RAF is filth/garbage/trash/slop

[SweetButteryLou]

4 hours ago, forkemaz said:

 but they aren't spitting in the eye of wrestling culture the way RAF is.

I don’t know what you mean by that at all …. But who cares really i like to see best vs best that simple 

[wrestlingfan05]

On 3/27/2026 at 7:01 PM, WrestlingRash said:

That kind of drama is what brings casuals to the sport. Stop being a whiny bitch. Perverted sense of right and wrong LOL 

 

On 3/27/2026 at 2:17 PM, Ragu said:

You want this league to grow and get better? They need to make money. Are they going to make money or get a lot of eyes on the product if they highlighted Nolf vs Salk? For us hardcore fans that is appealing. Arman vs Mr take me down get a $1000 gets outside eyes on their product and sport. They have a great balance of "slop" and solid matches. Cards keep getting better as well. This showing of wrestling, outside the NCAA tourney, is our best chance/opportunity to help grow the sport domestically

honest question: what type of sustainable fanbase does gimmick matches and spontaneous fights (lol, imagine tuning into a wrestling card anticipating a fight) cultivate? things like that certainly bring exposure to wrestling, and that in some part helps, but i don't know if i think wrestling actually has an exposure problem at all.

 

  

19 hours ago, BruceyB said:

If the options are..

A. Create a pure product for the diehard wrestling fan and have it fold just like every other attempt has

or 

B. Lean into the clickbait and guys with big followings in order to generate interest in what you're showing in order to have a longer runway to grow the brand and build the product

there it is though, option B still doesn't detail what is the end goal of sustainability for RAF. what is the model they're trying to attain? i would be fine with this stuff early on of course to get funding to build something greater for wrestling, but right now i just see absolutely nothing in that regard. it is fun to see the best go against the best.. but if i can be honest, i care a little less knowing that they aren't going to take it as seriously since it's not World's, the Olympics, or some other proper tournament

19 hours ago, BruceyB said:

Which option makes more sense? You might argue that there is option C but given the fact that it's the world's oldest sport and it hasn't happened yet, that doesn't seem likely.

exactly, it is the oldest sport in the world and is present literally all over it. i would say a bigger issue than exposure is accessibility.

Edited March 28 by wrestlingfan05
additional thoughts

[flyingcement]

I am watching tonight.  Anyone else?  Couple matchups caught my eye.

[Hurricane Wrestling]

16 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

I am watching tonight.  Anyone else?  Couple matchups caught my eye.

I'm watching,  Why are there no announcers calling the play-by-play?

[flyingcement]

Just now, Hurricane Wrestling said:

I'm watching,  Why are there no announcers calling the play-by-play?

The first match is about to start.  I hear Shane Sparks on the mic

[headshuck]

Chael’s announcing is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

[BruceyB]

21 minutes ago, wrestlingfan05 said:

there it is though, option B still doesn't detail what is the end goal of sustainability for RAF. what is the model they're trying to attain? i would be fine with this stuff early on of course to get funding to build something greater for wrestling, but right now i just see absolutely nothing in that regard. it is fun to see the best go against the best.. but if i can be honest, i care a little less knowing that they aren't going to take it as seriously since it's not World's, the Olympics, or some other proper tournament

If I were in charge, I would do exactly what RAF is doing currently. Have a few high profile match-ups to get the die-hards intrigued enough to watch (Dake vs Keckeisen is an awesome match-up), but in all honesty, f*ck the purists and do whatever necessary to get as many eyes on the sport as possible.

Nobody can become a fan of wrestling if they never give it a chance. If the Armen vs Georgio brings new eyeballs to the sport, then maybe some enjoy the rest of the product as well and become fans of wrestling and not just the gimmick. That is the goal. If these cheesy cards can get viewership to a sustainable level, then they can start dialing back the cheese and see if the wrestling itself can keep people watching. 

Personally, I don't think that wrestling is viable as a purse sport. The amount of dedication and commitment it takes to be successful in wrestling is only going to be worthwhile if the paychecks are substantial, and I don't think that wrestling will ever garner enough interest to create a sustainable model that can make it worthwhile for the athletes and still turn a profit. There is nothing wrong with that reality. Wrestling is a niche sport.

[Hurricane Wrestling]

2 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

The first match is about to start.  I hear Shane Sparks on the mic

Thanks - I accidently clicked on some highlights from RAF 6 instead of RAF 7. Duh!    (That's why I edited my post, but it was too late! ha!)

[headshuck]

When will Shane Sparks mention Resilite?

[Caveira]

On 3/28/2026 at 8:35 AM, SweetButteryLou said:

nickal

I don’t think they have nickal.  He’s running out of participants to both call out and duck at the same time 

[pcostilow]

On 3/28/2026 at 8:20 PM, headshuck said:

When will Shane Sparks mention Resilite?

I saw he has a podcast series coming up called Tales from the Resilite lol. I love Shane, his mannerisms entertain me.

[juniorvarsity]

 

We get Tazhudinov vs Snyder, Keckeisen vs Dake, Saipudinov vs Sinclair... and people are still bitching. 

I did not watch the last two matches. Because I am a hardcore wrestling fan. Sorry, wrestling is not as popular as the guys in the last two fights. It may never be. It is business. Those guys draw more eyes. 

[1032004]

On 3/28/2026 at 11:43 AM, forkemaz said:

Here are the rosters for the season CLAW just had: 

Cradle City Cicadas (GM Cayden Henschel): Ethan Rotondo (134), Tristan Moran (145), Zain Retherford/Tommy Askey (157), Peter Pappas (170), CJ Brucki (184), Dakota Geer (199), Demetrius Thomas (275).

