After spending most of his life entrenched in the world of professional wrestling, Hulk Hogan’s next pursuit will be in a different type of wrestling.
Hogan has teamed with Eric Bischoff and Israel Martinez to launch Real American Freestyle, a new league which plans to host freestyle wrestling competitions as early as this summer.
An upcoming project had been teased in recent days by Hogan, who shot a vague teaser earlier this week with Bischoff and mentioned a third addition to their new faction.
While many presumed the new venture would be related to professional wrestling, the recent announcement confirms that it’s instead a project related to the Olympic sport of freestyle wrestling.
Our Third Man pic.twitter.com/e74KkWqXV5
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) April 30, 2025
Hogan recently told the Associated Press that he began exploring business opportunities in freestyle wrestling after watching the upset NCAA Division I wrestling championship result earlier this year, where Wyatt Hendrickson defeated the returning Gable Steveson, who came back to the sport this year after a brief WWE stint.
It was specifically the endorsement Hendrickson received from U.S. President Donald Trump afterward, embracing him immediately following the result, which grabbed Hogan’s attention.
“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 told AP.
The league plans to launch on August 30 with a show in Cleveland, Ohio. They’re hoping to present 12 different weight classes, eight for the men and four for women.
Hogan is expecting that 2024 Paris Olympian Kennedy Blades will compete on the women’s side. 2018 & 2019 NCAA Division I Champion Zahid Valencia, along with 2006 & 2007 champ turned MMA fighter Ben Askren, were named, as well.
While three ex-collegiate competitors were announced, Hogan claimed that current college athletes will also be able to compete through NIL deals.
Hogan and Bischoff come from pro wrestling, although Martinez has been deeply entrenched in the freestyle wrestling scene. He currently runs the Izzy Style Wrestling coaching program and is credited as the main wrestling coach for the prominent Jackson Wink MMA gym.
Hogan will serve as the league’s commissioner, with Bischoff being the chief media officer. Martinez is the chief operating officer.
The league is sponsored by Hogan’s Real American Beer company, which is also a partner of WWE’s Monday Night Raw broadcasts.
