Real American Freestyle Wrestling Returns to Cleveland for RAF12 Anniversary

Real American Freestyle (RAF) is marking its one-year anniversary by bringing its 12th event, RAF12, back to Cleveland on August 22. Hosted at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the event will stream live exclusively on FOX Nation, highlighting the league's expanded partnership.

RAF considers RAF12 a "homecoming," as this arena hosted their inaugural full-scale show, introducing the unscripted professional freestyle wrestling format to a national audience. Billed as "wrestling's new main stage," RAF focuses on Olympic-caliber freestyle wrestling under USA Wrestling rules, presented with production values akin to major combat sports promotions.

RAF12 in Cleveland: Freestyle League Celebrates Breakthrough First Year at Rocket Arena

Founded in 2025 by CEO Chad Bronstein, Israel "Izzy" Martinez, and Eric Bischoff, the RAF league was created to offer elite wrestlers a professional platform featuring clear stakes, event-driven storytelling, and opportunities to build careers beyond the amateur system. Based in Florida, the league operates with a traveling event schedule, with Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse being a significant venue in its rotation.

Over its first year, RAF has established itself as a commercial combat sports entity, organizing events that feature Olympic medalists, World Champions, NCAA standouts, and crossover athletes from MMA. The league's debut season showcased approximately 40 athletes and received support from venture firms like Left Lane Capital and Cassius, which facilitated its expansion into national venues and media.

The anniversary messaging for RAF12 highlights a successful first year, including national arena dates, a consistent event cadence, and a growing library of supplementary and documentary content on FOX Nation. Earlier this year, FOX Nation and RAF finalized a long-term extension, confirming the streaming service as the exclusive home for live RAF events, thereby providing the league with a stable distribution foundation for its growth.

RAF's return to Cleveland firmly links the brand to a city already central to the wrestling calendar. The league's announcement, strategically timed with the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland this week, coincides with one of the sport's key domestic events and a concentrated fan presence. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, offers an arena-scale stage with a proven track record for major sports and entertainment broadcasts.

Bronstein, who has frequently expressed his desire to present freestyle wrestling in a way that appeals to casual sports fans, has framed RAF's arena events as proof-of-concept that high-level, unscripted wrestling can anchor a modern live show. Bringing RAF12 back to Cleveland positions the city as a recurring hub for the league while engaging a fanbase already familiar with collegiate and international wrestling.

Beyond live competitions, RAF has ventured into trading cards, fan engagement zones at events, and youth-focused initiatives, including clinic-style experiences with rostered athletes, aiming to cultivate a year-round ecosystem around freestyle wrestling. The FOX Nation partnership includes documentary and behind-the-scenes content that follows athletes through training camps and competition weeks, helping to build personal brands and deepen fan connection.

With RAF12 marking its one-year anniversary in Cleveland and a long-term streaming deal secured, the league steps into its second season, presenting freestyle wrestling as a consistent, arena-ready product with a dedicated platform for both live events and on-demand storytelling.