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. 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. 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. 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. From November 2005 to December 2006, the show Danger Zone was broadcast on national television on
7TV channel. From May 2007 to the end of 2007 on Russian Extreme TV channel, and from May 2008 to April 2010 again on 7TV. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
School The IWF Wrestling School has been in operation since 2002. Talent and IWF alumni perform on the independent scene in Europe and Asia. IWF alumna
Natalia Markova has had the most international success, performing in independent companies in the United States, including the
National Wrestling Alliance. == References ==