RAF 03

[GlassPrison]

Chandler with the 4-2 victory and calls out Burroughs.

 

I actually really like everything I’ve seen from RAF so far.  I think they are slowly building a foundation and RAF 4/5 should keep the momentum.  The production and broadcast team was significantly improved tonight (which was my biggest previous gripe).  I think we’ll see a bigger presence from Askren as time goes on, which will help too.  Is it perfect - No - but it’s a fledgling promotion that’s giving a platform to a roster of great wrestlers (and provides an entertaining product that we wouldn’t otherwise have).  The operating model will continue to shift as they have more events and figure out what works and what needs to be tweaked.

[Rassling2]

5 hours ago, GlassPrison said:

Chandler with the 4-2 victory and calls out Burroughs.

 

I actually really like everything I’ve seen from RAF so far.  I think they are slowly building a foundation and RAF 4/5 should keep the momentum.  The production and broadcast team was significantly improved tonight (which was my biggest previous gripe).  I think we’ll see a bigger presence from Askren as time goes on, which will help too.  Is it perfect - No - but it’s a fledgling promotion that’s giving a platform to a roster of great wrestlers (and provides an entertaining product that we wouldn’t otherwise have).  The operating model will continue to shift as they have more events and figure out what works and what needs to be tweaked.

excellent upbeat post!

[juniorvarsity]

7 hours ago, SocraTease said:

I'm not able to watch, but I'm guessing they are dragging out and milking this event for all the commercial money they can scavenge.  It seems to have started 2 1/2 hours ago but only 8 of the 10 matches have been completed.  And there have been 3 pins and 2 tech falls, bouts which presumably did not last the full 6 minutes.

Actually, this is not the case at all. Bo Bassett with the quick pin and they did not fill the space with ads and commentary. They pace is great. Just pay for it. 

[headshuck]

I thought it was good. Start with a bigger bang than the 3 founders speaking though. Maybe move them to later in the program.

[West County Rube]

There were a lot of activity clocks, was the ref using sign language to indicate who was getting put on the clock? It was tough to tell at home, it seemed like the score board and the announcers lagged on those announcements.

[Truzzcat]

This was my favorite card so far, Spencer losing was not only a buzz kill but I think throws a bit of a wrench in what you plan to do with him in the future as well as I'm not sure if we see him anytime soon. JO winning is very exciting for a weight class that already has a lot of contenders. Yianni vs Austin is going to be a sick match and I hope Dave Baev is still interested, him wrestling the winner would be very cool. Big Cass made a good account of himself and the entertainment matches all included big moves and setup potentially some fun matches like Faber vs Cayden and PD3 vs Bo.

[Threadkilla]

Id love to see Ed Ruth compete,  bring back some of the superstars instead of snagging guys from the UFC roster. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

9 hours ago, Threadkilla said:

Id love to see Ed Ruth compete,  bring back some of the superstars instead of snagging guys from the UFC roster. 

Yeah, snag guys who couldn't break through on the Bellator roster!

[GlassPrison]

Bring in everyone - the more the merrier.  Id be excited to see that weekly show that was mentioned.  Gives a bunch more guys opportunities, gets enough data to start creating rankings, etc.

[Threadkilla]

3 hours ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Yeah, snag guys who couldn't break through on the Bellator roster!

I thought RAF was about wrestling not MMA,  thanks for clarifying.  Ed was an elite wrestler perhaps not a fighter.    I would rather see Ed than Mugzy, Henschel, Clay Guida or Buckley.  Get wrestlers. It already looks like they're setting up Mugsy versus Giorgio Poulos.   Have Giorgio wrestle a real wrestler.  

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

1 hour ago, Threadkilla said:

I thought RAF was about wrestling not MMA,  thanks for clarifying.  Ed was an elite wrestler perhaps not a fighter.    I would rather see Ed than Mugzy, Henschel, Clay Guida or Buckley.  Get wrestlers. It already looks like they're setting up Mugsy versus Giorgio Poulos.   Have Giorgio wrestle a real wrestler.  

Here is the problem: do more people know Ed Ruth or "Mugzy" despite the fact that Mr. bulljunk had a losing record as a high school senior?

[Threadkilla]

10 hours ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Here is the problem: do more people know Ed Ruth or "Mugzy" despite the fact that Mr. bulljunk had a losing record as a high school senior?

Perhaps you tune in to watch Mr Bulljunk.   But despite his social media presence I bet more people would tune in to see Ed.  

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

7 hours ago, Threadkilla said:

Perhaps you tune in to watch Mr Bulljunk.   But despite his social media presence I bet more people would tune in to see Ed.  

LOL.  This isn't about what YOU want to see.  

