Wyatt Hendrickson on Arman Tsarukyan Brawl: "That's Not Who Wrestlers Are"

Wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson, known for his viral victory over Gable Steveson, hopes Arman Tsarukyan’s upcoming rematch with Georgio Poullas under the RAF banner will be a clean contest, contrasting sharply with their initial brawl. Hendrickson himself is set to defend his RAF Unlimited Championship against long-time rival Trent Hillger on March 28th at RAF07.

The brawl between Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas at RAF 06 made headlines due to illegal strikes exchanged during a wrestling contest that had been building palpable tension. While Hendrickson, who harbors aspirations of pursuing MMA, finds the act of punching enjoyable in that context, he firmly believes such actions should be kept out of the wrestling arena.

Reflecting on the incident and the looming rematch, Hendrickson remarked, “What happened was really unique and you could tell that Arman’s not just a wrestler because that’s not wrestler behavior I would say. Like it’s really important to control your emotions.” He acknowledged Georgio Poullas's role in provoking the situation, noting Poullas was "kind of egging him on." While part of him found it "kind of cool for entertainment purposes," Hendrickson expressed concern that if this brawl served as someone's first introduction to wrestling, it would provide a highly inaccurate representation. “Like, that’s not who wrestlers are,” he emphasized, hoping viewers wouldn't mistakenly assume that wrestling involves losing emotional control and resorting to striking.

Wyatt Hendrickson: Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas Should "Just Wrestle a Fair Wrestling Match"

While feeling that Arman Tsarukyan’s previous RAF performance did not embody traditional wrestling decorum, Hendrickson also considered the unique dynamics of the Poullas brawl. He noted the "unique factor that they’re bringing in UFC, jiu-jitsu, influencers," creating "a whole awesome spectrum of competitors." Hendrickson suggested this blend could be positive, as pure wrestling matches, despite high skill, can sometimes lack entertainment if a dominant wrestler quickly finishes a match. However, his primary wish for the rematch is for it to be a fair and respectful wrestling contest. He advised Tsarukyan and Poullas that if they wish to pursue MMA or grappling, they should do so elsewhere, not at RAF. “I’d like to see a fair wrestled match with respect on both sides of wrestlers at RAFO7,” Hendrickson concluded.