. has confirmed plans to launch his own wrestling company by the end of 2023.
The Scooby Doo actor is no stranger to the business having – he had two stints with the juggernaut, from 2008 until 2009 and again from 2010 until 2012 – and he’s taking major steps in returning to the industry.
Freddie has revealed his goal of starting a promotion in California, and he’s hoping to get things underway within the next 18 months, while he wants all performing to be associated with the Screen Actors Guild.
Reflecting on his process after researching ‘’ and listening to ‘other promoters and people in the business and their philosophies’, the actor – who is married to Sarah Michelle Gellar – took the next steps.
‘I started watching what other wrestlers were trying to do. I started asking everyone I knew in the business questions. Then I started looking at arenas, locally here and what it will cost to rent them,’ he said on his own podcast.
‘I already have a commercial realtor that I know and love. She’s already looking at properties for me. I would love to have a full-time home for this. The plan was originally a two-year plan.
‘Now, I should have the money for a three-year plan meaning it doesn’t have to make money for three years before I’m like, “Yo man, I gotta go do another damn movie. I have to be in Scooby part seven or some crap like that to keep this floating.” ‘
Freddie admitted he could have but it would’ve involved ‘going to Australia for three months’, and he’s not keen on leaving his family for that length of time.
Reflecting on his goals for the company, he added: ‘I think I want a two-hour show, at least in the beginning. I doubt I’ll have a TV contract right away. It’s very difficult to maintain ownership and get a TV deal at the beginning like that.
‘If you’re established they can come in and license you or buy a portion of you but you’ll still be in control.’
He’s already bought a high quality arena-used light kit which is in storage waiting for the first show, and he’s already given some thought on the makeup of the show.
As well as more reality-based storylines, Freddie is keen to ‘give the women and the men equal time on the roster’, with the eventual goal being to get on TV, and to have a separate booker to craft the shows so he can play to his strengths as a wrestling writer.
He said: ‘I want it to be a SAG show and what that means is I want it to be a union show, which would mean each and every single one of my wrestlers would be a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and be entitled to all the insurance and medical benefits and retirement plans that that entails.’
