Chad Bronstein's Real American Freestyle Revolutionizes Wrestling into a Professional Spectacle

Chad Bronstein, the visionary behind Real American Freestyle (RAF), is on a mission to elevate wrestling to the status of a professional sport. He is achieving this with the backing of industry heavyweights skilled in capturing mainstream attention, and with the support of UFC stars contributing to its expansion. Bronstein highlighted Abu Dhabi as a key location for the organization's global ambitions.

Bronstein's journey back to wrestling began not with a grand plan to revolutionize the sport, but through his son's involvement. After a period away from wrestling, which he participated in during high school before pursuing business and entrepreneurship, his eldest son's entry into the sport at age six reignited his passion. A prolonged hospital stay for a complicated pregnancy meant months spent by his side, during which he accompanied his son to wrestling practices.

"I took my son to wrestle because we were in the hospital for three months, and that kind of brought me back into the sport and why I love it," Bronstein shared with The National at the Yas Hilton hotel. This period proved to be the catalyst for the creation of RAF, a professional wrestling organization that has rapidly attracted prominent figures from wrestling and mixed martial arts.

Bronstein assembled a team of like-minded individuals, including wrestling and entertainment icons Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, and renowned wrestling coach Izzy Martinez. Their collective goal was to establish a commercial platform for wrestling while preserving its competitive integrity. "We just went fast," Bronstein remarked on RAF's swift development. "It's like 18 months of events later, but it's taken off. Wrestling has never had anything like this."

RAF is now set to make its Middle East debut at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, marking a significant step in its expansion into markets such as Georgia and Russia. This event is part of a five-year collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling Federation.

Beyond staging events and attracting big names, Bronstein aims to tackle a persistent issue in wrestling: enabling athletes to earn a sustainable living. He believes the distinction between amateur and professional wrestling needs re-evaluation. RAF features Olympians and world champions, many of whom have historically struggled financially. "Technically, it's amateur, but you've got the best wrestlers in the world, and you're calling them amateurs," he stated. "They are Olympians and everything else. We just gave it the stage that allowed the best wrestlers to have the opportunities that you do when you play football or tennis or the NBA or NFL."

The financial aspect is central to RAF's model. While not disclosing specific athlete salaries, Bronstein cited American wrestler Kyle Dake, an early participant, as an example of the organization's success. "He was making very little money as an Olympian. Now, if you talk to him, he's making a great living. He can wrestle full-time and support himself and his family, no problem." RAF aims to allow wrestlers to focus on their sport without financial stress, akin to the compensation received by drafted NFL players.

A major challenge has been making wrestling more accessible to a broader audience. Bronstein recognized that traditional presentations lacked the appeal to attract new viewers. RAF draws inspiration from the spectacle and entertainment found in other sports.

Eric Bischoff, overseeing RAF's production, brings extensive experience from wrestling entertainment, including his leadership roles at WCW and the creation of iconic characters and factions like Hollywood Hogan and the NWO. Bronstein emphasizes that RAF's approach is not to replicate existing organizations but to synthesize the best elements from various sources. "Wrestling is the oldest sport in the world, so the reason why it didn't succeed is because you can't just create it with a purist mindset," he explained. "I love wrestling, but if we just created it like Izzy and me and other people love watching wrestling, it doesn't mean everyone else wants to watch it." He added, "In wrestling, you're taught discipline and not to celebrate. So if you and I wrestle and I beat you, I'm just getting off the mat. What we did was take entertainment in general and borrow from a lot of different sports to make it the success story it is today."

The initial launch of RAF in Cleveland, Ohio, generated excitement, but the second event presented learning opportunities. "The first event was great. Then we went to the second event, and it was OK. So we had to learn a lot. The second event was like the first-event honeymoon. The second event was like, ‘OK, we've got a lot to fix.’"

This refinement includes integrating top wrestlers with established MMA fighters, a crossover Bronstein believes benefits both disciplines. RAF maintains a strong relationship with the UFC, particularly through Hunter Campbell, the promotion's chief business officer, who also manages former UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena. Fighters like Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo, both former UFC champions, now compete on RAF cards.

Bronstein views RAF and UFC as complementary, not rivals. RAF offers MMA fighters a platform for wrestling competition between bouts, while UFC stars on RAF cards introduce wrestling to a new audience. "We've had a great relationship with them. Zero bad blood, and we're not competition, so it works out well. They built the biggest brand in the world for MMA, and I think having their guys active only helps too. It's great cross-promotion for both sides."

This crossover is particularly highlighted in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Khamzat Chimaev, a naturalized UAE citizen. Initially slated to face Colby Covington, Chimaev's opponent withdrew due to injury, leading RAF to secure former middleweight champion Chris Weidman as a replacement. "He's a two-time All-American, and he's not going to be easy for Chimaev. It's going to be a good match."

While Chimaev's participation was a logical choice given his wrestling background and popularity, Bronstein admitted the fighter wasn't an initial certainty. The organization connected with Chimaev and his manager, Jonathon “Sweep” Michael, through American wrestler Pat Downey. Early on, a deal seemed unlikely, but as RAF secured other high-profile names, the opportunity materialized. "We didn't know he was going to wrestle for us. It wasn't until Arman [Tsarukyan] came onto the stage, and then we worked with Sweep to get both of them." Bronstein compared Chimaev to the UAE's equivalent of "Michael Jordan," calling it a "great opportunity" for him to headline in the UAE capital.

Abu Dhabi plays a crucial role in RAF's expansion strategy through a five-year partnership that establishes the organization's presence in the region. "Abu Dhabi, they put their money where their mouth is. They love sport. What they've done and how they've supported us has been incredible. Everything we do is together. My team and their team, and it's been awesome."

Bronstein expressed interest in signing Georges St-Pierre, the former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion. He is actively communicating with the Canadian fighter, believing he will eventually compete in RAF. "I think he's going to come wrestle. He loves wrestling, and it's got to be on his time when he feels it's healthy and ready to go. I think it's only a matter of time. He's following it, and I think he loves and respects what we're doing."

For Bronstein, bringing together top talent from various disciplines is a significant draw. "You get the best of both worlds. You get the biggest UFC and MMA stars and the biggest wrestling stars on one card." This initiative aims to provide wrestling athletes with the financial rewards and mainstream exposure often lacking in the sport, fulfilling Bronstein's belief that the potential has always existed, and RAF can now provide the platform.