Real American Freestyle announces apparel partnership with Takedown, talks with Gable Steveson

Washington Post

a day ago

Real American Freestyle wrestling announced a partnership with Takedown apparel on Tuesday and said it is in talks with Gable Steveson, one of Takedown's most prominent endorsers, about a possible rematch with Wyatt Hendrickson.
Hendrickson, who stunned Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, will headline Real American Freestyle's inaugural event Aug. 30 in Cleveland.
Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo , drew national attention beyond the sport. The Oklahoma State wrestler's dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win, closed out a 27-0 season and ended Steveson's win streak at 70 matches.
Steveson already has a line of apparel with Takedown — one of many reasons Chad Bronstein, RAF's co-founder and CEO, believes Steveson would be a natural fit.
'There's no signed contract, but we've been in conversation,' he said.
Hulk Hogan, Real American Freestyle's honorary commissioner who died July 24 , told The Associated Press in April the league was in talks with Hendrickson. It signed him a little more than a month later.
The partnership with Takedown is RAF's first official apparel collection. It will include looks worn by athletes in and out of competition.
Bronstein said the partnership is a step toward building a professional freestyle wrestling ecosystem. The line will deliver a new revenue stream for competitors beyond live events.
'I think we're going to do really well in the merch game,' he said. 'We're going to sell a lot of good apparel and just keep being edgy with it. We'll have street wear and then the sports wear. So you'll have the typical, but we also are developing a street wear line too.'
Takedown CEO and founder Dustin Kawa said it's a significant moment for his company.
'Both brands share a deep love for wrestling and a commitment to fighting for the sport, the athletes, and the community that raised us. Now is our time to make history – together,' he said.
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