# International Wrestling Federation

The International Wrestling Federation (IWF, also known as Killer Kowalski's All-Stars) 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 (Jerry Valiant and Johnny Valiant). 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 (then known as Terra Ryzing), 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 (12 years), then Chyna (Joanie Lee) 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 (many of whom IWF stars) 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 (appearing under his old "Dingo Warrior" ring name) 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 (managed by April Hunter) 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(s): | Tenure: |
| Michael Davis | Mike Davis | 1994 |
| Theodore Arcidi | Ted Arcidi | 1988 |
| Victor Arko | Mike Kelly | 1982 |
| William Arko | Pat Kelly | 1982 |
| Robert Backlund | Bob Backlund | 1995–1996 |
| Jimmie Banks | Jojo Andrews | 1982 |
| Edward Bazzaza | Ed Bonzo | 1982 |
| Richard Beauchamp | Mad Dog Richard | 1990–1995 |
| Matt Bloom | The Mongolian | 1998 |
| Steve Bolus | Steve Bolus | 1982 |
| Wagner Brown | Slyk Wagner Brown | 2002 |
| Nick Busick | Nick Busick | 1982 |
| Richard Byrne | "Superstar" Richard Byrne / The Russian Mauler | 1982 1993 1995 |
| David Cahill | D.C. Dillinger | 2002 |
| George Caiazzo | The Eliminator / John Kronus | 1994–1995 |
| John Callahan | John Callahan | 1982 |
| Preston Carrington | Tony Ulysses | 1990 1993 1995 |
| Bert Centeno | El Mascarado | 1994 |
| John Charyszyn | Larry Winters | 1982 |
| Michael Chrosniak | Irish Mike McGee | 1982 |
| Bryan Clark | Adam Bomb | 1995 |
| William Coleman | Bad Billy Coleman | 1982 |
| Jeremy Cotter | The Outpatient | 1994–1996 |
| Richard Creasia | Ricky Sexton | 1982 |
| William DeCoff | Sean O'Reilly | 1985 |
| Dominic DeNucci | Dominic DeNucci | 1982 |
| Darren DiCenso | Snooky Fink / Rain Drop | 1993–1996 |
| Ron DiMaria | Ronnie Dee / The Star Warrior | 1990 1994–1995 |
| Kenneth Doane Jr. | Kenn Phoenix | |
| Christopher Duffy | Chris Duffy | 1988- 1996 |
| James Duggan Jr. | Jim Duggan | 1994 |
| Kevin Smyth | Irish Kevin Shaughnessy | 1979–1982 |
| Bill Eadie | Demolition Ax | 1993 |
| Eric Maher | Eddie Edwards | 2002 |
| William Eichenberger | Billy Berger | 1982 |
| Robert Elowitch | Robbie Ellis | 1988 1995 |
| Solofa Fatu, Jr. | Fatu | 1996 |
| Gerard Fazio | Jerry Johnson / Jerry Fazio | 1982 |
| Raymond Fernandez | Hercules | 1993 |
| Wayne Farris | The Honky Tonk Man | 1993 |
| Rudolph Freed | Rudy Diamond | 1982 |
| Richard Fuller | Rick Fuller | 1995 |
| Scott Garland | Scott Taylor | 1993 1995 |
| Steven Grabowski | Steve Grabowski | 1982 |
| James Hellwig | The Dingo Warrior | 1993 |
| Derek Higbee | The Bulldozer / Bull Dozer | 1993–1996 |
| John Hill | Jerry Valiant | 1982 |
| Michael Hollow | "All-American" Mike Hollow / Mike Harlow | 1994–1998 |
| Curtis Hughes | Mr. Hughes | 1994 |
| Glenn Jacobs | Isaac Yankem, D.D.S. | 1996 |
| Michael Jones | Rocky Jones | 1982 |
| Michael Jones | Virgil | 1995 |
| Ken Jugan | Zoltan the Great | 1982 |
