Real American Freestyle RAF01 Results - August 30, 2025: Bischoff Delivers, Hulk Hogan Tribute & Thrilling Debut Event
The debut of Real American Freestyle (RAF01) in Cleveland proved to be everything fans of wrestling — both pro and amateur — could have hoped for. The Wolstein Center was electric for the first-ever RAF showcase, which doubled as a heartfelt Hulk Hogan Tribute just weeks after his passing. From shocking upsets to technical masterclasses, the night reminded fans why freestyle wrestling deserves a bigger spotlight.
The event wasn’t just about matches either. We saw a surprise appearance by Holly Holm stepping in as a late replacement, and a heated moment between Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen, as their bitter history dating back to 1998 reignited. Ortiz challenged Sonnen to a freestyle match at RAF02, and Sonnen didn’t hesitate to accept — sparking a fiery back-and-forth that already has fans buzzing about the sequel event.
Eric Bischoff, Chad Bronstein, and Izzy Martinez proved doubters wrong with a slick production that blended combat sports legitimacy with entertainment energy. From a longtime pro wrestling fan’s perspective, this was an incredible crossover moment that respected the sport’s technical roots while keeping fans entertained start to finish. If RAF01 was the launchpad, RAF02 might be the rocket.
RAF01 Full Results
- Nathan Tomasello def. Matt Ramos, 4-3
- Yiani Diakomihalis def. Bajrang Punia, 5-1
- Austin Gomez def. Lance Palmer via tech fall, 11-0 (58 seconds)
- Evan Wick def. Jason Nolf, 10-8 — Match of the night candidate
- Sarah Hildebrandt def. Zeltzkin Hernandez via tech fall, 11-0 (Period 3)
- Real Woods def. Darrion Caldwell via fall (Period 2)
- Kyle Dake def. Dean Hamiti via tech fall, 11-0 (Period 2)
- Alejandra Rivera def. Holly Holm, 9-7 — Surprise replacement bout
- Bo Nickal def. Jacob Cardenas, 6-4 — Technical chess match
- Wyatt Hendrickson def. Mostafa Elders via tech fall, 14-1 (Period 2)
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
RAF01 exceeded expectations. From the slick production to the mix of legends and new stars, this wasn’t a one-off spectacle — it felt like the birth of something major. The Ortiz vs. Sonnen tease for RAF02 could be the mainstream hook, but the real story is how freestyle wrestling got a platform that looked and felt big-league. Eric Bischoff set out to prove critics wrong, and after tonight, he might just have the last laugh.
📢 Didn’t catch RAF01 live? Don’t worry — you can still stream the full event on Fox Nation. New fans can sign up with promo code RAF for their first month at just $1.99 (or free 7-day trial with annual payment selection). This includes the complete RAF01 broadcast — from Holly Holm’s surprise replacement bout to the explosive main event — plus all of Fox Nation’s documentaries, news, combat sports and entertainment coverage.
