In a bold move to integrate professional wrestling spectacles with Olympic-style grapple, Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have officially announced elite coach Israeli “Izzy” Martinez as the third partner in their new venture: Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAFW). The announcement came via a teaser video inspired by the NWO, which has already generated much buzz in both the wrestling and combat sports community.
During the announcement, Bischoff highlighted Martinez’s impressive qualifications, describing him as “a nine-time state high school champion” and “a coach of eight UFC champions.” Hogan has promised fans a “black and blue” battle scene where athletes “get rewards to beat people.”
Martinez himself spoke directly to the viewers. “We’ve seen what these two have done before, and we’ve got cash.
A groundbreaking concept
According to a press release, Real American Freestile is positioned as “an unscripted freestyle wrestling league with storytelling and colorful characters infused with the aim of combining the drama of wrestling and reality show with the competition of freestyle wrestling. This represents a significant departure from traditional freestyle wrestling competitions. This usually lacks the entertainment element that makes professional wrestling very popular.
Hogan explained their mission in an official press release:
“Real American wrestlers are some of the most disciplined elite athletes in the world, but up until now, they have not had a genuine professional stage to show off their greatness. Eric and I know how to build a heat that will attract attention.
Elite Partnership
The partnership brings together three individuals with complementary expertise and formal roles.
Hulk Hogan is the Commissioner for Real American Freestile, bringing decades of experience in professional wrestling entertainment and global name recognition.
Eric Bischoff takes on the role of Chief Media Officer, contributing to his extensive business insight and experience in wrestling production. In a press release, Bishev said:
“I am very aware and appreciated what it takes to perform at the level these athletes do. I have always been interested in why this sport was potentially unrecognised.”
Israeli “Izzy” Martinez joins as Chief Operating Officer, providing technical wrestling expertise and coaching skills that give RAFW competitive legitimacy. Martinez said in a press release:
“I am an athlete, a wrestling sports coach, and I couldn’t be more proud of what a real American freestyle team has built.”
Martinez’s Wrestling Bloodline
Martinez brings more than 20 years of elite wrestling coaching experience to the partnership. As the founder of Izzy Style Wrestling in Illinois, he developed many NCAA nationals through his program.
He is currently the head wrestling coach at Jackson Wink MMA, where he helped shape John Jones’ career. Martinez has also worked with other MMA champions, including Holly Holm and top candidate Jaa Rodriguez.
His coaching philosophy combines the foundations of traditional folk style with freestyle techniques. This is an approach that forms the “backbone of RAFW.”
Competition format and roster
The authentic American Freestyle has already released a roster of impressive talent. Former UFC fighter Ben Ascle, former Olympian and world champion Kennedy Blade and former national champion Zahid Valencia all signed the competition.
When asked in a Forbes interview about the ideal RAFW athlete, Hogan highlighted their approach.
“We went to Ohio, Wisconsin. We hang around the university. And it wasn’t just white toast. It wasn’t flat. These guys already seemed to have Conor McGregor Swagger. They know about the brand.
Bischoff added in the same interview:
“In particular when you wrestling, you have to wire a little differently to get to the elite level that some of your athletes have. Some of that is really, really interesting personality and characters, and what these people have to overcome.”
Business Models and Media Approach
RAFW will receive venture capital investments from Left Train Capital, a supporter of Gerald Pique’s Kings League, Sean White’s Snow League and League One Volleyball. This important financial support suggests a serious commitment to building promotions as a long-term venture.
Regarding their media approach, Bischoff explained to Forbes:
“Like the Hulk said, it’s a show about the singers, just like the voices of NBC… You really don’t care until you know it took them to get there. And you learn about their family, you learn about history… They are the most important stories.
No TV deals have been announced yet, but Bischoff said in an interview with Forbes.
“I know that it’s a market for sports rights, television rights rights rights rights rights right now. It’s a very healthy market and we’re happy to be there, but there’s something to do.”
The future of Rafw
This promotion is aimed at creating a unique format that bridges the gap between amateur wrestling and professional entertainment. According to Hogan in an interview with Forbes, “I think storytelling will be very organic in this amateur wrestling. When these guys enter the Gladiator Arena, take positions and start pulling, their lives are on the line.
Bischoff emphasized to Forbes: “These are not stories of sports entertainment. They are not made by writers… You learn about their families, you learn about history. You learn about the people in the church that inspired them and kept them moving.”
According to Martinez in the press release, the new venture represents an important opportunity for amateur wrestlers. “Until now, wrestlers have not had the opportunity to seek professional careers because they have not had enough funding or attention to it.
As RAFW continues to develop rosters, rulesets and media presences, the world of wrestling is closely watched. Combining these three industry expertise in numbers, RAFW’s debut represents one of the most important innovations in wrestling entertainment in recent memory.
