International Wrestling Federation


The International Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Northeastern United States from 1979 to 1996, when it was run by Killer Kowalski. The promotion was based in Reading, Massachusetts, with offices in Burlington, Vermont. It operated in conjunction with Kowalski's famed wrestling school in Malden, Massachusetts.

History and overview

Formation

The International Wrestling Federation was formed in 1979 by Killer Kowalski two years after starting his wrestling school, the Killer Kowalski Institute for Professional Wrestling, in Malden, Massachusetts. According to former student John Callahan, Kowalski decided to form his own group after an argument with Angelo Savoldi at the Boston Garden. The first championship titles were introduced in 1982 with Kowalski and The Executioners being billed as the first IWF Heavyweight and Tag Team Champions respectively. That same year, the IWF began airing a Sunday morning show, Bedlam from Boston, on the WXNE-TV. During this period, Kowalski partnered with Dominic DeNucci and Bruno Sammartino's "International Wrestling" group based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Territorial reach

Kowalski initially promoted shows in the Greater Boston Area but eventually toured throughout the Northeastern United States. IWF event tours also included high school gyms and fairs in cities throughout New England. Some of the promotion's regular towns included Andover, Bellingham, Billerica, Grafton, Middleboro, Norwood, Waltham, and Westford, Massachusetts. Kowalsi was able to promote IWF shows via his weekly column, "Killer's Corner", for the Boston Sunday Herald. The IWF relocated to Burlington, Vermont in the early-1990s but returned to the Boston area by November 2001.

Notable talent

The IWF featured many former World Wide Wrestling Federation stars during its early years including, most notably, Dominic DeNucci, Larry Zbyszko, The Haiti Kid and The Valiant Brothers. Bull Curry was the main "heel" wrestling manager before his death. Zbyszko's infamous WWWF feud with Bruno Sammartino spilled over into the IWF as he battled his former mentor's real-life son Bruno Sammartino Jr. in late 1982. Kowalski continued bringing in talent from the World Wrestling Federation when Vince McMahon Jr. took over his father's promotion in the 1980s.
The promotion showcased a number of wrestlers who were regulars in the northeast wrestling scene and was the birthplace of Paul Levesque, Perry Saturn and Chyna. Levesque, who had graduated from Kowalski's school at the top of his class, made his IWF debut in March 1992 defeating Tony Roy. Two months later, he won the organization's heavyweight title from Mad Dog Richard. Saturn, billed as "The Iron Horseman", won the IWF North American and Light Heavyweight Championship during the early 1990s. He also won the IWF Tag Team Championship with Levesque. Saturn met his future tag team partner John Kronus while working for the IWF and helped enroll him Kowalski's wrestling school. Brittany Brown was the longest reigning Women’s Champion, then Chyna won the IWF Ladies Championship from Violet Flame in the very late 1990s. "Giant" Ron Reis and The Renegade, as "Rio, Lord of the Jungle", found success in World Championship Wrestling.

World Wrestling Federation

Kowalski had a strong relationship with both Vince McMahon Sr. and his son Vince McMahon Jr.. His students regularly appeared on World Wrestling Federation television as preliminary wrestlers during the 1980s and 90s. His best known students - Triple H, Chyna and Perry Saturn - had prominent roles in the company during the Attitude Era.
The IWF later featured former WWF stars Demolition Ax, King Kong Bundy, Hercules, The Honky Tonk Man, The Mountie, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Jimmy Snuka, and Nikolai Volkoff. In December 1992, following his controversial departure from the WWF, The Ultimate Warrior wrestled Hercules at an IWF show in Billerica, Massachusetts. Then current WWF stars, such as Adam Bomb, Bob Backlund, Doink the Clown, King Kong Bundy and Hakushi, occasionally appeared at IWF events in the mid-1990s.

Demise

The IWF stopped holding regular shows after 1996 though Kowalski continued promoting under the "Killer Kowalski's All-Stars" banner for a few more years. In November 2001, the IWF took part in "Headlocks for Humanity", an American Red Cross benefit show for victims of the September 11th attacks, with Slyk Wagner Brown and CueBall representing the promotion. One of the IWF's last shows was held in Sutton, New Hampshire on November 2, 2002. Finally in 2003, health issues forced Kowalski to withdraw from both promoting and the wrestling school. Following his death in 2008, the Kowalski estate auctioned off IWF correspondence and other wrestling memorabilia from his career.

