The recent launch of Real American Freestyle (RAF), the wrestling promotion co-founded by the late Hulk Hogan, is a touching addition to his lasting legacy. RAF was set up with Eric Bischoff to highlight “the toughest, most passionate athletes on Earth.” Hogan was really invested in this vision before he passed away.
Following his death, the organization made it clear that the show would continue, saying that “RAF was personal to him, something bigger than all of us” and that the league is “part of his legacy.” The debut event, RAF01 in Cleveland on August 30, was all about paying tribute to The Hulkster, focusing on real athletic competition instead of scripted entertainment.
But the recent announcements about the RAF’s upcoming events have sparked a lively discussion on where retired wrestlers fit into today’s scene, and comparing this event to the World Championships. So, this whole conversation kicked off when @SportsToucan on X said, “Retired wrestlers aren’t pokemon who exist to fight in increasingly bizarre fantasy match ups for your entertainment. Just let people retire. There’s lots of great new talent. No need to fixate on rehashing matches from 10 years ago.”
Fans are really starting to feel that the industry should put more effort into creating new stars instead of leaning on those nostalgic comebacks. The argument from critics also points out that Hulk Hogan’s RAF’s financial backing and partnership with Fox Nation create a powerful draw that can potentially take over worlds in America by redirecting talent to where the money and fame are.
The promotion’s model, which includes a partnership with USA Wrestling to allow even active NCAA athletes to earn compensation through NIL sponsorships, directly addresses the historical financial struggles that have plagued combat sports professionals. While RAF aims to build new stars, its initial strategy heavily leverages established names with pre-existing fanbases, such as Olympic champion Kyle Dake and NCAA stars like Bo Nickal and Wyatt Hendrickson, who became the inaugural RAF Heavyweight Champion.
By offering a lucrative and high-profile platform, RAF poses a significant challenge to traditional amateur wrestling pathways, suggesting that the future of the sport may be reshaped by Hulk Hogan’s last venture, for better or worse, as it balances honoring legendary careers with its promise to build the next generation of stars. And as RAF02 gets closer, the organization is really diving into the ongoing discussion on social media.
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Late Hulk Hogan’s event started a debate in the wrestling community
One fan’s take on Hulk Hogan’s RAF really got the ball rolling, and soon enough, others jumped in with their thoughts too. One fan mentioned, “RAF will be the Pros. The Standard. The Goal. Executed right, it’ll be supersede Worlds.” Joining the RAF really offers wrestlers some great financial rewards, a chance to get noticed in mainstream media like Fox Nation, and the opportunity to shine as stars in the American sports scene. Seriously, who wouldn’t want that in their career?
But this comment really touches on the practical challenge of creating a commercially successful sports league in the United States. It said, “I believe a balance is needed initially. If all your champions are from Japan and Dagestan and don’t speak English, it will be hard to attract casual American fans. I want exciting international fighters, but the league must build with charismatic, camera-friendly stars to grow the fan base.”
For a lot of wrestlers, events like the World Championships and the Olympics are usually the big goals they aim for. But if Hulk Hogan’s RAF is aiming to be the next big player and take on international events like these two, it really needs to bring in international talents such as 2024 World Champion Masanosuke Ono. It’ll be interesting to see how he connects with the audience in the United States.
This fan shared a sarcastic comment about the upcoming RAF02, saying, “That’s why Cayden Henschel and Mugzy are wrestling on the next RAF. Yeah ok buddy.” One fan chimed in, saying, “‘The Pros. The Standard. The Goal’ but also, let’s put washed up bums like PD3 on the card.” Another fan raised a question, stating, “Would you say the older guys are more willing to put it on the line for RAF than the young guys of similar caliber or are people just focusing on it bc guys like Varner haven’t competed in a while?”
It seems like these comments highlight how the wrestling media is really focusing on the comebacks of older stars. Their returns feel more unique and nostalgic compared to the ongoing participation of current wrestlers. For sure, matches like Kyle Snyder vs. Mason Parris—two incredible talents who were teammates at the 2024 Olympics but are now bringing back that classic Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry—really tap into that deep fan nostalgia and their well-known reputations.
The question really gets to the heart of what Hulk Hogan’s RAF is all about: is it fueled by the enthusiasm of legends looking for a fresh platform, or is it genuinely drawing in the top talent from around the globe right now?