Real American Freestyle - RAF01: Detailed Preview, Match Card, How to Watch—Hulk Hogan Tribute
CLEVELAND, OH – A new chapter in combat sports begins this weekend as Real American Freestyle (RAF) launches its inaugural event, RAF01, on Saturday, August 30, 2025, live from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University. The historic debut will stream exclusively on FOX Nation and feature a special tribute to co-founder Hulk Hogan, who passed away on July 24.
🎤 Broadcast & Commentary
- Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Streaming: FOX Nation (subscription required – promo code RAF offers a one-week free trial)
- Broadcast Team: Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, world champion Bubba Jenkins, and former UFC star Chael Sonnen will call the action.
📋 Event Highlights
- 10-Match Card → Featuring some of the top names in collegiate, Olympic, and freestyle wrestling.
- Headline Matchup: Former NCAA champion and UFC fighter Bo Nickal vs. Olympic hopeful Jacob Cardenas.
- Special Appearances: Julianna Peña, Holly Holm, Urijah Faber, Tito Ortiz, Mark Coleman, and Clay Guida.
- Concert Performance: Country duo LoCash will perform live, with their set also streaming on FOX Nation.
- Ticket Info: Available now via Ticketmaster and SeatGeek, starting at $57.
🌟 Honoring Hulk Hogan
The debut show is officially billed as the “RAF Hulk Hogan Tribute.” Organizers have confirmed that Sky Daily (Hogan’s wife) and Nick Hogan will be present to honor his legacy, alongside video packages highlighting Hogan’s impact on both pro wrestling and the creation of Real American Freestyle.
RAF co-founders Eric Bischoff, Chad Bronstein, and Izzy Martinez emphasized that the event is a direct continuation of Hogan’s vision to elevate freestyle wrestling into a professional platform.
🏆 RAF’s Mission
Real American Freestyle aims to redefine wrestling presentation, merging legitimate amateur/Olympic-style competition with a high-production live entertainment experience. The promotion has already secured FOX Nation as its broadcast partner not only for RAF01, but also for its second event later this fall.
With its blend of world-class athletes, crossover MMA stars, and polished storytelling, RAF seeks to become a new destination for fans craving both authenticity and spectacle in wrestling.
📺 How to Watch RAF01
- Event: RAF01 – Real American Freestyle
- Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- Streaming: FOX Nation (code RAF $1.99 first month or use free one-week trial)
- Tickets: Available at Ticketmaster and SeatGeek
Event Match Card
- Heavyweight (Unlimited): Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Mostafa Elders
- Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.): Bo Nickal vs. Jacob Cardenas
- Cruiserweight (190 lbs.): Kyle Dake vs. Dean Hamiti
- Middleweight (175 lbs.): Evan Wick vs. Jason Nolf
- Middleweight (150 lbs.): Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Rivera
- Featherweight (145 lbs.): Real Woods vs. Darrion Caldwell
- Lightweight (155 lbs.): Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Bajrang Punia
- Lightweight (155 lbs.): Austin Gomez vs. Lance Palmer
- Bantamweight (135 lbs.): Nathan Tomasello vs. Matt Ramos
- Strawweight (120 lbs.): Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Zeltzin Hernandez
👉 RAF01 isn’t just the birth of a new promotion—it’s a night dedicated to honoring Hulk Hogan’s dream. Wrestling, MMA, and freestyle fans alike will see history unfold live in Cleveland.
🎙 Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
RAF’s debut has the makings of a unique crossover moment in wrestling history. While rooted in freestyle competition, the presentation clearly borrows from pro wrestling and MMA spectacle — from high-profile names like Kurt Angle and Chael Sonnen on commentary, to special appearances from MMA legends and even a live concert.
The Hulk Hogan tribute adds an emotional centerpiece. RAF01 isn’t just another first show; it’s a statement event dedicated to carrying out Hogan’s vision of professionalizing freestyle wrestling. With FOX Nation backing the project and already locked in for future broadcasts, RAF01 feels less like an experiment and more like the foundation of a long-term brand.
The question is whether the mix of amateur wrestling purity and pro wrestling pageantry will connect with fans outside the core base. Saturday’s live crowd reaction in Cleveland — and the streaming numbers on FOX Nation — will be the first real test of whether Hogan’s final project can carve out a space in the crowded combat sports landscape.
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