Very few people under the age of 30 recognize Ed Ruth's name.  Keelon Jimison has 920,000 followers on Insta compared to Ed's 56,000.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ed. Ed was absolutely great, but he is so yesterday.  

[1032004]

On 12/4/2025 at 7:45 AM, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

LOL.  This isn't about what YOU want to see.  

Very few people under the age of 30 recognize Ed Ruth's name.  Keelon Jimison has 920,000 followers on Insta compared to Ed's 56,000.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ed. Ed was absolutely great, but he is so yesterday.  

How many of those followers actually tuned into RAF though?  I have no idea of course.  Maybe a bunch considering this will be his second match on RAF?

I don’t mind Giorgio though.  Looks like he’s also been helping promote RAF and he has talent.  Him vs Henschel would have been more interesting IMO.

[Husker_Du]

Next card is almost all 'legit' SR level wrestling. Only Belal Muhammad from the 'other' category. David Carr wanted that match. i think it will be 1) fun 2) quick and 3) that only having one or two of those type of matches on a card is fine. 

[Lucho]

I personally think having guys who aren't elite level wrestlers competing is a great way to bring more eyes to the sport tbh. Especially if they are accomplished MMA/BJJ guys as it might bring fans over to international wrestling or at least NCAA in the US. MMA fans for the most part don't seem to appreciate how good the pros are at wrestling so having David Carr who finished 5th at worlds wrestle Belal can actually break that down real time. There are people who are naively adamant a guy like Khamzat and Khabib can hang with the best freestyle guys on the planet. Hopefully this can show them why that isn't the case. 

[GlassPrison]

On 12/6/2025 at 5:24 PM, Lucho said:

I personally think having guys who aren't elite level wrestlers competing is a great way to bring more eyes to the sport tbh. Especially if they are accomplished MMA/BJJ guys as it might bring fans over to international wrestling or at least NCAA in the US. MMA fans for the most part don't seem to appreciate how good the pros are at wrestling so having David Carr who finished 5th at worlds wrestle Belal can actually break that down real time. There are people who are naively adamant a guy like Khamzat and Khabib can hang with the best freestyle guys on the planet. Hopefully this can show them why that isn't the case. 

I agree with this.  I think it's great to give MMA fans a reason to watch.  

[happyvalet]

Hey @Husker_Du can we make this happen

 

 

[1032004]

On 11/29/2025 at 9:47 PM, BIGTENFANBOY said:

Speaking of the Paul brothers.. Logan is "wrasslin" tonight on PPV for WWE.

I think RAF should set up a rematch between Logan and Dominic Abonator. Like it or not, Logan Paul was an Ohio state placer, has a huge social media reach and many of his fans have seen his video talking about Abondator destroying him in high school.

This would do huge numbers, but I doubt Paul would do it unless he pays Abounader to take a dive 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

The ginger with the bad haircut has backed out of his Romero match.  PD3 stepping in for him.

[bnwtwg]

I'm putting on my pro wrestling cap (not to be confused with a thinking cap). This is all part of the storyline...

PD3 wins and he is going to call out Taylor. Taylor is going to say sure, but 6 minutes no techs and proceed to run up the score 98-0. With about 10 seconds left Taylor attempts to reach the mythical 100 points cementing himself as the Wil Chamberlain of wrestling. He hits a blast double that knocks the ref out and

WHO IS THAT COMING OUT OF THE AUDIENCE WITH A STEEL CHAIR?! 

Oh my god it's Bo Nickal and he knocks out....

TAYLOR?!?!?!

He pulls a dead PD3 (no cold spray) on top of Taylor and the ref calls the pin. Nickal gets on the mic and spills All. The. Tea. He and PD3 team up to start nWo (Nittany Wrestling Order). Utter chaos as fans throw garbage onto the mat.

 

 

 

and this high-level literature is why we need our reactions back folks

[mspart]

On 12/12/2025 at 1:29 PM, bnwtwg said:

I'm putting on my pro wrestling cap (not to be confused with a thinking cap). This is all part of the storyline...

PD3 wins and he is going to call out Taylor. Taylor is going to say sure, but 6 minutes no techs and proceed to run up the score 98-0. With about 10 seconds left Taylor attempts to reach the mythical 100 points cementing himself as the Wil Chamberlain of wrestling. He hits a blast double that knocks the ref out and

WHO IS THAT COMING OUT OF THE AUDIENCE WITH A STEEL CHAIR?! 

Oh my god it's Bo Nickal and he knocks out....

TAYLOR?!?!?!

He pulls a dead PD3 (no cold spray) on top of Taylor and the ref calls the pin. Nickal gets on the mic and spills All. The. Tea. He and PD3 team up to start nWo (Nittany Wrestling Order). Utter chaos as fans throw garbage onto the mat.

 

 

 

and this high-level literature is why we need our reactions back folks

Epic!!!

mspart