohio

RAF 01: Nickal vs. Cardenas is an upcoming professional freestyle wrestling event that will take place on August 30, 2025 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.[14] It will be the inaugural event produced by the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion. Commentary for the live Fox Nation broadcast will be provided by Kurt Angle, Bubba Jenkins and Chael Sonnen.[15]

Card

RAF 01
Weight Class Method Round Time Notes
190 lbs United States Jacob Cardenas vs. United States Bo Nickal
Unlimited Egypt Mostafa Elders vs. United States Wyatt Hendrickson
150 lbs United States Kennedy Blades vs. Mexico Alejandra Rivera
135 lbs United States Matt Ramos vs. United States Nathan Tomasello
155 lbs United States Yianni Diakomihalis vs. India Bajrang Punia
190 lbs Mexico Austin Gomez vs. United States Lance Palmer
190 lbs United States Jason Nolf vs. United States Evan Wick
120 lbs Mexico Zeltzin Hernandez vs. United States Sarah Hildebrandt
190 lbs United States Kyle Dake vs. United States Dean Hamiti
145 lbs United States Darrion Caldwell vs. United States Real Woods

Media

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Fox Nation has held exclusive broadcast rights to air the promotion's events since July 2025.[16]

David Sahadi will produce the promotion's live event broadcasts.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hulk Hogan's new Tampa wrestling league flops with fans". Tampa Bay Business Journal. June 26, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  2. ^ Kendall, Justin (June 14, 2024). "Hulk Hogan Launches Real American Light Lager". Brewbound. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Mejia-Hilario, Irving (April 30, 2025). "Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff launch Real American Freestyle wrestling league". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  4. ^ Levy, Giana (July 22, 2025). "Fox Nation Teams Up with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff for Real American Freestyle (TV News Roundup)". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Reichlin, Michael (May 12, 2025). "Hogan and Bischoff Share Vision for Real American Freestyle Wrestling: 'This Is Pro-Pro Wrestling'". SEScoops. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Konuwa, Alfred (April 30, 2025). "Hulk Hogan And Eric Bischoff Talk Cena's Heel Turn, Unveil Real American Freestyle". Forbes. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (May 30, 2025). "Hulk Hogan's Real American Freestyle adds prominent execs in ex-Notre Dame QB Brandon Wimbush, MatScouts founder Willie Saylor". Awful Announcing. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Brunt, Cliff (June 4, 2025). "Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle". Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  9. ^ Brunt, Cliff (April 30, 2025). "Pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan to be commissioner of Real American Freestyle". Associated Press. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  10. ^ Manfredi, Lucas (July 24, 2025). "Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Legend, Dies at 71". TheWrap. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Smith, Troy (June 18, 2025). "Hulk Hogan's new endeavor has serious Cleveland ties, brother". Axios. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Bona, Marc (June 20, 2025). "Hulk Hogan-backed wrestling league debuting in Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  13. ^ "Athletes". Real American Freestyle. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  14. ^ Brunt, Cliff (June 18, 2025). "Real American Freestyle wrestling to debut at Cleveland's Wolstein Center with Olympic medalists". Associated Press. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  15. ^ Knight, Cain A. (July 17, 2025). "Kurt Angle officially joins Hulk Hogan's Real American Freestyle wrestling". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  16. ^ Maglio, Tony (July 21, 2025). "Fox Nation Acquires TV Rights to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff's New Wrestling League". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  17. ^ "DAVE SAHADI JOINS REAL AMERICAN FREESTYLE WRESTLING". PWInsider. July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
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