ESPN RAF Moscow article: Experts: RAF card in Moscow likely violates U.S. sanctions

[flyingcement]

9 minutes ago, RAFWiki said:

The lawyers at Fox don't answer to the RAF executive team.

That scenario doesn't really make it much different. Fox is the primary platform RAF chose to utilize in the US, which is their biggest market so far. If RAF allows itself to be put in a position where its network partner prevents it from delivering the product to its customers, that's still not a particularly good look for RAF.

And do we really know the details of what happened there? Was this something Fox imposed that RAF had no reasonable way of anticipating? Was RAF going outside an obvious constraint of its network partner and simply didn't do its homework? I don't know, and I'm not pretending to know.

But at the end of the day, the customer-facing reality is the same: RAF and Fox took people's money for access to an event and didn't communicate to those paying customers that they weren't going to receive what they paid for. Whatever happened behind the scenes may explain why it happened, but it doesn't really change the customer experience.

[MPhillips]

25 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

Did you mean to write that to someone else?  None of what you said was responsive to any of the points I raised.

You'll get used to our new comrade talking shit and in circles.

[1032004]

55 minutes ago, RAFWiki said:

Their legal team told them not to talk about it - it was out of their hands.

This seems like the most likely scenario, but lol at acting like you have inside info.

[RAFWiki]

19 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

This seems like the most likely scenario, but lol at acting like you have inside info.

Did you enjoy that legal stream of the event I told everyone about?

Nah I'm just a robot - beep boop

[1032004]

1 minute ago, RAFWiki said:

Did you enjoy that legal stream of the event I told everyone about?

Nah I'm just a robot - beep boop

I don’t believe it was legal.

[RAFWiki]

Just now, 1032004 said:

I don’t believe it was legal.

Bypassing region blocks is a crime according to this man

We all enjoyed the show - sorry you hate everything and couldn't join us

[flyingcement]

I was really hoping RAF could be the version of professional wrestling that didn't shoot itself in the foot. This recent episode has given me some serious doubts.

The lack of acknowledgment afterward is particularly disappointing. If the issue was that RAF had its hands tied by Fox, then that's certainly unfortunate, but it also raises questions about strategy and execution. Allowing a network partner to put you in a position where your audience is left confused or frustrated, and then not addressing it afterward, isn't a great look.

Poor strategy, failed implementation, and, unfortunately, a weak demonstration of character.

I'm still hoping someone within the organization takes a step back, removes their head from their ass, and really thinks this through. If the internal mindset is anything like the RAFWiki response, essentially refusing to acknowledge that there was a problem, then I worry RAF is dead on arrival.

We all want RAF to succeed. That's precisely why this has disappointed so many of us.

[flyingcement]

If RAF was screwed by FOX, its time to get creative.  Promise the viewers an extra bout for the next five RAF features to make up for what was lost.  Something - anything - would be better than the cowardice of silence.

[1032004]

7 hours ago, RAFWiki said:

Their legal team told them not to talk about it - it was out of their hands.

Also, assuming this is true…now that I think about it, Kozak on FRL said “on the Basch and Willie podcast they said worst case it will be on YouTube.”   Maybe I missed it, but I don’t recall this actually being said when I listened.   Was it edited out?  We know Willie has a history of not always adhering to the advice of lawyers…

[flyingcement]

3 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Also, assuming this is true…now that I think about it, Kozak on FRL said “on the Basch and Willie podcast they said worst case it will be on YouTube.”   Maybe I missed it, but I don’t recall this actually being said when I listened.   Was it edited out?  We know Willie has a history of not always adhering to the advice of lawyers…

I love @Jon_Kozak for always being above the fray and trying to actually serve the customer base.  College wrestling media companies could learn a lot from his approach.  

[bnwtwg]

6 hours ago, RAFWiki said:

Nah I'm just a robot - beep boop

secret Agent man

[RAFWiki]

41 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

then I worry RAF is dead on arrival

How does one deny reality and join the RAF Haterz Club?

Is there like a secret handshake or something

[flyingcement]

Just now, RAFWiki said:

How does one deny reality and join the RAF Haterz Club?

Is there like a secret handshake or something

Can you please change your posture before speaking?  How can I hear you while you are standing like this

[flyingcement]

@1032004 can be lacking in grace and perspective sometimes - fair 

but as I read this thread to figure out WTF was going on, what really jumped out at me was how much of a chip @LJB seems to have on his shoulder when it comes to 103. What's the story there? I can't see anything in this thread that would explain the level of animosity. I'm assuming there's some history elsewhere.

That said, I do admire the honesty and self-awareness in the repeated GIFs of girls giggling in response to basically anything 103 posts. The visual is remarkably consistent with the behavior.

