Pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan to be commissioner of Real American Freestyle
FILE - Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
FILE - Hulk Hogan attends the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront at The Jacob Javits Center on May 14, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Hulk Hogan attends the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront at The Jacob Javits Center on May 14, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, left, takes on Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
FILE - Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
FILE - Hulk Hogan attends the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront at The Jacob Javits Center on May 14, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Hulk Hogan felt sure he was onto something.
After watching the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, he was absolutely certain.
Hogan is one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time, and he stayed in that lane until his teenage stepson pulled him into watching freestyle wrestling. After becoming more familiar with it, Hogan started to believe the sport could become more popular and profitable with the right promotion.
Advertisement
Then, it happened. Last month, Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson stunned Minnesota's Gable Steveson — an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo — with a late takedown to claim the national title at heavyweight.
Hendrickson saluted President Donald Trump after his victory last month in Philadelphia. Then, with a United States flag draped over his shoulders, the Air Force second lieutenant walked over and shook Trump's hand and hugged him.
Hendrickson's dramatic win and the moments that followed vaulted freestyle wrestling into the mainstream and made the timing perfect for Hogan to help launch Real American Freestyle. He'll be commissioner of a league that announced its plans on Wednesday.
Hogan wants the league to provide more earnings opportunities for a sport that historically has lacked them. And after Hendrickson's big moment, he feels the time is now.
Advertisement
'When I saw that happen and I saw our President hug him, I went, OK, we are on point, we're ready to go and instincts have prevailed and I smell victory,' Hogan said. 'I think we're right on track, brother."
Hogan, who at 71 still has those massive arms and the charisma to match, initially was a bit worried that the freestyle wrestlers might not have the personality to sell tickets. He changed his mind as he began to connect with them.
'Dude, they've all got that edge,' he said. 'These kids are young, they're smart. They're watching TV. They know about branding, they know what sells. And they've all got that little Conor McGregor swag.'
Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months.
Advertisement
Freestyle wrestling has been hot in the United States in recent years. The women's U.S. Olympic freestyle team earned four medals in six weight classes in 2024, while the men claimed three medals. And according to the National Federation of High Schools, wrestling set participation records for boys and girls in 2023 and 2024.
Hogan said Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the face of the women's division. Zahid Valencia and Ben Askren have agreed to participate on the men's side.
Hogan said Hendrickson and Steveson are possible additions, and his eyes lit up when the subject of a possible rematch came up.
'How much can we say,' Hogan asked his advisors. 'It's on the radar.'
Advertisement
Hogan's Real American Beer serves as the title sponsor, and he has plenty of support. Chad Bronstein is the co-founder and president. Left Lane Capital, which has backed Gerard Piqué's Kings League, Shaun White's Snow League and League One Volleyball, among other things, has added this to its list of ventures. Cassius is another sponsor.
Hogan knows some fans will be shocked that his next step does not involve pro wrestling, but he's confident in his decision.
'The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them,' he said. 'People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.'
Because of name, image and likeness deals, college athletes will be able to participate, though Hogan said the league won't interfere with college, national and international competitions.
Advertisement
Hogan did bring in one connection from his pro wrestling days. Eric Bischoff, who ran World Championship Wrestling in its heyday in the late 1990s and created the famous New World Order storyline, will be the chief media officer.
'Eric jumped in with both feet, and he's doing a lot to guide this ship right now, brother,' Hogan said. 'He's setting so much stuff up production wise — just moving us forward, light years ahead of where we could have been on our own.'
Israel Martinez is the chief operating officer. He is an accomplished wrestling coach who has helped build champions in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was the wrestling coach for Jon Jones and he coached Holly Holm when she upset Ronda Rousey. Hogan said Martinez played a key role in getting USA Wrestling's blessing.
Hogan considers the new league an alternative to pro wrestling.
Advertisement
'I see this as an opportunity for me to get involved," Hogan said, "to get back, quit sitting on the couch, to get involved with a bunch of powerful athletes that I can relate to as far as championship material, guys that are on top of their game, and I just — I couldn't pass on it.'
