 "Bajrang Punia will fight former rival Yianni Diakomihalis on 30 August. Image: Bajrang Punia on X")
Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia, the bronze medallist from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will soon feature in a wrestling event in America, which counts the legendary Hulk Hogan among its founders. The former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler Hogan, former World Championship Wrestling (WCW) senior vice president Eric Bischoff and wrestling coach Izzy Martinez are among the founders of Real American Freestyle.
Bajran Punia joins American wrestling event
The Real American Freestyle will make its debut on 30 August in Cleveland with an event that is named ‘Real American Freestyle 01 or RAF01’.
Besides Indian wrestler Bajran Punia, other prominent Olympic medal winners are also part of the event, including Aaron Brooks, Ben Askren, Kenneday Blades, and Sarah Hildebrant.
Punia will be up against 2022 UWW World Championship silver medallist Yianni Diakomihalis on 30 August. In their last match in 2022, Yianni defeated Punia 10-0 in the quarter-finals as the Haryana wrestler went on to win bronze through repechage.
“We set out to make history with Real American Freestyle, and with these matches, we’re doing just that,” the Chief Operating Officer of Real American Freestyle, Izzy Martinez, said about the event. “We’ve got the best wrestlers, the best promoters, the best storytellers, the best production, and the best team, and we’re going to give audiences the thrill of a lifetime on August 30 with RAF01.”
RAF01 matches:
Bo Nickal vs Jacob Cardenas
Yianni Diakomihalis vs Bajrang Punia
Darrion Caldwell vs Real Woods
Austin Gomez vs Lance Palmer
Kennedy Blades vs Alejandra Rivera
Sarah Hildebrandt vs Zeltzin Hernandez