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Real American Freestyle Welcomes Key Hires Brandon Wimbush and Willie Saylor
Wimbush and Saylor join the RAF team to oversee operations for the burgeoning organization and assist in branding development, partnerships, and social media
Tampa, FL (May 30, 2025) – Real American Freestyle, the new, unscripted freestyle wrestling organization today announced the hiring of Brandon Wimbush to serve as Chief of Staff, and Willie Saylor to serve as Vice President of Talent Development. Working alongside Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and Israel Martinez, Wimbush will oversee operations, facilitate the creation of processes, kickstart departments, and operate across all levels of the brand, with Saylor overseeing branding, media, and talent development. Wimbush and Saylor’s appointments are effective immediately.
One of the oldest and most beloved sports in the world, wrestling continues to grow in popularity globally. Real American Freestyle aims to harness this momentum and offer a dynamic, modern approach to the sport – and these key hires are emblematic of that. No stranger to elite performance himself, Wimbush starred as Quarterback for the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 2019. Saylor is the dubbed “King of Wrestling Media,” and has been instrumental in the development of the Real American Freestyle branding.
“Real American Freestyle is thrilled to welcome Brandon and Willie to the team,” said Real American Freestyle co-founder Chad Bronstein. “Brandon is a successful and driven entrepreneur in his own right, and a supremely talented athlete. Willie understands the wrestling space from an intimate lens and will continue to be a critical voice in the development of our brand. We couldn’t think of a better fit for these roles and look forward to witnessing their successes at the company.”
“The amalgamation of entrepreneurship and athleticism really resonated with me when I first learned about the position,” said Brandon Wimbush, Real American Freestyle’s new Chief of Staff. “I’m excited to join the likes of Hulk, Eric, Izzy, and Chad, as we work to establish the brand and help these incredible athletes in their careers.”
“I have a deep respect for what Real American Freestyle and its team are trying to do in terms of changing the game,” said Willie Saylor, Real American Freestyle’s new Vice President of Talent Development. “It’s an honor for me as a lover of the sport and true supporter of these athletes to take part in the innovation this company continues to achieve.”
Wimbush started as Quarterback for Notre Dame in his junior year and by his senior year, was the only starting QB in the FBS to lead his team to victory over four teams that finished the season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. In 2019, Wimbush announced his intention to play his final season at the University of Central Florida. Throughout his time as a student athlete and following his graduation, Wimbush was an ardent advocate for his compatriots, creating MOGL to help athletes connect with businesses to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness. In addition to his role at Real American Freestyle, Wimbush serves as a strategic advisor to MOGL, which he co-founded in 2020 after graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in accounting, Duael Track, Climatic Health, and Jumpshot Live. Wimbush additionally serves on the Young Professional Advisory Board of the United States Tennis Association Foundation, and before closing its doors, Wimbush also represented the Newark Boys Chorus School on the Young Professional Advisory Board. Wimbush is a proud partner to Every Kid Sports, bridging the sports financial gap for underprivileged youth, and was named a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 and Front Office Sports’ prestigious Rising25 award.
Saylor is one of the top commentators and media members in the sport of wrestling. A founder of MatScouts, Saylor has a history of bringing passion, expertise, and vision to his reporting and has become known for his unique style and understanding of the wrestling media landscape. A prominent member of wrestling media for more than a decade, Saylor started his career at the Open Mat before joining FloWrestling in 2012, where he served as Senior Editor. Saylor launched MatScouts via Rokfin in 2019, a channel focused on wrestling scouting and recruiting. He’s been recognized as one of the nation’s top wrestling journalists, being named as the best by the National Wrestling Media Association in 2012, and by WIN Magazine in 2016.
This announcement follows Real American Freestyle’s viral launch and signing of Evan Wick, Austin Gomez, Real Woods, Will Lewan, Parker Keckeisen, Ben Askren, Kennedy Blades, Zahid Valencia, David Carr, Kyle Dake, Trent Hidlay, Kyle Snyder, and Aaron Brooks. These appointments reflect Real American Freestyle’s commitment to building a top-tier front office and further embedding freestyle wrestling into the world’s sports and lifestyle landscape.
For more information on Real American Freestyle, visit: www.realamericanfreestyle.com
About Real American Freestyle
Real American Freestyle is a professional freestyle wrestling league founded by Chad Bronstein, Hulk Hogan, and Israel Martinez. Supported by Left Lane Capital, the league launched in 2025 with a roster of 40 athletes. Featuring a full slate of events throughout its debut season kicking off in Cleveland, OH, Real American Freestyle is focused on freestyle elements of the sport and seeks to provide a platform for athletes to build careers and branding in the space. For more information on Real American Freestyle, please visit www.realamericanfreestyle.com.
