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]

This article is about the Russian wrestling promotion. For wrestling promotion based in New Jersey, USA, see Independent Wrestling Federation.
Independent Wrestling Federation
Native name
Независимая федерация реслинга
TypePrivate
IndustryProfessional wrestling
FoundedNovember 17, 2002 (2002-11-17) in Moscow, Russia
FounderVadim Koryagin
Headquarters
Moscow, Russia
Area served
Russia
Key people
Daniil Dmitriev
(CEO)
ProductsLive events
Television
Websitewrestling.moscow

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.

Shane McMahon on the IWF show, November 13, 2006

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]

Alexander vs. Angelo Moretti at the IWF President's Cup show, June 3, 2023

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
  1. "Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF)". CageMatch.net.
  2. ""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.
  3. "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.
  4. "Московские рестлеры" [Moscow Wrestlers]. The Village (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  5. 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.
  6. Andey, Feoktistov (2013). "Конец аудиенции" [End of audience]. mognovse.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  7. 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.
  8. ""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.
  9. НФР. "НФР: 7300 дней независимости. Фильм о российском реслинге" [NFR: 7300 Days of Independence. Film about Russian wrestling] (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  10. "НФР "Опасная Зона" №4" [IWF "Danger Zone" #4]. НФР: Независимая Федерация Реслинга (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  11. "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.
  12. "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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. "Опасная Зона #82: НФР vs TNA" [Danger Zone # 82: IWF vs TNA]. VSplanet.net (in Russian). 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  16. "НФР: 20 лет про-реслинга в России". VSplanet (in Russian). 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  17. "НФР возвращается на телевидение на постоянной основе" (in Russian). 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  18. "Maid Cafe Pro Wrestling, Union's Russian Connection, Pink Kneel Kick". Dramatic DDT. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  19. ""Спорт новой эры" Чемпион Антон Дерябин рассказал МОСЛЕНТЕ о прелестях настоящего русского реслинга". Мослента.
  20. "411MANIA". Natalia Markova Accuses Carmella Of Stealing Her Catchphrase, Says She Felt Disrespected. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
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