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Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle: A New Era for Wrestling

In a bold move to redefine the wrestling landscape, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, alongside co-founders Chad Bronstein and Israel Martinez, has launched Real American Freestyle (RAF), a professional freestyle wrestling league. The league’s inaugural event, scheduled for August 30, 2025, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, promises to blend the raw athleticism of freestyle wrestling with the storytelling flair of professional wrestling, creating a unique spectacle for fans. This article explores the origins, details, and potential impact of this groundbreaking venture.

What is Real American Freestyle Wrestling?

Freestyle wrestling is a dynamic and versatile style of wrestling that allows competitors to use their entire bodies, including both arms and legs, to execute holds, throws, takedowns, and other maneuvers. It is one of the two primary styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games, the other being Greco-Roman wrestling, which restricts actions to above the waist. Governed by United World Wrestling (UWW), freestyle wrestling is one of six main forms of amateur competitive wrestling practiced globally.

Freestyle Wrestling Match

Objective: The primary goal is to pin the opponent’s shoulders (or shoulder blades) to the mat for a short duration, typically one second, resulting in an immediate victory known as a “fall.” If no pin occurs, the wrestler with the most points at the end of the match wins.
Scoring: Points are awarded for various actions, including:
- Takedowns: Bringing the opponent to the mat from a standing position (typically 2 points).
- Reversals: Escaping from a defensive position to gain control (2 points).
- Back Exposure: Forcing the opponent’s back to the mat at an angle for a few seconds (2–4 points, depending on duration).
- Penalties: Points may be awarded for opponent infractions, such as stepping out of bounds or passivity (1 point).
Match Structure: A standard freestyle wrestling bout consists of two three-minute periods with a 30-second break in between. For younger competitors (Under-15, cadets) or veterans, periods may be shortened to two minutes.
Rules: Wrestlers can grasp any part of the opponent’s body, including below the waist, and use their legs actively for both offense and defense. However, dangerous holds targeting the head or neck are prohibited to ensure safety.
Origins: Freestyle wrestling evolved from “catch-as-catch-can” wrestling, a traditional English style where nearly all holds were permitted. Its roots trace back to ancient civilizations, with depictions of similar wrestling techniques found in Mesopotamian and Egyptian artifacts.

Comparison with Other Wrestling Styles

Greco-Roman Wrestling: Restricts all actions to above the waist, prohibiting leg attacks or tripping, which leads to a focus on upper-body throws.
Folkstyle Wrestling: Common in U.S. high school and collegiate wrestling, it emphasizes control and has different scoring rules, rewarding sustained dominance over an opponent.
Professional Wrestling: Unlike freestyle, professional wrestling is a scripted form of athletic theater, focusing on entertainment rather than competitive sport.

Global and Olympic Significance

Freestyle wrestling has been a staple of the modern Olympic Games since 1896 (except for 1912), with women’s freestyle wrestling introduced in 2004. It enjoys a strong following in countries like the United States, Iran, Russia, and other parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. The sport’s global appeal and competitive nature make it a fitting foundation for RAF’s mission to elevate wrestlers to mainstream stardom.

Hulk Hogan Real American Freestyle

The spark for RAF came from an unlikely source: Hulk Hogan’s teenage stepson, who introduced the wrestling icon to freestyle wrestling. Intrigued by the sport’s intensity and the dedication of its athletes, Hogan saw untapped potential. “After becoming more familiar with it, I started to believe the sport could become more popular and profitable with the right promotion,” Hogan told the Associated Press. Partnering with entrepreneur Chad Bronstein and accomplished wrestling coach Israel Martinez, Hogan set out to create a professional platform for freestyle wrestlers, backed by Left Lane Capital.

REAL AMERICAN FREESTYLE: Wrestling legends @HulkHogan & @EBischoff reunite to launch new league set to professionalize freestyle wrestling pic.twitter.com/DRKoaBzCNf

— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) May 1, 2025

Event Details: August 30, 2025, at Wolstein Center

The debut RAF event will take place at 7 p.m. on August 30, 2025, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, a venue steeped in wrestling history. The event will feature 12 unscripted matches across eight men’s and four women’s weight classes, each designed to showcase high-impact moves over nine minutes to captivate modern audiences. Proceeds from ticket sales will support Cleveland State University’s wrestling programs, reinforcing RAF’s commitment to the sport’s growth. “Cleveland is an incredible city, and Real American Freestyle is channeling its rock and roll style into this first event,” Hogan said in a press release (Cleveland.com).

