FOX NATION TEAMS UP WITH HULK HOGAN AND ERIC BISCHOFF AS EXCLUSIVE PARTNER FOR "REAL AMERICAN FREESTYLE"
NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FOX Nation has signed its second deal in the live sports arena, entering the ring as the exclusive broadcast partner for WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff and Chad Bronstein's Real American Freestyle (RAF), announced FOX Nation president Lauren Petterson. Through this new partnership, FOX Nation will broadcast the highly anticipated inaugural matchup event 'RAF01' that will take place on Saturday, August 30th at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH. FOX Nation has also secured the broadcast rights to the second event, which will take place this fall, with a venue to be announced at a later date.
In making the announcement, Petterson said, 'We're thrilled to partner with the Real American Freestyle team as they build a visionary brand that redefines the future of wrestling. Fusing elite athleticism with unmatched entertainment, it's an honor to be part of the new era of the world's oldest and most iconic sport.'
'Real American Freestyle is creating something that's never been done before, and we needed a partner that understood that and could build with us,' said Hulk Hogan, Commissioner of Real American Freestyle. 'FOX Nation is synergistic with our brand, they appreciate the importance of bringing this sport to the masses, and they believe in our goal.'
'FOX Nation immediately understood the vision we had for Real American Freestyle making them the perfect partner for this historic media rights deal and the first of its kind in the sport,' said Real American Freestyle's Chief Media Officer, Eric Bischoff. 'Having the right broadcast partner is critical to putting on a good show for the fans and we are thrilled to be working with FOX.'
'Our goal in creating Real American Freestyle was to make historical moves to professionalize the sport of wrestling,' said Chad Bronstein, co-founder and CEO of Real American Freestyle. 'This partnership with FOX Nation will create a platform the athletes deserve and bring freestyle wrestling to our fans at home.'
Real American Freestyle is redefining wrestling coverage with a bold, modern approach and a mission to professionalize the sport. Led by icons Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Chad Bronstein and Izzy Martinez, the brand brings a reimagined style of storytelling that blends fierce competition with top-tier entertainment. This new partnership will bring FOX Nation subscribers an exhilarating experience, packed with action and an immersive show atmosphere. Recently, the RAF team welcomed legendary wrestler and Olympian Kurt Angle, former MMA champion and renowned broadcast analyst Chael Sonnen, and MMA world champion Bubba Jenkins, as live event commentators to provide expertise analysis during RAF01.
In collaboration with the UFC, USA Wrestling, NIL organizations and the NCAA, RAF creates a groundbreaking platform where athletes — from emerging talents to established stars — can compete regardless of their status, opening new doors for the next generation of wrestling greats. Proceeds for each ticket sold have been pledged to Cleveland State University to continue its role as a pillar of the Cleveland community. A staunch supporter of local athletes and wrestlers across the city in particular, Cleveland State University has provided opportunities for thousands of its students to achieve academic and athletic excellence.
The first matches for RAF01, RAF's debut fight card, include:
Bo Nickal vs. Jacob Cardenas
Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Bajrang Punia
Darrion Caldwell vs. Real Woods
Austin Gomez vs. Lance Palmer
Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Rivera
Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Zeltzin Hernandez
Further matches are in development, including a featured, main card bout.
FOX Nation is a direct-to-consumer on-demand streaming service designed to complement the FOX News Channel experience with a members-only destination for its most passionate and loyal super fans. Featuring more than 10,000 hours of content, the subscription service includes lifestyle and entertainment content, as well as historical documentaries and investigative series from a multitude of FOX News personalities. Morning Consult named FOX Nation as one of the top 10 fastest-growing brands in 2023 among Gen Z adults, with the platform placing in the top 15 overall. Launched in 2018, FOX Nation is available at foxnation.com and via app for iOS devices, Android devices, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, FuboTV, Vizio TVs, and Samsung TVs, as well as DIRECTV, DIRECTV STEAM, YouTube TV, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Contour, The Roku Channel, DISH and SLING.
FOX Nation Media Contact:
Alexandra Coscia: 212.301.3272 or Alexandra.Coscia@FOX.com
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