Hulk Hogan felt sure he was onto something, and after watching the US NCAA Division I wrestling championships, he was absolutely certain.
Hogan is one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time, and he stayed in that lane until his teenage stepson pulled him into watching freestyle and folkstyle wrestling. After becoming more familiar, Hogan started to believe those traditional wrestling styles could become more popular and profitable with the right promotion.
Then, it happened. In March, Oklahoma State University’s Wyatt Hendrickson stunned University of Minnesota’s Gable Steveson — an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo — with a late takedown to claim the national title at heavyweight in collegiate — or folkstyle — wrestling.
Photo: AP
Hendrickson saluted US President Donald Trump after the victory in Philadelphia. Then, with a US flag draped over his shoulders, the US Air Force second lieutenant walked over and shook Trump’s hand and hugged him.
His dramatic win and the moments that followed vaulted wrestling into the mainstream and made the timing perfect for Hogan to help launch Real American Freestyle.
Hogan, who is to be commissioner of the league that announced its plans on Wednesday, said he wants it to provide more earnings opportunities for a sport that historically has lacked them, and after Hendrickson’s big moment, he feels the time is now.
Photo: AP
“When I saw that happen and I saw our president hug him, I went: ‘OK, we are on point, we’re ready to go and instincts have prevailed and I smell victory,’” he said. “I think we’re right on track, brother.”
Hogan, who at 71 still has massive arms and the charisma to match, was initially worried that freestyle wrestlers might not have the personality to sell tickets, but changed his mind as he began to connect with them.
“Dude, they’ve all got that edge,” he said. “These kids are young, they’re smart. They’re watching TV. They know about branding, they know what sells, and they’ve all got that little Conor McGregor swag.”
Photo: AP
Real American Freestyle events are to feature single matches at eight men’s and four women’s weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, with other sites to be named in the coming months.
Wrestling has been hot in the US in the past few years. The women’s US Olympic freestyle team earned four medals in six weight classes last year, while the men claimed three medals.
Folkstyle wrestling, which covers most of high school and college wrestling, has been popular, too. According to the National Federation of High Schools, wrestling set participation records for boys and girls in 2023 and last year.
Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at last year’s Paris Olympics, would be the face of his company’s women’s division, while Zahid Valencia and Ben Askren have agreed to participate on the men’s side, Hogan said.
Hogan’s Real American Beer serves as the title sponsor, and he has plenty of support. Chad Bronstein is the cofounder and president, while Left Lane Capital, which has backed Gerard Pique’s Kings League, Shaun White’s Snow League and League One Volleyball, among other things, has added the wrestling league to its list of ventures.
“The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them,” Hogan said. “People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.”
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