| Steven King | Steve King / Phoenix King / Steve Hart / Stephan Roy / Arctic Angel | 1993–1999 |
| Walter Kowalski | Killer Kowalski | 1982 1993 |
| Paul Levesque | Terra Ryzing | 1992–1994 |
| Ray Licameli | Doink the Clown | 1995 |
| Steve Lombardi | The Brooklyn Brawler / Doink the Clown | 1995–1996 |
| James McCarthy | James Cody / Jim Cote / Kid Delicious | 1995-1999 |
| Timothy McNeany | Tim McNeany / Doink the Clown | 1993–1996 |
| Joe Meagher | Tim O'Reilly | 1985 1990 |
| Robert Miller | Bushwhacker Butch | 1995 |
| John Minton | Big John Studd | 1990 |
| James Neidhart | Jim Neidhart | 1992 |
| Robert Orton Jr. | Bob Orton, Jr. | 1988 1992 |
| Tom O'Sullivan | Tom O'Sullivan | |
| Dan Ouellete | Freight Train Dan / Freightrain | 1995–2002 |
| Christoper Pallies | King Kong Bundy | 1995 |
| Josip Peruzovic | Nikolai Volkoff | 1994 |
| Darryl Peterson | Man Mountain Rock | 1995 |
| Dan Pettiglio | Dan Petty | 1982 1985 |
| Lanny Poffo | Lanny Poffo | 1994 |
| Timothy Reid | Tim Reid | 1982 |
| James Reiher | Jimmy Snuka | 1993 |
| Ron Reis | "Giant" Ron Reis | 1994 |
| Jacques Rougeau Jr. | The Mountie | 1993 |
| Raymond Roy | The Stormtrooper | 1994–1995 |
| Tony Roy | Antoine Roy / Tony Roy | 1990–1996 |
| David Sammartino | Bruno Sammartino Jr. | 1982 |
| Perry Satullo | The Iron Horseman / Perry Saturn | 1992–1995 |
| Scott L. Schwartz | Giant David | 1982 |
| Jerry Seavey | The Candyman | 1992–1993 |
| Michael Sharpe Jr. | Iron Mike Sharpe | 1990 |
| Michael Shaw | Bastion Booger | 1995 |
| Ronald Shaw | Ron Shaw | 1982 |
| Kensuke Shinzaki | Hakushi | 1995 |
| Robert Shoup | Rob Van Winkle / Mark Lombardi | 1985 1988 1992 |
| Merced Solis | Tito Santana | 1994–1995 |
| John Sullivan | Johnny Valiant | 1982 |
| Paul Swanger | Concrete Cowboy | 1982 |
| Terry Szopinski | The Warlord | 1994–1995 |
| Dan Vinal | Big Dan Vinal | 1985-2002 |
| Kevin Wacholz | Nailz | 1993 |
| Brian Walsh | Brian Walsh | 1985 1995–1996 |
| Phil Watson | Whipper Watson Jr. | 1982 |
| Lawrence Whistler | Larry Zbyszko | 1982 |
| Brian Wickens | Bushwhacker Luke | 1995 |
| Richard Williams | Rio, Lord of the Jungle | 1993 |
| Unknown | The Beast | 1982 |
| Unknown | Bill Wilcox | 1991 |
| Unknown | Brian Bugle | |
| Unknown | Buddy Donovan | 1982 |
| Unknown | Chief War Cloud | 1982 |
| Unknown | Chris Grant | 1982 |
| Unknown | Cueball | 2002 |
| Unknown | Davey O'Hannon | 1982 |
| Unknown | Freight Train Fulton | 1992 |
| Unknown | Greg Winston | 1982 |
| Unknown | Gypsy Rodriguez | 1982 |
| Unknown | Hans Schroeder | 1982 |
| Unknown | Jack Buford | 1982 |
| Unknown | Jamie Pain | 2002 |
| Unknown | Jed Skreem | 1994 |
| Unknown | Jeff Craney | 1982 |
| Unknown | Jeff Roberts | 2002 |
| Unknown | John Bonello | 1982 |
| Unknown | John Sullivan | 2002 |
| Unknown | Manuel Soto | 1982 |
| Unknown | Mike Madison | 1982 |
| Unknown | Dangerous Dave Star | 1984-1989 |
| Unknown | Mike "Jethro" Chambers | 1982 |
| Unknown | Nemesis | 2002 |
| Unknown | Richie Rich | |
| Unknown | Ron Lee | 1982 |
| Unknown | Rush | 2002 |
| Unknown | The Smooth Operator / Tre, The Smooth Operating Gangsta | 1993–1996 2002 |
| Unknown | Ultimate Hater | 2002 |

