{
  "id": 19754830,
  "title": "RAF chief Chad Bronstein: ‘Wrestling has never had anything like this’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/raf-chief-chad-bronstein-wrestling-has-never-had-anything-like-this",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-13T04:11:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/combat-sports/2026/11/13/raf-chief-chad-bronstein-wrestling-has-never-had-anything-like-this/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chad Bronstein, the mastermind behind Real American Freestyle (RAF), aimed to elevate wrestling into a professional sport. With assistance from industry experts and UFC stars, RAF is expanding rapidly, including a Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi. Bronstein, a former wrestler who returned to the sport due to his son's involvement, founded RAF to provide a commercial platform for wrestling while preserving its competitive nature. Among RAF's founders are wrestling legends Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and renowned coach Izzy Martinez. The organisation, which partners with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and UAE Wrestling Federation, aims to address the issue of wrestlers struggling to earn a living. RAF's athletes include Olympians and world champions who previously found it difficult to earn a sustainable income. Bronstein emphasizes that RAF provides a stage for these athletes to thrive financially, similar to professional athletes in other sports. One of RAF's biggest challenges has been making the sport more appealing to a broader audience. Bronstein, who previously worked in wrestling entertainment, sought inspiration from other sports' entertainment value to attract new viewers. The UFC and MMA crossover has also been a success, allowing RAF to attract top fighters from both disciplines, further enhancing its appeal.",
  "summary": "The man behind Real American Freestyle (RAF) did so with one goal in mind: to transform wrestling into a professional sport. He is doing so with the help of industry titans who know exactly what it takes to cut through to a mainstream audience. UFC stars are also helping drive its growth; Abu Dhabi is central to the organisation’s ambitions, he says. Chad Bronstein did not set out to change the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Chad Bronstein founded RAF to elevate wrestling as a professional sport.",
    "RAF partners with Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism.",
    "RAF aims to provide financial success for wrestlers, similar to other professional athletes."
  ],
  "editors_take": "By integrating sports entertainment and cross-discipline talent, RAF seeks to transform wrestling from a niche pursuit into a sustainable professional industry that provides athletes with reliable financial livelihoods.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}