International Wrestling Federation
The International Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the New England area of the 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 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 the early 1980s 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 in 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 |
| Michael Davis | Mike Davis | 1994 | |
| Ted Arcidi | 1988 | ||
| Mike Kelly | 1982 | ||
| Pat Kelly | 1982 | ||
| Bob Backlund | 1995–1996 | ||
| Jojo Andrews | 1982 | ||
| Ed Bonzo | 1982 | ||
| Mad Dog Richard | 1990–1995 | ||
| Matt Bloom | The Mongolian | 1998 | |
| Steve Bolus | 1982 | ||
| Slyk Wagner Brown | 2002 | ||
| Nick Busick | 1982 | ||
| "Superstar" Richard Byrne / The Russian Mauler | 1982 1993 1995 | ||
| D.C. Dillinger | 2002 | ||
| The Eliminator / John Kronus | 1994–1995 | ||
| John Callahan | 1982 | ||
| Tony Ulysses | 1990 1993 1995 | ||
| El Mascarado | 1994 | ||
| Larry Winters | 1982 | ||
| Irish Mike McGee | 1982 | ||
| Adam Bomb | 1995 | ||
| Bad Billy Coleman | 1982 | ||
| Jeremy Cotter | The Outpatient | 1994–1996 | |
| Ricky Sexton | 1982 | ||
| Sean O'Reilly | 1985 | ||
| Dominic DeNucci | 1982 | ||
| Darren DiCenso | Snooky Fink / Rain Drop | 1993–1996 | |
| Ronnie Dee / The Star Warrior | 1990 1994–1995 | ||
| Kenn Phoenix | |||
| Chris Duffy | 1988- 1996 | ||
| Jim Duggan | 1994 | ||
| Kevin Smyth | Irish Kevin Shaughnessy | 1979–1982 | |
| Demolition Ax | 1993 | ||
| Eddie Edwards | 2002 | ||
| Billy Berger | 1982 | ||
| Robbie Ellis | 1988 1995 | ||
| Fatu | 1996 | ||
| Jerry Johnson / Jerry Fazio | 1982 | ||
| Hercules | 1993 | ||
| Wayne Farris | The Honky Tonk Man | 1993 | |
| Rudy Diamond | 1982 | ||
| Rick Fuller | 1995 | ||
| Scott Taylor | 1993 1995 | ||
| Steve Grabowski | 1982 | ||
| The Dingo Warrior | 1993 | ||
| The Bulldozer / Bull Dozer | 1993–1996 | ||
| Jerry Valiant | 1982 | ||
| Michael Hollow | "All-American" Mike Hollow / Mike Harlow | 1994–1998 | |
| Mr. Hughes | 1994 | ||
| Isaac Yankem, D.D.S. | 1996 | ||
| Rocky Jones | 1982 | ||
| Virgil | 1995 | ||
| Zoltan the Great | 1982 | ||
| Steven King | Steve King / Phoenix King / Steve Hart / Stephan Roy / Arctic Angel | 1993–1999 | |
| Killer Kowalski | 1982 1993 | ||
| Terra Ryzing | 1992–1994 | ||
| Doink the Clown | 1995 | ||
| The Brooklyn Brawler / Doink the Clown | 1995–1996 | ||
| James McCarthy | James Cody / Jim Cote / Kid Delicious | 1995-1999 | |
| Tim McNeany / Doink the Clown | 1993–1996 | ||
| Tim O'Reilly | 1985 1990 | ||
| Bushwhacker Butch | 1995 | ||
| Big John Studd | 1990 | ||
| Jim Neidhart | 1992 | ||
| Bob Orton, Jr. | 1988 1992 | ||
| Tom O'Sullivan | Tom O'Sullivan | ||
| Dan Ouellete | Freight Train Dan / Freightrain | 1995–2002 | |
| King Kong Bundy | 1995 | ||
| Nikolai Volkoff | 1994 | ||
| Man Mountain Rock | 1995 | ||
| Dan Petty | 1982 1985 | ||
| Lanny Poffo | 1994 | ||
| Tim Reid | 1982 | ||
| Jimmy Snuka | 1993 | ||
| "Giant" Ron Reis | 1994 | ||
| The Mountie | 1993 | ||
| Raymond Roy | The Stormtrooper | 1994–1995 | |
| Antoine Roy / Tony Roy | 1990–1996 | ||
| Bruno Sammartino Jr. | 1982 | ||
| The Iron Horseman / Perry Saturn | 1992–1995 | ||
| Giant David | 1982 | ||
| The Candyman | 1992–1993 | ||
| Iron Mike Sharpe | 1990 | ||
| Bastion Booger | 1995 | ||
| Ron Shaw | 1982 | ||
| Hakushi | 1995 | ||
| Rob Van Winkle / Mark Lombardi | 1985 1988 1992 | ||
| Tito Santana | 1994–1995 | ||
| Johnny Valiant | 1982 | ||