### Female wrestlers

| Birth name: | Ring name(s): | Tenure: |
| Theresa Best | Violet Flame / Rita Book | 1995 |
| Dawn Francis | Rosebud | 1990 1993 |
| April Hunter | April Hunter | 2002 |
| Linda Joaquin | Linda Dallas | 1988 |
| Malia Hosaka | Malia Hosaka | 1995 |
| Joan Laurer | Joanie Lee | 1996 |
| Amy Nicoletti | Ramblin' Rose | 1990–1995 |
| Nicole Raczynski | Nikki Roxx | 2002 |
| Diane Syms | Misty Blue Simmes | 1985 1988 |
| Debbie Szostecki | Debbie Combs | 1982 |
| Alexandra Whitney | Amanda Storm Blackwidow | 2000–2001 |
| Unknown | Alexa Starr | 1994 |
| Unknown | Brittany Brown | 1990-2003 |
| Unknown | Crystal Blue | 1994 |
| Unknown | Donna Day | 1982 |
| Unknown | Jamie West | 1992–1996 |
| Unknown | Tammy West | 1994 |

### Midget wrestlers

| Birth name: | Ring name(s): | Tenure: |
| Raymond Kessler | The Haiti Kid | 1982 |
| Jeffrey Ludy | Irish Leprechaun | 1988 1996 1999 |
| Dana Magazu | Dana Carpenter | 1985 1988 |
| Roger Tomlin | Little Boy Blue | 1982 |
| Douglas Tunstall Jr. | Tiny the Terrible | 1996 |
| Louis Waterhouse | Little Louie | 1985 1994–1998 |
| Unknown | Mighty Doom | 1994 |
| Unknown | Little Leopard | 1994 |

### Stables and tag teams

| Tag team/Stable(s) | Members | Tenure(s) |
| 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(s): | Tenure: |
| Barry Atwood | The Court Jester | 1992 |
| Claude Giroux | Dink | 1995 |
| Fred Koury Sr. | Bull Curry | 1982 |
| Don Liable | The Bug | 1994 1996 |
| Kevin Smyth | Mr. Ego-Trip Ian Foxx | 1990 1993 |
| John Minton | Big John Studd | 1994 |
| Unknown | John Rodeo | 1993–1998 |
| Unknown | Professor Eugene Bickell | 1995–1996 |
| Unknown | Vito Carlucci | 1995 |

### Commentators and interviewers

| Birth name: | Ring name(s): | Tenure: | Notes |
| Chris Claussen | Chris Claussen | 1982 | Bedlam from Boston announcer |
| Stephen Driscoll | Stephen Driscoll | 1982 | Ring announcer Bedlam from Boston on-air talent |
| Mel Simons | Mel Simons | 1982–1999 | Ring announcer Bedlam from Boston on-air talent |

### Referees

| Birth name: | Ring name(s): | Notes |
| Matt Cail | Matt Cail | |
| Richard Lannon | Richard Lannon | |
| Gary McCarthy | Gary McCarthy | |
| Fred Sparta | Fred Sparta | Head referee |

