Hulk Hogan And Eric Bischoff’s Company Lands Monumental Streaming Deal, Important Ex-WWE Name Signs

Written by Marc Middleton • Published Jul 21, 2025 11:45 EDT
WWE Hall of Famers Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan on WCW Monday Nitro

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have teamed back up for a new wrestling project, and they’re bringing major names with them such as Kurt Angle. After some speculation on uncertainty surrounding the future of the project, a major announcement was just made on Hogan and Bischoff signing with a broadcast partner.

The Hulkster partnered with Chad Bronstein and Terri Francis earlier this year as founders of Real American Freestyle, a freestyle wrestling promotion owned by investment firm Left Lane Capital. Easy E has signed on as the Chief Media Officer. Hogan’s Real American Beer is the official sponsor, which was a given as the beer company was launched last year by Hulk Hogan, Chad Bronstein, and Terri Francis.

Hogan will serve as Commissioner, while Kurt Angle and Chael Sonnen will be joined by Bubba Jenkins at the commentary desk. RAF has also signed several key names from the amateur wrestling scenes and combat sports world to work executive roles and other positions, including UFC’s Israel “Izzy” Martinez as Chief Operating Officer. The USA Wrestling organization has partnered with RAF, which allows NCAA wrestlers to compete for money and bonuses.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are hoping to elevate and develop top-tier competitive freestyle wrestlers into actual superstars by focusing on back-stories, similar to what The Voice does for its singers, and the promotion is committed to paying top collegiate and Olympic wrestlers so that they can continue earning in their careers but now at a professional level. The roster includes familiar faces such as Wyatt Hendrickson, Bo Nickal, Yianni Diakomihalis, Kennedy Blades, Real Woods, Sarah Hildebrandt, as well as former UFC star and Olympian Ben Askren, who is currently battling a serious health issue.

Real American Freestyle has announced plans for monthly events in Chicago, New York City, and Tampa, following RAF 01 in Cleveland at the Wolfstein Center on August 30. There were recent reports of bad ticket sales for RAF 01, but the promotion is moving ahead as buzz slowly increases. It was announced this week that David Sahadi was hired to work as a producer. The 63-year-old began working with Bischoff on “all things production for RAF” in early May.

Sahadi started working for NBC Sports after college, but WWE approached him in 1992 and that led to more than a decade with the company, first as Creative Director of On-Air Promotions. The NYC native was instrumental in growing WWE production, and has been widely-praised for his work in multiple promotions over the years. Sahadi left WWE in 2003 and spent 13 years wearing many hats with TNA, then several months working backstage in MLW. He returned to TNA in late 2019 as a full-time producer, but was let go in May of last year. After returning to MLW as Executive Producer the following month, Sahadi is now with RAF.

FOX Nation Signs With RAF From Hulk Hogan And Eric Bischoff

FOX Nation has obtained exclusive broadcast rights to air all Real American Freestyle events. Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are celebrating today after it was announced today that FOX Nation is the exclusive broadcast partner for RAF. The deal begins on Saturday, August 30 as RAF 01 airs live from Wolfstein Center in Cleveland, OH.

“BREAKING: @foxnation is the exclusive broadcast partner for Real American Freestyle. Watch the historic launch of #RAF01 streaming live August 30,” wrote RAF on X.

RAF events will feature 12 matches that go 9 minutes each. Male wrestlers will compete in 8 weight classes, while females will compete in four classes.