Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff Launch “Real American Freestyle,” A New Combat Sports League Blending Wrestling Grit With WWE-Style Showmanship

May 01, 2025: Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, two titans of pro wrestling history, are reuniting for a new endeavor: Real American Freestyle, an unscripted, competition-based wrestling league aiming to bring amateur-style wrestling into the entertainment spotlight — with big money and bigger production values.

“This is a legitimate sports competition,” Bischoff told The Hollywood Reporter, “not a scripted sports competition or form of entertainment.”

The league features Olympic-level athletes and national champions like Ben Askren, Kennedy Blades, and Zahid Valencia, with freestyle wrestling legend Izzy Martinez joining as the “third man” — a nod to the iconic nWo storyline from WCW, masterminded by Bischoff and headlined by Hogan’s legendary heel turn.

Despite the sport’s authentic roots, the show will look like something you’d expect from the world of pro wrestling or even The Voice. The events will feature:

• A raised stage or mat (like a boxing ring)
• Dramatic entrances, lighting, and theme music
• High-quality video packages introducing the athletes

“You need things that engage the senses beyond a win and a loss,” Bischoff said, referencing The Voice’s production as inspiration.

Each event will include eight nine-minute matches for men and four for women, across eight weight classes. The first event is scheduled for summer 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio, with the exact venue yet to be revealed.

Big Paydays, Bigger Dreams

Athletes will negotiate their own deals, potentially earning seven figures.

“Everybody makes their own deal, brother,” Hogan said.

The league is actively seeking a long-term media partner to help turn it into a major property. Though no broadcast partner has been confirmed, the eventual goal may include selling to TKO, the WWE-UFC parent company — something Hogan openly admitted is “always an option.”

For now, Hogan, as commissioner, and Bischoff, as creative head, are focused on building a “monster” — combining legitimate wrestling with the kind of stories, promos, and personalities that made their old WCW days unforgettable.