Alumni

;Male wrestlers
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes----
Mike Davis1994----
Ted Arcidi1988----
Mike Kelly1982----
Pat Kelly1982----
Bob Backlund1995–1996----
Jojo Andrews1982----
Ed Bonzo1982----
Mad Dog Richards1990–1995----
Steve Bolus1982----
Slyk Wagner Brown2002----
Nick Busick1982----
Richard Byrne1982
1993
1995		----
D.C. Dillinger2002----
John Kronus1994–1995----
John Callahan1982----
Tony Ulysses1990
1993
1995		----
El Mascarado1994----
Larry Winters1982----
Irish Mike McGee1982----
Adam Bomb1995----
Bad Billy Coleman1982----
Ricky Sexton1982----
Sean O'Reilly1985----
Dominic DeNucci1982----
Ronnie Dee / The Star Warrior1990
1994–1995		----
Kenn Phoenix----
Chris Duffy1988
1990
1992–1996		----
Jim Duggan1994----
Demolition Ax1993----
Eddie Edwards2002----
Billy Berger1982----
Robbie Ellis1988
1995		----
Fatu1996----
Jerry Johnson / Jerry Fazio1982----
Hercules1993----
The Honky Tonk Man1993----
Rudy Diamond1982----
Rick Fuller1995----
Scott Taylor1993
1995		----
Steve Grabowski1982----
The Dingo Warrior1993----
The Bulldozer1993–1996----
Jerry Valiant1982----
Mr. Hughes1994----
Isaac Yankem1996----
Rocky Jones1982----
Virgil1995----
Zoltan the Great1982----
The Outpatient1994–1996----
Killer Kowalski1982
1993		----
Terra Ryzing1992–1994----
Doink the Clown1995----
The Brooklyn Brawler / Doink the Clown1995–1996----
Tim McNeany1993–1996----
Tim O'Reilly1985
1990		----
Bushwhacker Butch1995----
Big John Studd1990----
Jim Neidhart1992----
Bob Orton, Jr.1988
1992		----
King Kong Bundy1995----
Nikolai Volkoff1994----
Man Mountain Rock1995----
Dan Petty1982
1985		----
Lanny Poffo1994----
Tim Reid1982----
Jimmy Snuka1993----
Ron Reis1994----
The Mountie1993----
Antoine Roy / Tony Roy1990–1996----
Bruno Sammartino Jr.1982----
The Iron Horseman / Perry Saturn1992–1995----
Giant David1982----
The Candyman1992–1993----
Iron Mike Sharpe1990----
Bastion Booger1995----
Ron Shaw1982----
Hakushi1995----
Rob Van Winkle1985
1988		----
Tito Santana1994–1995----
Johnny Valiant1982----
Concrete Cowboy1982----
The Warlord1994–1995----
Big Dan Vinal1992
2002		----
Nailz1993----
Brian Walsh1985
1995–1996		----
Whipper Watson Jr.1982----
Larry Zbyszko1982----
Bushwhacker Luke1995----
Rio, Lord of the Jungle1993----
The Beast1982----
Bill Wilcox1991----
Buddy Donovan1982----
Chief War Cloud1982----
Chris Grant1982----
Cueball2002----
Davey O'Hannon1982----
Freight Train Dan2002----
Greg Winston1982----
Gypsy Rodriguez1982----
Hans Schroeder1982----
Jack Buford1982----
James Cody / Kid Delicious1996----
Jamie Pain2002----
Jeff Craney1982----
Jeff Roberts2002----
John Bonello1982----
John Sullivan2002----
Manuel Soto1982----
Mike Hollow1994–1996----
Mike Madison1982Mike "Jethro" Chambers1982
The Mongolian1982----
Nemesis2002----
Richie Rich----
Ron Lee1982----
Rush2002----
Russian Mauler1994
1996		----
Snooky Fink1994–1996----
Steve Hart1995----
Steve King / The Arctic Angel1994–1995----
The Stormtrooper1994–1995----
Tre the Smooth Operator1993–1996
2002		Bruce SerafinBruce Battalia/The Designated Hitter

;Female wrestlers
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes----
Violet Flame1995----
Rosebud1990
1993		----
April Hunter2002----
Linda Dallas1988----
Joanie Lee1996----
Ramblin' Rose1990–1995----
Nikki Roxx2002----
Misty Blue Simmes1985
1988		----
Debbie Combs1982----
Amanda Storm----
Alexa Starr1994----
Brittany Brown1990
1992–1999		----
Crystal Blue1994----
Donna Day1982----
Jamie West1992–1996----
Rain Drop1996Lady Liberty aka Nikki Moccia2009

;Midget wrestlers
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes
The Haiti Kid1982
Dana Carpenter1985
1998
Little Boy Blue1982
Tiny the Terrible1996
Little Louie1985
1994–1998
Irish Leprechaun1988
1999
Mighty Doom1994
Little Leopard1994

;Stables and tag teams
Tag team/StableMembersTenure
The BushwhackersBushwhacker Butch and Bushwhacker Luke1995
The EliminatorsPerry Saturn and John Kronus1994–1995
The Kelly TwinsMike Kelly and Pat Kelly1982
The MutilatorsJamie Pain and Nemesis2002
The Soul BrothersTony Ulysses and Chris Grant
The Valiant BrothersJerry Valiant and Johnny Valiant1982

;Managers and valets
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes
Dink1995
Bull Curry1982
The Bug1994
1996
Big John Studd1994
John Rodeo1995–1996
Professor Eugene Bickell1995–1996
Vito Carlucci1995

;Commentators and interviewers
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes
Chris Claussen1982Bedlam from Boston announcer
Stephen Driscoll1982Ring announcer
Bedlam from Boston on-air talent
Mel Simons1982–1999Ring announcer
Bedlam from Boston on-air talent

;Referees
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes
Matt Cail
Gary McCarthy
Fred SpartaHead referee

;Other personnel
Birth name:Ring name:Tenure:Notes
Killer Kowalski1979–1996Promoter
Don LiableHead of publicity
Official photographer

Championships

;Key
ReignThe reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed
EventThe event promoted by the respective promotion in which the titles were won
N/AThe specific information is not known
—Used for vacated reigns so as not to count it as an official reign
Indicates that a title change took place "no later than" the date listed.
Indicates that there was a period where the lineage is undocumented due to the lack of written documentation

IWF Heavyweight Championship

IWF Tag Team Championship

IWF North American Championship

IWF Light Heavyweight Championship

IWF Ladies Championship

Footnotes