Eric Bischoff Says Scrapping Real American Freestyle After Hulk Hogan’s Death Was Never an Option

Eric Bischoff is preparing for one of the biggest launches of his career—but it’s happening without Hulk Hogan by his side. Just weeks after Hogan’s passing, Bischoff sat down with TMZ Sports and opened up about the emotional road to debuting Real American Freestyle on Fox Nation.

When asked how it felt to move forward with the project without Hogan, Bischoff admitted the emotions have been heavy.

“I think you said it, man. Bittersweet is about the best way to put it. Obviously, all of us, particularly those of us who knew Hulk well and had gotten to know him over a long period of time, it’s really hard. The first week or 10 days following his death was probably one of the toughest periods I’ve gone through on a personal basis in my life. So it was very difficult. But the sweet part is I hear him every day. I talk to him every day. And I am really excited to do something that I know he felt so passionately about and was so excited about. And I have the opportunity to be here along with a great team of people to execute on his vision, not mine, his. And that makes me feel really good about what we’re doing.”

Bischoff added that Hogan’s passion for the league gives him extra drive to make sure the project succeeds, saying the motivation has never been higher.

“It’s not hard to motivate me when I get interested in something I like. Yeah, I know it. But here’s the difference. I don’t think I could get any more motivated without ending up in jail or in a lawsuit. But I’ve never felt more blessed to be a part of something that I know is going to be successful. It’s the right time. It’s the right place. We are the newest professional league in combat sports and the world’s going to see that in less than 72 hours.”

When asked if he ever considered calling off the project after Hogan’s death, Bischoff didn’t hesitate to shut that idea down.

“No, I wouldn’t have. The thought would have not entered my mind and my partner Chad Bronstein, Izzy Martinez—no, that thought never crossed any of our minds. The only thought that I would have probably had like if that idea would have popped into my head and I would have thought, man, maybe I should, maybe we shouldn’t do this, would be the second thought that followed, which would have won and it would have been, Hulk Hogan will come down here and kick your ass if you throw in the towel. It’s as simple as that. So, no, it never crossed your mind.”

Even though Hogan won’t be there in person, Bischoff believes his presence is still at the heart of the project and that launching Real American Freestyle is the best way to honor his longtime friend.

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