Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson set to star in new professional wrestling league

Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college wrestling earlier this year, is set to headline the launch of a new professional freestyle wrestling league.

Real American Freestyle (RAF) announced Tuesday a partnership with Takedown apparel and confirmed talks with Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson about a possible rematch.

The March upset that shocked wrestling

Hendrickson stunned the sport in March when he defeated Minnesota’s Steveson in the 285-pound final at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships.

RELATED STORY: OSU's Wyatt Hendrickson stuns Olympic gold medalist Steveson for 285-pound title

A dramatic last-second takedown sealed a 5-4 win, capped Hendrickson’s undefeated 27-0 season, and snapped Steveson’s 70-match winning streak.

Real American Freestyle’s debut event

Hendrickson will headline RAF’s first-ever competition on Aug. 30 in Cleveland. While there is no signed contract yet, RAF co-founder and CEO Chad Bronstein said talks are ongoing with Steveson, who already has a clothing line with Takedown.

A Hendrickson-Steveson rematch would give the league national attention from the start.

Apparel partnership with Takedown

RAF also unveiled its first official apparel collection through its new partnership with Takedown. The line will include streetwear and competition looks worn by athletes in and out of the arena.

“Both brands share a deep love for wrestling and a commitment to fighting for the sport, the athletes, and the community that raised us,” Takedown CEO Dustin Kawa said.

Building a professional platform for wrestlers

Bronstein said the goal is to grow wrestling beyond the college and Olympic stage by creating a professional ecosystem.

“We’re going to sell a lot of good apparel and just keep being edgy with it,” he said. “We’ll have street wear and then the sports wear. So you’ll have the typical, but we also are developing a street wear line too.”

SEE ALSO: Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson wins 2025 Dan Hodge Trophy

Honoring Hulk Hogan’s legacy

RAF’s honorary commissioner Hulk Hogan, who died July 24, previously confirmed the league was pursuing Hendrickson.

The league officially signed the Oklahoma State star a little more than a month later, securing one of wrestling’s brightest young talents for its debut.