Kaos (GM Georgio Poullas): Tyler Warner (134), Allan Hart/Brandon Wright (145), Josh Heil (157), Jarrett Jacques (170), Noel Torres (184), Mike Macchiavello (199), Cary Miller (275).

Mat Kings (GM Billy Baldwin/Scotti Sentes): Brian Courtney (134), Zack Donathan (145), Jonathan Millner (157), Kendall Coleman (170), Muhamed McBryde (184), Marcus Coleman/Caleb Hopkins (199), Matt Stencel (275).

Enforcers (FFF League): Caleb Smith (134), John Erneste/Shannon Hanna (145), Reece Humphrey (157), Peyton Hall (170), Jeremiah Kent (184), Chris Foca (199), Zane Lanham (275).

Hammers (GM Anthony Robles): Kyle Burwick/Alonzo Allen (134), [Vacant] (145), Ian Parker (157), Brock Mauller (170), Lennox Wolak/Scott Joll (184), Nate Jackson (199), Sam Schuyler (275).

Leopards (GM Angelo Ferrari): Eric Barnett (134), Mosha Schwartz/Zach Sherman (145), Max Murin (157), John Vanbrill (170), Kennedy Monday (184), Luke Surber (199), Zach Elam (275). 

 

CLAW is not perfect either but they aren't spitting in the eye of wrestling culture the way RAF is.

Outside of Retherford, unfortunately there aren’t really any other big names IMO in terms of athletes.

I really liked the idea behind CLAW though, I wish they had the funding of RAF.  I feel like that was something that might’ve been able to get new fans interested.

[wrestlingguy]

3 hours ago, 1032004 said:

Outside of Retherford, unfortunately there aren’t really any other big names IMO in terms of athletes.

I really liked the idea behind CLAW though, I wish they had the funding of RAF.  I feel like that was something that might’ve been able to get new fans interested.

I had never even heard of CLAW. I just Googled it. There are a lot of guys I would love to see wrestle. 

Someone needs to get on their marketing strategy.

[WrestlingRash]

1 hour ago, wrestlingguy said:

I had never even heard of CLAW. I just Googled it. There are a lot of guys I would love to see wrestle. 

Someone needs to get on their marketing strategy.

Have a viral moment like a fight after a match and people will come. 

[forkemaz]

To you  "it's business" low iq cavemen, I have a question. Where do YOU draw the line? Because you dont draw it at disrespecting the sport, you dont draw it at breaking the rules of the organization, you dont draw it at committing a crime on camera.

So where is the line? Is it... top less ring girls? Is it fixed matches? Or is anything allowed as long as it brings in more views? Because that's what you are saying in here. Viewership above all. We dont care about doing things in a way that we can be proud of we will roll in the mud with pigs for views. Idiots all of you.

Edited March 30 by forkemaz

[forkemaz]

Yeah better to not answer JV. You have no answer. 

[forkemaz]

Where's Willie at? Come defend rebooking this match.

[WrestlingRash]

50 minutes ago, forkemaz said:

Where's Willie at? Come defend rebooking this match.

after the match, the takedown for money guy gave 10K to the guy who beat him, who in turn donated it to a charity. they broke bread. it was a good storyline. interesting viewing. wrestling, without interesting story lines, is not marketable. committed a crime on camera? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL grow up you cry baby 

[forkemaz]

18 minutes ago, WrestlingRash said:

after the match, the takedown for money guy gave 10K to the guy who beat him, who in turn donated it to a charity. they broke bread. it was a good storyline. interesting viewing. wrestling, without interesting story lines, is not marketable. committed a crime on camera? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL grow up you cry baby 

They made a bet before the first match and Georgio didn't pay. So Is it still heartfelt? And is battery not a crime? We can just sucker punch people and jump them post match and it's legal? Arman is how old and he attacks someone post match but I personally need to grow up? Not the guy who punched a fan and now a wrestling opponent?

I also notice you didn't answer the question jock itch. Where is the line? Hmm?

[forkemaz]

Willie knows im right. Im his dad now. 

[WrestlingRash]

7 minutes ago, forkemaz said:

They made a bet before the first match and Georgio didn't pay. So Is it still heartfelt? And is battery not a crime? We can just sucker punch people and jump them post match and it's legal? Arman is how old and he attacks someone post match but I personally need to grow up? Not the guy who punched a fan and now a wrestling opponent?

I also notice you didn't answer the question jock itch. Where is the line? Hmm?

you know a lot more about it than I do. you clearly follow every bit of news about it. their marketing is working on the lowest among us. 

[forkemaz]

1 hour ago, WrestlingRash said:

you know a lot more about it than I do. you clearly follow every bit of news about it. their marketing is working on the lowest among us. 

Question dodged again. An idiot and a coward. Maybe you should shut your mouth and leave.

[WrestlingRash]

9 minutes ago, forkemaz said:

Question dodged again. An idiot and a coward. Maybe you should shut your mouth and leave.

the line? who cares. strawman argument. lazy question from a low IQ poster. Idiot and coward. 

[forkemaz]

2 minutes ago, WrestlingRash said:

the line? who cares. strawman argument. lazy question from a low IQ poster. Idiot and coward. 

Do you even know what strawman is? Because asking you to define where the line is doesn't qualify as a strawman. You're a certified retard. Answer the question. Where is the line for you personally?

Should we talk about why you cant answer it? Because I know why. 

Edited March 30 by forkemaz