If that's your preferred mode of engagement, by all means. Just own it.

Edited September 8 by flyingcement

[bnwtwg]

This is better than being a student in a tantric class taught by edge lord Sting

[1032004]

6 hours ago, flyingcement said:

@1032004 can be lacking in grace and perspective sometimes - fair 

but as I read this thread to figure out WTF was going on, what really jumped out at me was how much of a chip @LJB seems to have on his shoulder when it comes to 103. What's the story there? I can't see anything in this thread that would explain the level of animosity. I'm assuming there's some history elsewhere.

That said, I do admire the honesty and self-awareness in the repeated GIFs of girls giggling in response to basically anything 103 posts. The visual is remarkably consistent with the behavior.

If that's your preferred mode of engagement, by all means. Just own it.

Not that I’m aware of prior to a few weeks ago.   I have stated that my opinion was that I think second tier folk/free guys could do well in Greco if they tried, and had called out a previous time where @LJB was spamming pages and pages with personal attacks and gifs where I wasn’t even a participant originally (seems we have a common denominator…) and replied to one of his posts criticizing people who “never did anything” and simply asked what he did and said if he didn’t do anything either then he was living vicariously through his kids.  He kept saying his “credentials were well documented” which I guess he had posted on here like 3 years ago (“never wrestled a day in his life”) but I didn’t remember.  So I did a 10 second google search and asked him a couple questions which he dodged for awhile until eventually repeating the he never wrestled a day in his life quote.   So I repeated my criticism of being critical of other posters’ lack accomplishments while lacking any of his own.

[ScottishSteel]

@flyingcement appreciate you trying to eloquently establish and summarize the issue; my thoughts are essentially identical to your words.  I don't think it'll get through to @RAFWiki but yea, if RAF wants to be a serious organization they need to communicate way better - the fan/consumer shouldn't have to put in the work to get the product

[RAFWiki]

2 hours ago, ScottishSteel said:

if RAF wants to be a serious organization they need to communicate way better - the fan/consumer shouldn't have to put in the work to get the product

Kinopoisk paid them to stream the event in Russia. It was simulcast for free on YouTube to every country outside of the US.

They sold out the arena in Moscow.

Americans were never the target audience here. 

[LJB]

3 hours ago, 1032004 said:

Not that I’m aware of prior to a few weeks ago.   I have stated that my opinion was that I think second tier folk/free guys could do well in Greco if they tried, and had called out a previous time where @LJB was spamming pages and pages with personal attacks and gifs where I wasn’t even a participant originally (seems we have a common denominator…) and replied to one of his posts criticizing people who “never did anything” and simply asked what he did and said if he didn’t do anything either then he was living vicariously through his kids.  He kept saying his “credentials were well documented” which I guess he had posted on here like 3 years ago (“never wrestled a day in his life”) but I didn’t remember.  So I did a 10 second google search and asked him a couple questions which he dodged for awhile until eventually repeating the he never wrestled a day in his life quote.   So I repeated my criticism of being critical of other posters’ lack accomplishments while lacking any of his own.

the victims mentality fits you like a glove...

[Air_Thurman]

5 hours ago, RAFWiki said:

Kinopoisk paid them to stream the event in Russia. It was simulcast for free on YouTube to every country outside of the US.

They sold out the arena in Moscow.

Americans were never the target audience here. 

Weird that an American company named Real American Freestyle put on a card featuring most of the best American wrestlers in the world didn't consider America a target market. 

Edited September 8 by Air_Thurman
added

[RAFWiki]

2 hours ago, Air_Thurman said:

Weird that an American company named Real American Freestyle put on a card featuring most of the best American wrestlers in the world didn't consider America a target market. 

This was the search volume on Google for "RAF Moscow" in the past 7 days - United States wasn't even in the Top 5:

[LJB]

if only RAF was a "serious" organization...

 

[RAFWiki]

1 minute ago, LJB said:

if only RAF was a "serious" organization...

"Dead on arrival" wrestling promotion booking a football stadium two years after its inception

[Simpleman424]

1 hour ago, RAFWiki said:

This was the search volume on Google for "RAF Moscow" in the past 7 days - United States wasn't even in the Top 5:

We have to stop deflecting and intentionally misrepresenting what people said or this thread, and subsequently every thread about RAF, will be garbage. All the poster said was American is in the name and they didn’t target the American fan base (as stated)…they just thought it was silly. You posting that Americans didn’t Google just means you’re both right…they didn’t target the American market AND that user (can’t remember who it was) thinks that was silly.

Edited September 8 by Simpleman424

[1032004]

On 9/5/2026 at 11:45 AM, BruceyB said:

The wrestlers aren't getting the Russian duffle bag left their locker if they don't compete.

JD on FRL today said they got Putin money lol