Independent Wrestling Federation (Russia)
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]
![]() | |
Native name | Независимая федерация реслинга |
---|---|
Type | Private |
Industry | Professional wrestling |
Founded | November 17, 2002 in Moscow, Russia |
Founder | Vadim Koryagin |
Headquarters | |
Area served | Russia |
Key people | Daniil Dmitriev (CEO) |
Products | Live events Television |
Website | wrestling |
From 2005 to 2010, IWF shows was aired on Russian national television on 7TV and Russian Extreme channels.[5]
History
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.
![](../I/Shane_mcmahon_nfr.jpg.webp)
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]
![](../I/%D0%9D%D0%A4%D0%A0_%E2%80%94_3_%D0%B8%D1%8E%D0%BD%D1%8F_2022_%E2%80%94%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2_%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE_%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%82%D0%B8.jpg.webp)
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]
School
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]
References
- "Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF)". CageMatch.net.
- ""Готовьтесь, будет много крови": как выглядит хардкорный реслинг в России" ["Get ready, there will be a lot of blood": what hardcore wrestling looks like in Russia]. NEWS.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- "Спорт, а не постановка. Популярные мифы и жестокая правда о реслинге" [The sport, not the show. Popular myths and brutal truths about wrestling]. EG.RU (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- "Московские рестлеры" [Moscow Wrestlers]. The Village (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- Михаил Кузнецов. ""Мы были на втором месте в рейтинге после «Диалогов о рыбалке". Чем сейчас живет реслинг в России" ["We were in second place in the ratings after "Dialogues about fishing". How wrestling lives in Russia now]. Match TV.
- Andey, Feoktistov (2013). "Конец аудиенции" [End of audience]. mognovse.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- Игорь Деменков (2022-01-17). ""Тут все готово для лютого месива". Репортаж из закулисья реслинга - Лайфстайл Onlíner" [It's all set for a hell of a mess. Backstage Wrestling Report]. Onlíner (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- ""По сценарию я должен был налить бензина в гроб и поджечь"" [The script was for me to pour gasoline into the coffin and set it on fire]. Журнал «Холод» (in Russian). 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- НФР. "НФР: 7300 дней независимости. Фильм о российском реслинге" [NFR: 7300 Days of Independence. Film about Russian wrestling] (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
- "НФР "Опасная Зона" №4" [IWF "Danger Zone" #4]. НФР: Независимая Федерация Реслинга (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- "Пробились с боем: в Москве прошел "Зимний бросок"" [Fighting our way through: Winter Slam took place in Moscow]. Известия (in Russian). 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- "Результаты шоу 2006" [Results of the 2006 shows] (in Russian). НФР: Независимая Федерация Реслинга. Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
- Красильников, Алексей (2012-09-16). "НФР: Реслиада 2012. Иван Марков vs Эль Дженерико II" [Wrestliad 2012. Ivan Markov vs El Generico II]. VSplanet.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- ユニオンプロレス "師走のユニオン2013" 12/11 新宿FACE大会その5 (in Japanese). extremeparty.heteml.net. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
- "Опасная Зона #82: НФР vs TNA" [Danger Zone # 82: IWF vs TNA]. VSplanet.net (in Russian). 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- "НФР: 20 лет про-реслинга в России". VSplanet (in Russian). 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- "НФР возвращается на телевидение на постоянной основе" (in Russian). 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- "Maid Cafe Pro Wrestling, Union's Russian Connection, Pink Kneel Kick". Dramatic DDT. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ""Спорт новой эры" Чемпион Антон Дерябин рассказал МОСЛЕНТЕ о прелестях настоящего русского реслинга". Мослента.
- "411MANIA". Natalia Markova Accuses Carmella Of Stealing Her Catchphrase, Says She Felt Disrespected. Retrieved 2022-08-18.