Eric Bischoff Says Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle Debut Stays On, With WWE Tribute And “Surprises” On FOX Nation

Eric Bischoff told TMZ Sports that Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle will premiere Saturday on FOX Nation despite last month’s reports of Hogan’s death, adding that canceling “never entered my mind.”

I am Jordan Collins, and because you probably need someone to translate wrestling world chaos into plain English, I will take it from here. Consider this your guided tour through the headlines you skimmed but did not fully process.

Here is the headline you can quote without getting side-eyed at the group chat: Real American Freestyle, the new organization envisioned by WWE icon Hulk Hogan, is debuting as scheduled on FOX Nation at 4 p.m. PT. Bischoff, a WWE Hall of Famer and longtime Hogan confidant, says the team never wavered on launching the brand. Speaking to TMZ Sports, he put it plainly, “Hulk Hogan would come down here and kick your ass if you throw in the towel. It is simple as that. No, it never crossed our minds.”

Yes, the timing is heavy. Last month brought a wave of reports that Hogan had died, and the immediate aftermath hit those closest to him the hardest. Bischoff called the days following the loss “some of the toughest periods I have gone through,” an admission that adds gravity to Saturday’s premiere. The event is positioned not only as a launch for a new combat sports venture but also as a tribute to the man whose star power helped build modern sports entertainment.

If you are wondering how official this tribute is, you can stop guessing. Bischoff says WWE produced a video package that will air during the show, a detail that ties this debut to Hogan’s legacy in a way fans will not miss. That is corroborated by FOX Nation’s promotion of the premiere, which underscores that this is a full-on, lights-on production rather than a quiet soft launch. Translation for the casuals: this is not a placeholder, it is a statement.

So what exactly is Real American Freestyle? It is the latest brand carrying Hogan’s imprint, built around the energy and competitive spirit he championed for decades. While specifics have been kept strategically tight, Bischoff is teasing “some surprises,” reminding everyone why live debuts matter. In other words, keep your eyes up and your expectations flexible. You want names, angles, and moments you can meme by Monday morning. You might just get them.

Let us also clear up the speculation that swirled after the news cycle pivoted to grief. Projects like this take time, contracts, and production calendars, and FOX Nation has every incentive to keep a marquee launch on the books when the audience is paying attention. Bischoff’s insistence that stepping back was never an option lands like both a tribute and a mission statement. The message is unmistakable. Honor the legacy, deliver the product, keep the audience hooked.

For fans who grew up on Real American blaring through arenas, this debut is layered. There is the nostalgia hit, yes, but there is also the curiosity factor of watching how a new organization carves out space in a crowded combat sports landscape. Eric Bischoff is no rookie at this. He spent the 1990s rewriting the playbook on how to package and sell larger-than-life personalities, and his fingerprints on a Hogan-backed concept make Saturday’s launch more than a ceremonial nod. It is a test of whether that old magic can be remixed for 2025.

Expect emotion on the broadcast. Expect a spotlight on Hogan’s influence, including the WWE-produced tribute that underscores how deeply the industry is tied to his mythos. Expect a runway for fresh talent and familiar faces. And yes, expect those teased surprises, because Bischoff did not bury the lead when he said it out loud. “I love surprises,” he told TMZ Sports, and that line sounded less like a throwaway and more like a programming note.

If you need particulars to set your calendar, here you go. Premiere time is 4 p.m. PT on FOX Nation. The launch includes an on-air tribute to Hulk Hogan, with Bischoff in the driver’s seat and a presentation built to honor the man and ignite a new chapter. FOX Nation has the platform, WWE has the archival muscle, and the audience has the appetite. Yes, you should sit down for this one.

The tea is simple, served hot, and backed up by the people making the show. TMZ Sports has Bischoff on record about the go-ahead, and FOX Nation is hosting the debut as scheduled, with WWE contributing the tribute video. If you were waiting for a sign that Real American Freestyle was more than an idea on a T-shirt, this is your neon billboard.

What to watch next is obvious. Who turns up during those “surprises,” how the tribute lands with fans who feel personally connected to Hogan’s legacy, and whether Real American Freestyle lays the groundwork for a recurring series. Stay tuned, keep your alerts on, and try not to blink. You would hate to miss the moment everyone is talking about five minutes later. Consider yourself briefed, and try to keep up next time.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ Sports, FOX Nation, WWE
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