There have been many attempts to launch professional wrestling leagues.
Real American Freestyle appears to have finally cracked the code, meshing unscripted, Olympic-style competition with the entertainment, production and spectacle of UFC and WWE and a streaming deal with Fox Nation.
The promotion will now add youth wrestling to its ecosystem, launching the RAF Next Gen tournament series.
The first event will be Sunday, July 19 in Milwaukee, a day after the RAF 11 card. RAF CEO Chad Bronstein told Buying Sandlot the plan is to run a tournament alongside a pro card each month.
Folkstyle competition, sanctioned by USA Wrestling
Double-elimination brackets, open registration
8U, 10U, 12U, 15U age groups; 47 total weight classes
Coed divisions for younger ages; boys and girls for 15U
Clinics, pro athlete meet-and-greets before tournaments
Athletes will be encouraged to enter multiple events, Bronstein said. A ranking system spanning all events will determine the top-2 wrestlers in each weight class to compete at a showcase tournament later this year that will be presented on the same main stage as RAF’s professional events.
RAF will also look to address the general pain points of youth wrestling, including long breaks between bouts at tournaments.
“I love going to youth tournaments, and I think as a parent you see what’s good and bad about those tournaments,” Bronstein said. “How can you make it more efficient, how can you make it more fun? We don’t want kids waiting three hours before they wrestle next. Those are things we’re going to try to fix.”
Trend Watch™: We continue to see leagues establish pipelines that flow from youth competition up to the professional level.
LOVB (which started as youth volleyball only)
MLS Next/Next Pro
Varsity Spirit’s Pro Cheer League
RAF Next Gen caps at 15U for now, so it is not a direct pipeline.
But RAF is pairing the tournaments with the rest of its business and aims to give them the same feel as the professional cards to help spur interest and participation. Bronstein indicated there will be both a NIL/prize component and a streaming deal in place.
RAF is similar to PCL in that it also seeks to create a new post-college pathway.
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