Hulk Hogan is excited about a new venture in the world of wrestling. After watching the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, he believes freestyle wrestling has the potential to grow in popularity, especially with the right promotion.
Last month, Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson made headlines by defeating Minnesota’s Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist, to win the national heavyweight title. Following his victory, Hendrickson celebrated by saluting former President Donald Trump, even hugging him while draped in an American flag.
Hogan sees this moment as a perfect opportunity to launch his new league, “Real American Freestyle,” where he will serve as commissioner. He aims to create more earning opportunities in a sport that often struggles to provide them. Hogan feels there’s urgency to promote the sport now, saying, “When I saw that happen and I saw our President hug him, I went, OK, we are on point, we’re ready to go.”
At 71, Hogan remains a towering figure in wrestling, both in presence and personality. Initially, he had doubts about the personality of freestyle wrestlers, but he was pleasantly surprised. “These kids are young, they’re smart. They know about branding, they know what sells,” he noted, drawing a comparison to popular fighters like Conor McGregor.
The upcoming Real American Freestyle events will showcase matches across eight men’s and four women’s weight classes, with the first scheduled for August 30 in Cleveland. The sport has seen a resurgence in the U.S., with record participation among boys and girls in recent years. Hogan highlighted that Kennedy Blades, who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will represent the women’s division.
With strong sponsorship backing from Real American Beer, Hogan feels supported in this venture. He’s also collaborating with Eric Bischoff, famed for his leadership in professional wrestling, who will serve as chief media officer.
Hogan sees this league as a fresh opportunity, allowing him to help young athletes become stars in their own right. He believes this initiative will not conflict with existing college and national competitions, thanks to the recent changes in name, image, and likeness deals that allow college athletes some flexibility.
Overall, Hogan is ready to step into this new role and help shape the future of freestyle wrestling, stating, “I see this as an opportunity for me to get involved… to get back, quit sitting on the couch, and work with some of the best athletes around.”
