Native name | Независимая федерация реслинга |
---|---|
Company type | Private |
Industry | Professional wrestling |
Founded | November 17, 2002Moscow, Russia | in
Founder | Vadim Koryagin |
Headquarters | |
Area served | Russia |
Key people | Daniil Dmitriev (CEO) |
Products | Live events Television |
Website | wrestling |
Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF, Russian: Независимая федерация реслинга (НФР)) is a professional wrestling promotion based in Moscow, Russia.[1] The promotion was founded by Vadim Koryagin in 2002.[2] IWF is the first and longest-running promotion in Russia. IWF has held over 200 shows,[3] mostly in Moscow. On average, the shows are attended by 100-150 spectators.[4]
From 2005 to 2010, IWF shows was aired on Russian national television on 7TV and Russian Extreme channels.[5]
The first attempt to launch professional wrestling in Russia was the rWo (Russian World Order or Russian Wrestling Organization) project. In 2001, a group of enthusiasts from various cities in Russia and the CIS launched a website and a mailing list, the purpose was to find and unite wrestling fans, study the moves and techniques, and further conduct wrestling shows. The initiative ended only with backyard wrestling.[6]
The promotion was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Vadim Koryagin, who got to know professional wrestling while living in Canada and was trained at Camp Martell Wrestling School.[7][8] The organization was founded on the basis of the sports-artistic wrestling section, located in Kapotnya, Moscow. The first training took place on June 20, 2002. The first show The Zone of Physical Punishment was held on November 17, 2002.[9] Six men (Artur Nurmukhametov, Rock'n'Roll Rebel (Vadim Koryagin), Moscow Terminator, Max Krimi, and two rWo members - Knyaz and Russian Size) and two women (Vita and Tera) performed at the show. Moscow Terminator became inaugural IWF Champion and Vita became inaugural IWF Girls Champion.[6]
Since 2003, IWF has held monthly live event shows Danger Zone.[1] The first show outside of Moscow took place on August 9, 2004, in Korolyov, near Moscow, at Vympel Stadium in the open air, with an extremely low attendance.[10]
From November 2005 to December 2006, the show Danger Zone was broadcast on national television on 7TV channel.[11] From May 2007 to the end of 2007 on Russian Extreme TV channel, and from May 2008 to April 2010 again on 7TV.[5]
Since 2005, the IWF has been hosting Wrestliada show, with foreign professional wrestlers as guests.
On November 13, 2006, Shane McMahon attended the IWF show.[12]
In 2011, Vadim Koryagin moved to Singapore and opened the Singapore Pro Wrestling. Daniil Dmitriev, who also performs in the ring as a referee, became the head of IWF.[7]
At Wrestliada 2012 Ivan Markov defeated El Generico in the main event.[13]
At the Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) pay-per-view Shiwasu no Union 2013 Ivan Markov defeated Shuji Ishikawa in a decision match to become inaugural Union Pro Max champion.[14]
On February 15, 2014, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Zema Ion, Extreme Tiger and Sonjay Dutt took part in the Danger Zone #82: IWF vs. TNA show in Moscow.[15]
On November 20, Victor Zangiev was a guest on the Independent Wrestling Federation's "20 Years of Pro Wrestling in Russia" anniversary show. Zangiev interfered in the main event of the show and held Ronnie Crimson a belly-to-belly suplex and then locked him in a knee backbreaker lock.[16]
As of 2022, the IWF produces a weekly Punch show on its YouTube channel and hosts several live events a year.
On October 1, 2023, National Pro-Wrestling will be taped, which will be an exclusive for the TV channel Match! Fighter, IWF returns to Russian national television on a permanent basis after 13 years.[17]
The IWF Wrestling School has been in operation since 2002. Talent and IWF alumni perform on the independent scene in Europe and Asia.[18][19] IWF alumna Natalia Markova has had the most international success, performing in independent companies in the United States, including the National Wrestling Alliance.[20]