Real American Freestyle has announced a significant expansion into the youth and amateur wrestling space with the acquisition of World of Wrestling, bringing three long-running tournament properties under the RAF banner: the Tulsa Nationals, Reno Worlds and the Kickoff Classic.
The organization revealed the move in a social media statement, emphasizing the deep personal connection many wrestlers and families have with the events. World of Wrestling and its tournaments have long occupied an important place on the youth wrestling calendar, with competitors from across the United States traveling to take part in events that can serve as major early milestones in an amateur career.
“If you grew up wrestling, you know what these tournaments mean,” Real American Freestyle wrote. “The road trips with your family. The nerves before your first match. The trophy you still have. The Roller family built something that generations of wrestlers carry with them. We’re excited to work alongside them and build on what makes these tournaments so special.”
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The announcement did not outline the financial terms of the acquisition. RAF also has not yet disclosed whether there will be operational changes to any of the three tournaments, whether their established formats and locations will remain intact, or how World of Wrestling will fit into the company’s broader competitive strategy.
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Still, the deal is a notable development for Real American Freestyle. The promotion was created with the objective of bringing greater visibility to freestyle wrestling and has now acquired events that are already widely familiar to young wrestlers, their coaches and their families. By adding World of Wrestling’s tournament infrastructure, RAF gains a direct connection to a grassroots side of the sport that exists far beyond the company’s own event schedule.
Three established events join the RAF portfolio
The Tulsa Nationals, Reno Worlds and Kickoff Classic are among the best-known youth tournament names included in the World of Wrestling acquisition. Their value is not simply in their place on a schedule. For generations of amateur wrestlers, tournaments such as these have been formative environments, providing high-level competition while creating memories that stay with athletes and families for years.
RAF’s statement specifically acknowledged that family experience. Youth wrestling is built around long drives, early weigh-ins, crowded venues, first-match anxiety and the pursuit of a podium finish. A tournament can become a recurring destination for a family or a measuring stick for a wrestler’s progress. In pointing to those traditions, RAF made clear that it views the legacy of the events as central to the acquisition.
The mention of the Roller family also suggests continuity will be an important part of the transition. RAF said it is excited to work alongside the family and build on the qualities that made the tournaments meaningful in the first place. That is particularly relevant in amateur wrestling, where trust in event management, consistency and the preservation of tournament identity can matter as much as branding.
There is no confirmation yet on what “build on” will mean in practice. RAF could ultimately retain the tournaments in their familiar form, introduce new production elements, expand their participant reach, or connect them more closely to the promotion’s other freestyle initiatives. For now, those questions remain unanswered, and the company has only confirmed that the events have been acquired as part of the World of Wrestling procurement.
A broader foundation for Real American Freestyle
Real American Freestyle was formed in April 2025 by WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff and the late Hulk Hogan. Bischoff serves as the company’s chief media officer, bringing his extensive background in wrestling promotion and television presentation to RAF’s effort to establish itself within the freestyle wrestling landscape.
Hogan was involved in promoting RAF’s launch before his death on July 24 at the age of 71. His association gave the emerging organization immediate name recognition among professional wrestling fans, while Bischoff’s presence has linked the project to another major figure from the industry. The company’s focus, however, is freestyle wrestling rather than a conventional professional wrestling product.
RAF held its first event in Cleveland, Ohio the month after Hogan’s death. The company has continued to develop its identity since then, and the World of Wrestling deal provides a new dimension to that development. Rather than concentrating solely on its own headline events, RAF is now taking ownership of tournament brands with a pre-existing history in the amateur wrestling community.
That distinction is important. A new organization can create a major event and promote a marquee matchup, but earning credibility at the youth level usually takes time. Established tournaments already carry that credibility through the wrestlers who have competed in them, the families who have traveled to them and the regional communities that recognize their importance. RAF’s acquisition gives it stewardship of that history while also placing it under pressure to protect what made the properties valuable.
Abu Dhabi event is next on RAF’s schedule
The acquisition announcement arrives shortly before Real American Freestyle’s next event, which is scheduled for November 14 in Abu Dhabi. That card is set to be headlined by a championship match between Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates and Colby Covington of the United States.
Chimaev and Covington are globally recognizable combat-sports names, and the championship bout gives RAF a prominent attraction for its upcoming international date. The company’s move from its first event in Cleveland to an event in Abu Dhabi also illustrates the scope of its ambitions as it attempts to build an audience for high-profile freestyle competition.
The World of Wrestling acquisition and the Abu Dhabi event represent two different but potentially complementary paths for RAF. On one side is a major international event centered on an established combat-sports rivalry. On the other is a collection of youth tournaments rooted in community participation and long-standing amateur traditions. One approach can raise visibility rapidly; the other can help create enduring ties to the sport’s developmental pipeline.
Whether RAF intends to actively connect these sides of its business has not been announced. There is no indication that the Tulsa Nationals, Reno Worlds or Kickoff Classic will be altered to resemble RAF’s larger showcase events, nor has the company announced additional programs tied to the newly acquired tournaments. Any future plans regarding those questions will need to come directly from RAF.
Why the acquisition matters
For a growing wrestling organization, acquiring respected tournament brands can be as consequential as booking a major main event. The value lies in the years of recognition behind those events. Young competitors who enter a Tulsa Nationals bracket or compete at Reno Worlds are participating in more than a single weekend of matches; they are joining a tradition that has been carried by prior generations of wrestlers.
RAF’s public message showed awareness of that responsibility. Its emphasis was not on replacing the identity of World of Wrestling, but on honoring the experiences associated with it. The company highlighted the trophies, family trips and nervous anticipation that are familiar to countless amateur wrestlers. Those details are part of why legacy tournaments matter and why preserving their character will be closely watched by the wrestling community.
The acquisition also creates an opportunity for RAF to reach wrestlers and fans at multiple levels. Its showcase events can draw attention through recognizable names and championship matches, while the World of Wrestling tournaments offer a connection to athletes much earlier in their competitive journeys. That combination could become a key part of RAF’s long-term position if the company can successfully balance expansion with respect for the events it now owns.
For now, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: Real American Freestyle has added World of Wrestling, the Tulsa Nationals, Reno Worlds and the Kickoff Classic to its organization. The specifics of what comes next for the tournaments have not been revealed, but RAF has signaled that the history created by the Roller family and the generations of wrestlers who competed at these events will remain at the center of its approach.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.