Match Lineup

Several high-profile matches have been announced, highlighting the league’s elite talent:

Match	Competitor 1	Competitor 2
Women’s	Sarah Hildebrandt (USA, Olympic Gold Medalist)	Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra (Mexico)
Women’s	Kennedy Blades (USA, Olympic Silver Medalist)	Alejandra Rivera Arriaga (Mexico)
Men’s	Real Woods	Darrion Caldwell
Men’s	Austin Gomez	Lance Palmer

Additional matches, including one featuring Aaron Brooks, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Hulk Hogan Real American Freestyle Roster

RAF has assembled a roster of over 40 athletes, featuring some of the most accomplished wrestlers in the world. The lineup includes:

Men:
- David Carr (NCAA Champion)
- Kyle Dake (Olympic Medalist)
- Trent Hidlay (NCAA Champion)
- Kyle Snyder (Olympic Medalist)
- Aaron Brooks (Olympic Bronze Medalist)
- Ben Askren (Former UFC Fighter and Olympian)
- Zahid Valencia (National Champion)
- Real Woods
- Darrion Caldwell
- Austin Gomez
- Lance Palmer
- Potential additions: Wyatt Hendrickson (NCAA Heavyweight Champion), Gable Steveson (Olympic Gold Medalist)
Women:
- Kennedy Blades (Olympic Silver Medalist)
- Sarah Hildebrandt (Olympic Gold Medalist)
- Alejandra Rivera Arriaga
- Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra

These athletes, many of whom have competed at the Olympic or NCAA level, bring a wealth of skill and charisma. Hogan has emphasized their unique personalities, noting, “These guys have a Conor McGregor swagger already. They know about branding. They’re smartened up way ahead of their time” (Sescoops).

Hulk Hogan’s Vision

As RAF’s commissioner, Hulk Hogan aims to elevate these athletes to “mega star” status, leveraging his expertise in professional wrestling’s promotional aspects. “I want mega stars out of these guys because these guys are the real deal,” Hogan told The Ariel Helwani Show (Wrestling Inc.). “I think I have a connection with these guys and I can help them, not with the amateur wrestling stuff, but with everything else that goes along with that.” Supported by Eric Bischoff (Chief Media Officer) and Israel Martinez (Chief Operating Officer), Hogan’s vision is to create a fan-first experience that combines the authenticity of freestyle wrestling with the spectacle of professional wrestling.

Ticket Information and Challenges

Tickets for the inaugural event went on sale June 18, 2025, and are available through the Real American Freestyle website and Ticketmaster. However, ticket sales have been slow, with only 380 tickets distributed as of June 26, 2025, for a venue configured for 3,882 seats (Wrestling Headlines). With over 90% of tickets still available, RAF faces the challenge of building momentum in the lead-up to the event. Despite this, the star power of the roster and Hogan’s promotional prowess suggest potential for a strong turnout as awareness grows.

The Broader Impact of Real American Freestyle Wrestling

Real American Freestyle aims to fill a gap in the wrestling world by providing a professional stage for freestyle wrestlers, who have historically lacked such opportunities. “Real American wrestlers are some of the most disciplined, elite athletes in the world — but until now, they haven’t had a true professional stage to showcase their greatness,” Hogan stated (Cageside Seats). By offering championship purses and bonuses (in adherence to NCAA regulations), RAF seeks to support athletes’ careers while attracting a new audience to the sport.

The league’s debut comes at a time when wrestling is gaining traction, with freestyle wrestling’s Olympic prominence and growing interest in combat sports. RAF’s blend of unscripted competition and storytelling could redefine how fans engage with the sport, potentially creating a new genre of sports entertainment.

Conclusion

Real American Freestyle’s inaugural event on August 30, 2025, marks the beginning of an ambitious journey to elevate freestyle wrestling to mainstream prominence. With Hulk Hogan’s star power, a roster of world-class athletes, and a commitment to community support through Cleveland State University, RAF is poised to make a significant impact. While challenges like slow ticket sales remain, the league’s unique approach and talented roster offer a promising foundation for success. Wrestling fans and newcomers alike can look forward to an exciting new chapter in the sport, kicking off in Cleveland this summer.

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Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle Event date, location, tickets

Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle: A New Era for Wrestling