Real American Freestyle draws 7,000 to Milwaukee for inaugural professional showcase
Four-time WIAA champion Keegan O’Toole and local affiliates headline the card as the organisation seeks to mainstream freestyle wrestling in the United States.
Real American Freestyle (RAF) hosted its first professional event in Milwaukee on July 18, drawing a sold-out crowd of approximately 7,000 attendees to the UWM Panther Arena. The organisation, which was co-founded by the late Hulk Hogan and is currently led by chief media officer Eric Bischoff, utilised the venue to present a card featuring a mix of collegiate standouts and professional competitors. The event marked the largest attendance for RAF since its debut late last summer.
Four-time WIAA champion and former Missouri wrestler Keegan O’Toole secured a 14-9 victory over Christopher Minto of the University of Nebraska. O’Toole, who now serves as an assistant coach at Missouri while pursuing graduate studies to become a certified public accountant, stated that his primary motivation was the opportunity to compete alongside friends and former coaches rather than the outcome. He described the experience as a unique chance to reconnect with influential figures in his career, including his late coach.
The card also featured University of Wisconsin associate head wrestling coach Tony Cassioppi, who won his heavyweight bout against Egyptian Mostafa Elders 6-2 despite sustaining injuries. Aeoden Sinclair, a Mizzou junior and Milton native, suffered a 6-3 defeat to Bulgarian Magomed Ramazanov. The event served as a notable appearance for Hartland native Ben Askren, who made a one-match return to the mat on his 42nd birthday, a year after undergoing double lung transplant surgery.
RAF chief operating officer and primary matchmaker Izzy Martinez emphasised the strategic value of featuring athletes with local connections. Martinez noted that the organisation aims to provide professional opportunities for freestyle wrestlers to continue in their natural form of competition, helping the sport move beyond a niche label. The presence of homegrown talent, according to Martinez, allows young athletes to see viable pathways within the sport without needing to transition to other fighting disciplines.
In conjunction with USA Wrestling, RAF is integrating youth competitions into its professional shows, with the first youth event held on the Sunday following the main card. CEO Chad Bronstein stated that the organisation aims to complement existing combat sports entities like the UFC and WWE, rather than compete with them. Bronskin described the goal as making freestyle wrestling a mainstream sport that impacts more lives, citing the potential for attendees’ children to be inspired to pursue wrestling after witnessing the event.