### Other personnel

| Birth name: | Ring name(s): | Tenure: | Notes |
| Walter Kowalski | Killer Kowalski | 1979–1996 | Promoter |
| Don Liable | Don Liable | | Head of publicity Official photographer |
Company name to Year :
| Company name: | Years: |
| International Wrestling Federation | 1979–1996 |
| Killer Kowalski's All Stars | 2002 |
| Notes ||
| $^†$ ^ Indicates they are deceased. ||
| $^‡$ ^ Indicates they died while they were employed with . ||
| $^{WWF}$ ^ Indicates they were part of a talent exchange with the World Wrestling Federation. ||

## Championships
### Key

| Reign | The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed |
| Event | The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the titles were won |
| N/A | The specific information is not known |
| — | Used for vacated reigns so as not to count it as an official reign |
| (n) | 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

| No. | Champion | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes |
| 1 | Killer Kowalski | 1 | 1982 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 2 | Bryan Walsh | 1 | N/A | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 3 | Chris Duffy | 1 | 1986 | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 4 | Chris Duffy | 2 | 1987 | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 5 | Ronnie Dee | 1 | N/A | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 6 | Mad Dog Richard | 1 | June, 1991 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 7 | Terra Ryzing | 1 | March 27, 1993 | N/A | Middleboro, Massachusetts | Live event | |
| — | Vacated | — | March 12, 1994 | — | N/A | N/A | Championship vacated upon signing a contract with World Championship Wrestling |
| 8 | Tony Roy | 1 | October, 1994 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 9 | Big Dan Vinal | 2 | November 2002 | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |

### IWF Tag Team Championship

| No. | Champions | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event |
| 1 | The Executioners (Executioner #1 and Executioner #2) | 1 | 1981 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |
| 2 | David Byrne and Danny Pettiglio | 1 | March, 1981 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |
| 3 | The Executioners (Executioner #1 and Executioner #2) | 2 | 1982 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |
| 4 | Richard Byrne and Dan Petty | 2 | 1982 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |
| 5 | Executioner #1 and Johnny Valiant | 1 | 1982 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |

### IWF North American Championship

| No. | Champion | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes | Ref. |
| 1 | The Iron Horseman | 1 | March, 1994 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event | | |
| 2 | Tony Roy | 1 | March, 1995 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event | | |

### IWF Light Heavyweight Championship

| No. | Champion | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event |
| 1 | Bill Wilcox | 1 | December, 1991 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |
| 2 | The Iron Horseman | 1 | December 6, 1991 | N/A | Andover, Massachusetts | Live event |
| 3 | Tony Ulysses | 1 | January, 1993 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event |
| 4 | The Iron Horseman | 2 | January 8, 1993 | N/A | Billerica, Massachusetts | Live event |

### IWF Northeast Heavyweight Championship

| No. | Champion | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes | Ref. |
| 1 | Kevin Shaughnessy (Kevin Smyth) | 1 | June, 1984 (n) | Retired Title 1985 | Holyoke, Massachusetts | Live event | | |

### IWF Ladies Championship

| No. | Champion | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes |
| 1 | Nickie Ryan | 1 | N/A | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 2 | Linda Dallas | 1 | February 28, 1985 | 30 | Boston, Massachusetts | Live event | |
| 3 | Misty Blue Simmes | 1 | March 30, 1985 | N/A | N/A | Live event | |
| 4 | Kat Leroux | 1 | 1987 | N/A | N/A | Live event | |
| 5 | Misty Blue Simmes | 2 | 1987 | N/A | N/A | Live event | Also holds the NWA United States Women's Championship |
| 6 | Babyface Nellie | 1 | December 17, 1991 | N/A | N/A | Live event | |
| 7 | Brittany Brown | 1 | January 17, 1992 | N/A | Hanover, Massachusetts | Live event | |
| 8 | Violet Flame | 1 | January, 1996 (n) | N/A | Unknown | Live event | |
| 9 | Joanie Lee | 1 | September 28, 1996 | N/A | Salem, New Hampshire | Live event | |
| 10 | Blakwidow | 1 | June, 2001 (n) | N/A | N/A | Live event | |

## Footnotes

* ↑ Documentation of the specific date of a title change is not found but documentation of the champion holding the title on that date/in that period.