Draft:RUDIS
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|  |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports apparel |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Jesse Leng, Jeff Jordan, Tommy Rowlands |
Key people | Jesse Leng (Co‑founder & CEO) |
| Website | RUDIS.com |
RUDIS is an American sports apparel company founded in 2013 by Jesse Leng, Jeff Jordan, and Tommy Rowlands. Headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, the company specializes in wrestling footwear, apparel, accessories, and custom team gear. RUDIS has released licensed product collections in collaboration with brands such as the Rocky and Bloodsport film franchises, as well as the Muhammad Ali estate. It has entered into formal partnerships with USA Wrestling and United World Wrestling, and sponsors several high-profile American wrestlers through its athlete program.
History
[edit]RUDIS was established in 2013 by former wrestlers Jesse Leng, Jeff Jordan, and Tommy Rowlands. The company name, "RUDIS," is derived from the Latin word for the wooden sword awarded to Roman gladiators upon earning their freedom.
In June 2015, Nancy Schultz, widow of Olympic and world champion wrestler Dave Schultz, joined RUDIS as an equity partner.[1] That same month, RUDIS announced the launch of a signature apparel line inspired by Dave Schultz. The initiative coincided with renewed public interest in Schultz’s legacy following the release of the film Foxcatcher. According to reports, the partnership aimed to reflect Schultz's impact on global wrestling and aligned with the brand’s values of discipline and high performance.[2]
In December 2024, RUDIS signed a multi-year apparel partnership with USA Wrestling.[3] In January 2025, the company also entered an eight-year global agreement with United World Wrestling, the sport's international governing body.[4]
Products
[edit]RUDIS produces wrestling-related products across several categories:
Wrestling footwear
[edit]- Wrestling shoes designed for training and competition.
Singlets
[edit]- Lightweight singlets intended for both competitive and practice settings.
Athletic apparel
[edit]- Hoodies, t-shirts, and training shorts.
Training accessories
[edit]- Equipment such as wrestling headgear, kneepads, and gear bags.
Custom team gear
[edit]- Personalized uniforms and team-branded merchandise including competition, training, and spirit wear.
Collaborations and Licensed Collections
[edit]RUDIS has released co-branded collections and licensed products in collaboration with entertainment properties and collegiate wrestling programs:
- Bloodsport x RUDIS – A wrestling-themed apparel line referencing the 1988 film Bloodsport.[5]
- Muhammad Ali Collection – Apparel and footwear released under license from the Muhammad Ali estate.[6]
- Rocky Collection – A licensed collection featuring gear inspired by the Rocky film franchise.[7]
- Ohio State Wrestling – Branded gear offered in association with the Ohio State University wrestling program.[8]
- Iowa State Wrestling – Apparel line produced in connection with the Iowa State University wrestling program.[9]
- USA Wrestling Team Ohio – Team-branded apparel created for athletes competing under the USA Wrestling Team Ohio designation.[citation needed]
Partnerships
[edit]RUDIS has formed official partnerships with national and regional wrestling organizations, supporting competition, athlete development, and community initiatives:
- USA Wrestling (2024–present): Multi-year apparel partnership with the U.S. national wrestling federation.[3]
- United World Wrestling (2025–2033): Global apparel agreement with wrestling's international governing body.[4]
- OHSAA (2024–present): RUDIS became the first title sponsor of the Ohio High School Athletic Association wrestling state tournament in 2024.[10]
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2015–present): RUDIS has been a preferred apparel provider for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, supporting events including Honors Weekend and supplying merchandise for gift shops.[11]
- Ohio Regional Training Center (Ohio RTC): RUDIS collaborates with Ohio RTC to offer co-branded apparel and support athlete development.[12]
- Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (Pennsylvania RTC): The company partners with Pennsylvania RTC to produce branded gear and support elite wrestler training.[13]
- Georgia USA Wrestling: RUDIS is listed as a sponsor for Georgia USA Wrestling, supporting youth and high school wrestling initiatives in the state.[14]
- Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club: RUDIS has collaborated with Sunkist Kids to launch fan gear and contribute to athlete support initiatives.[15]
- Ohio High School Athletic Association (2023–present): In February 2023, RUDIS became the first title sponsor of the OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament. The partnership included branding on custom mats, concourse booths, and athlete appearances during the event, which featured both boys' and inaugural girls' state tournaments.[16]
- USA Wrestling (2024–present): Multi-year apparel partnership with the U.S. national wrestling federation.[3]
- United World Wrestling (2025–2033): Global apparel agreement with wrestling's international governing body.[4]
Sponsorship
[edit]RUDIS sponsors several wrestlers, including Olympic and world-level athletes, through its Team RUDIS program.[17]
- Jordan Burroughs – In November 2023, Burroughs collaborated with RUDIS to launch a signature wrestling shoe known as the JB1.[18]
- Kyle Snyder – Signed an endorsement agreement with RUDIS in 2018 and later developed a signature shoe and apparel line.[19][20]
- Sarah Hildebrandt
- Kayla Miracle
- Kennedy Blades
- Spencer Lee – Signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreement with RUDIS in 2021.[21]
- Zain Retherford – Signed an endorsement deal in March 2022.[22]
- Bo Bassett – Publicly acknowledged his affiliation with Team RUDIS in a 2022 Facebook video.[23]
- Marcus Blaze
- Beka Melelashvili
- Korina Blades
- Nick Feldman
- Emily Shilson
Key people
[edit]- Jesse Leng – Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
References
[edit]- ^ "Nancy Schultz joins RUDIS as an equity partner". TheMat. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Rudis Creates Wrestling Icon Dave Schultz Apparel". LATF USA. 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ a b c "USA Wrestling announces a multi-year partnership with RUDIS". USA Wrestling. 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ a b c "UWW and RUDIS: Historic partnership to unite and elevate wrestling worldwide". United World Wrestling. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Rocky x RUDIS Collection". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Muhammad Ali Collection". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Rocky x RUDIS Collection". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Ohio Men's Collegiate Collection". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Iowa Men's Collegiate Collection". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "RUDIS Named First Title Sponsor of OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament". OHSAA. 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Cliff Keen and RUDIS Named Preferred Apparel Providers". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 2015. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Ohio RTC". Ohio Regional Training Center. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Pennsylvania RTC Collection". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Our Sponsors". Georgia USA Wrestling. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "RUDIS Launches Sunkist Kids Fan Gear". Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "RUDIS Named First Title Sponsor of OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament". Ohio High School Athletic Association. 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Team RUDIS Athletes". RUDIS. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "USA's Wrestling Icon Jordan Burroughs Excites Fans With His Collaboration With Industry Giants as Release Date Looms". EssentiallySports. 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ Eaton, Dan (2018-04-17). "Marysville wrestling apparel company signs deal with Kyle Snyder". Columbus Business First. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Evolution of Wrestling Shoes". FloWrestling. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Iowa wrestling's Spencer Lee signs NIL deals with Rudis, Ironside Apparel". USA Today. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Zain Retherford inks deal with RUDIS". FloWrestling. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Bo Bassett Facebook video – Team RUDIS announcement". Facebook. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
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