| Concrete Cowboy | 1982 | ||
| The Warlord | 1994–1995 | ||
| Big Dan Vinal | 1985-2002 | ||
| Nailz | 1993 | ||
| Brian Walsh | 1985 1995–1996 | ||
| Whipper Watson Jr. | 1982 | ||
| Larry Zbyszko | 1982 | ||
| Bushwhacker Luke | 1995 | ||
| Rio, Lord of the Jungle | 1993 | ||
| The Beast | 1982 | ||
| Bill Wilcox | 1991 | ||
| Unknown | Brian Bugle | ||
| Buddy Donovan | 1982 | ||
| Chief War Cloud | 1982 | ||
| Chris Grant | 1982 | ||
| Cueball | 2002 | ||
| Davey O'Hannon | 1982 | ||
| Unknown | Freight Train Fulton | 1992 | |
| Greg Winston | 1982 | ||
| Gypsy Rodriguez | 1982 | ||
| Hans Schroeder | 1982 | ||
| Jack Buford | 1982 | ||
| Jamie Pain | 2002 | ||
| Unknown | Jed Skreem | 1994 | |
| Jeff Craney | 1982 | ||
| Jeff Roberts | 2002 | ||
| John Bonello | 1982 | ||
| John Sullivan | 2002 | ||
| Manuel Soto | 1982 | ||
| Mike Madison | 1982 | ||
| Dangerous Dave Star | 1984-1989 | ||
| Mike "Jethro" Chambers | 1982 | ||
| Nemesis | 2002 | ||
| Richie Rich | |||
| Ron Lee | 1982 | ||
| Rush | 2002 | ||
| The Smooth Operator / Tre, The Smooth Operating Gangsta | 1993–1996 2002 | ||
| Ultimate Hater | 2002 |
;Female wrestlers
| Birth name: | Ring name: | Tenure: | Notes |
| Violet Flame / Rita Book | 1995 | ||
| Rosebud | 1990 1993 | ||
| April Hunter | 2002 | ||
| Linda Dallas | 1988 | ||
| Malia Hosaka | Malia Hosaka | 1995 | |
| Joanie Lee | 1996 | ||
| Ramblin' Rose | 1990–1995 | ||
| Nikki Roxx | 2002 | ||
| Misty Blue Simmes | 1985 1988 | ||
| Debbie Combs | 1982 | ||
| Amanda Storm Blackwidow | 2000–2001 | ||
| Alexa Starr | 1994 | ||
| Brittany Brown | 1990-2003 | ||
| Crystal Blue | 1994 | ||
| Donna Day | 1982 | ||
| Jamie West | 1992–1996 | ||
| Tammy West | 1994 |
;Midget wrestlers
| Birth name: | Ring name: | Tenure: | Notes |
| The Haiti Kid | 1982 | ||
| Irish Leprechaun | 1988 1996 1999 | ||
| Dana Carpenter | 1985 1988 | ||
| Little Boy Blue | 1982 | ||
| Tiny the Terrible | 1996 | ||
| Louis Waterhouse | Little Louie | 1985 1994–1998 | |
| Mighty Doom | 1994 | ||
| Little Leopard | 1994 |
;Stables and tag teams
| Tag team/Stable | Members | Tenure |
| The Arc Angels | Phoenix King and Damon D'Arcangelo | 1998 |
| The Bushwhackers | Bushwhacker Butch and Bushwhacker Luke | 1995 |
| The Eliminators | Perry Saturn and John Kronus | 1994–1995 |
| The Kelly Twins | Mike Kelly and Pat Kelly | 1982 |
| The Mutilators | Jamie Pain and Nemesis | 2002 |
| The Soul Brothers | Tony Ulysses and Chris Grant | |
| The Valiant Brothers | Jerry Valiant and Johnny Valiant | 1982 |
;Managers and valets
| Birth name: | Ring name: | Tenure: | Notes |
| Barry Atwood | The Court Jester | 1992 | |
| Dink | 1995 | ||
| Bull Curry | 1982 | ||
| The Bug | 1994 1996 | ||
| Mr. Ego-Trip Ian Foxx | 1990 1993 | ||
| Big John Studd | 1994 | ||
| John Rodeo | 1993–1998 | ||
| Professor Eugene Bickell | 1995–1996 | ||
| Vito Carlucci | 1995 |
;Commentators and interviewers
| Birth name: | Ring name: | Tenure: | Notes |
| Chris Claussen | 1982 | Bedlam from Boston announcer | |
| Stephen Driscoll | 1982 | Ring announcer Bedlam from Boston on-air talent | |
| Mel Simons | 1982–1999 | Ring announcer Bedlam from Boston on-air talent |
;Referees
| Birth name: | Ring name: | Tenure: | Notes |
| Matt Cail | |||
| Richard Lannon | Richard Lannon | ||
| Gary McCarthy | |||
| Fred Sparta | Head referee |
;Other personnel
| Birth name: | Ring name: | Tenure: | Notes |
| Killer Kowalski | 1979–1996 | Promoter | |
| Don Liable | Head of publicity Official photographer |