CLAW Wrestling is Here: Tom Houck’s Vision for the Future of Pro Wrestling

In Episode 366 of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly to belly with Tom Houck, President and co-founder of CLAW Wrestling, the new professional wrestling league rewriting the rulebook. From revolutionary pylon scoring, team-based formats, and fantasy-style drafting, CLAW is built for the modern fan and hungry athlete. With the CLAW Invitational coming June 22–23 and the 2025 Draft Day set for July 21 in Atlantic City, Tom shares how CLAW is flipping the script on freestyle and building a true pro league for wrestling.We dive into:

• Why past pro leagues failed—and how CLAW plans to succeed
  
  
• The innovative rule set with 12+ scoring options and fan-first design
  
  
• Team branding, general managers, merch, and mascot madness
  
  
• Streaming plans, OTT platforms, and why Tuesday Night Wrestling will change everything
  
  

Whether you're a coach, athlete, investor, or diehard wrestling fan—this episode is your playbook for the future of the sport.🎯 Learn more: wrestleclaw.com
📲 Follow CLAW: @claw_wrestling
🎧 Subscribe: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube @AireyBros

⏱️ Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Show Intro / Why We Built Airey Bros Radio
  
  
• 2:02 – Welcome Tom Houck / What Is CLAW Wrestling?
  
  
• 4:00 – Tom’s Wrestling Origin Story + Penn State Days
  
  
• 6:40 – Getting Back Into Wrestling Through His Kids
  
  
• 7:30 – The Birth of Top of the Podium and Grassroots Market Research
  
  
• 10:50 – Why Past Pro Leagues Failed & What CLAW Learned
  
  
• 13:00 – Reimagining the Sport from Uniforms to Rules
  
  
• 16:30 – Innovating Mat Wrestling with Pylons + Quick Score Bonus
  
  
• 26:30 – Building Fan-Friendly Rules from the Ground Up
  
  
• 33:30 – Round Structure, Scoring Buckets, and Square Mats
  
  
• 37:00 – Team Format, League Design, and Season Preview
  
  
• 41:00 – The 6 Teams, General Managers, Logos & Mascots
  
  
• 48:00 – How the Draft Works + What Athletes Can Enter
  
  
• 54:00 – CLAW Total Access Streaming, YouTube, and Flow Negotiations
  
  
• 58:30 – Incentivizing Athletes & Why Every Match Matters
  
  
• 1:04:00 – The Founders Club & How Fans Can Support CLAW
  
  
• 1:06:30 – Thoughts on Other Pro Wrestling Leagues Emerging
  
  
• 1:12:00 – NJ Pride, Boardwalk Hall & What’s Next for CLAW
  
  
• 1:17:00 – Final Four Questions: Daily Practices, Elton John, Business Books & Ice Cream