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
41 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Keith scores on sacrifice fly in 11th, Tigers rally to top Twins 4-3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Colt Keith scored on Gleyber Torres' sacrifice fly in the 11th inning and the Detroit Tigers overcame an early three-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Thursday night. Riley Greene hit his team-leading 28th home run to help Detroit win for the fourth time in five games and fifth in seven. Starting at second base in the 11th inning, Keith advanced to third on a wild pitch by Erasmo Ramírez (0-1) and scored on a Torres' sacrifice fly. Rafael Montero (1-1) got the final four outs for the Tigers. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal overcame a shaky third inning to get through seven innings, allowing three runs. He had only three strikeouts. When he last faced the Twins on June 29, he struck out 13 in seven innings. Edouard Julien homered before Ryan Jeffers and Luke Keaschall had RBIs in a three-run Minnesota third, but Skubal retired 13 of the final 14 hitters he faced. After starter Bailey Ober got two quick outs in the fourth, Kerry Carpenter doubled and Greene's home run cut the Detroit deficit to 3-2. Key stat Detroit has won 11 of its past 17 games since July 27 after losing 12 of 13 and having its division lead shrink from 14 to seven games. Up next RHP Charlie Morton (7-10, 5.48 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday night for Detroit. Minnesota had yet to announce a starter. ___
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Olympic sailor steers new path with property firm
A former Olympic sailing hopeful is making waves in a new career. Alice Masterman, a senior surveyor and former member of the British Sailing Team, has joined the South Coast agency team at Vail Williams. She will focus on commercial property across the region from the consultancy's Southampton and Portsmouth offices. Her new role covers leasehold and freehold acquisitions and disposals for occupiers and landlords in the office, industrial, and retail sectors. Prior to her property career, Alice Masterman, pictured, was a member of the British Sailing Team campaign for four years in the Olympics' women's class: the 49er FX skiff (Image: Ron Wain) Alice said: "The long-established Vail Williams agency team on the South Coast are well respected and, as the regional property award shows, have consistently demonstrated proactive consultancy and results for clients. "I look forward to helping landlords and occupiers deliver on their property objectives. "The team has been incredibly welcoming, and I've hit the ground running, getting involved in as much of the portfolio as possible. "The weeks are flying by, and it's been a whirlwind of both professional growth and fantastic networking opportunities." READ MORE: Major devolution conference to be held in Southampton Before starting her property career, Alice spent four years competing in the Olympics' women's class 49er FX skiff as part of the British Sailing Team. She entered the property industry in 2021 after completing her master's degree and most recently worked for Flude Property Consultants in the South East. Nik Cox, South Coast agency team leader at Vail Williams, said: "Alice joins us here at Vail Williams at an incredibly exciting time as we continue to deliver for landlords and occupiers across the South Coast region. "This year saw the firm named Property Agency of the Year at the South Coast Property Awards 2025." Russell Mogridge, head of the firm's national agency team, said: "The South Coast agency team is one of the largest in the region and the most active in the South. "The appointment of Alice further strengthens our core offering and she has already become a valuable asset to the team." Alice is also involved in industry organisations, serving on the PropSail Committee, which organises property networking sailing regattas, and the RICS MATRICS Committee, which supports students, apprentices, and newly qualified professionals entering the industry.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
John Daly II, son of the 2-time major champion, advances to quarterfinals of US Amateur
SAN FRANCISCO — John Daly II and Niall Shiels Donegan each won two matches Thursday at The Olympic Club to advance to the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals as more top-ranked players dropped out. Daly, the son of two-time major champion John Daly, beat Nate Smith 2 and 1 in the morning in the round of 32, then topped Daniel Bennett of South Africa 3 and 2 in the afternoon in the round of 16. Daly, a senior-to-be at Arkansas, set up a match with Mason Howell, the 18-year-old from Georgia who qualified for the U.S. Open this year with rounds of 63-63 from the Atlanta sectional. Howell beat second-ranked Virginia senior Ben James 1 up and Max Herendeen 2 and 1. In the morning, Herendeen eliminated top-ranked Jackson Koivun 3 and 2. Donegan had two 1-up victories, topping ninth-ranked Christiaan Maas of South Africa and fourth-ranked Preston Stout, the Oklahoma State junior who was the stroke-play medalist. Donegan, who plays under the Scottish flag and lives in the Bay Area, pulled even with Stout with a birdie on the par-3 15th and took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 16th. Donegan was among 17 players who advanced from a 20-man playoff Wednesday morning to determine the final 64 for match play. His father, Lawrence, was a longtime golf correspondent for The Guardian. Donegan, will face Jacob Modleski, a 2-up winner over Paul Chang of China. Modleski, at No. 15, is the top player left in the world amateur ranking. Miles Russell, 16, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., also advanced to the quarterfinals, beating Mahanth Chirravuri 2 and 1. Russell is ranked No. 16. Russell will face 29th-ranked Eric Lee, a 2-up winner over Josh Duangmanee when Duangmanee lost his ball off the tee on the final hole. In the other quarterfinal, Jimmy Abdo will play Jackson Herrington.
