Real American Freestyle Expands Further Into Youth Wrestling

Real American Freestyle has made another big youth wrestling move.

The professional Olympic-style wrestling promotion is investing further in the sport’s grassroots and has acquired World of Wrestling.

WOW operates three of the nation’s top youth wrestling tournaments — Tulsa Nationals, Reno Worlds and the Kickoff Classic. The events will now become part of a feeder program for RAF’s Next Gen youth circuit. The Roller family, which founded World of Wrestling, will remain involved.

RAF CEO Chad Bronstein views Tulsa Nationals as youth wrestling’s version of the Little League World Series.

“That’s what we’re going to make it feel like,” he told Buying Sandlot. “We’re going to grow it. We’re not going to dilute the product, we’re not changing the name; it will be ‘World of Wrestling powered by RAF.’ We’re going to produce it, add the content flair to it, the experience, bring in some more sponsors.”

Bronstein said he would like to add a handful more events to the “Trinity” series, but there is no set number. He does have one bold concept already in mind, though — he would like to create an event where Tulsa Nationals winners compete in Dagestan, a region of Russia renowned for producing elite wrestlers and MMA fighters.

RAF will hold its first international Next Gen event in Abu Dhabi next weekend; Bronstein said it is sold out.

“Wrestling is so different,” Bronstein said. “The cultural experiences and what you gain from going to these places is really cool. I think we will see a lot of U.S. people and parents that will want to go to Dagestan, and will feel safe to go to Dagestan if we’re having an event and we have everything set up.”

The Abu Dhabi event will be the fourth for the Next Gen series. The fifth will be held in Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend and then the top-ranked wrestlers will meet in a showcase event on Long Island in December. Bronstein said he expects RAF will acquire around 25 wrestling clubs in 2027 once it opens its flagship club in the Tampa area.

Quick Take: RAF has a chance to really be a leader in the youth sports experiences space. Not everyone will want to go visit the Caucasus, obviously, but wrestling affords itself to really unique things that other sports do not.

Related: We covered TKO Group’s earnings call in our sister publication, Buying Sideline, yesterday. TKO, which owns UFC and WWE, is bullish on international demand for wrestling.