Millennium Wrestling Federation The Millennium Wrestling Federation ( MWF ) is a New England independent professional wrestling promotion based in Melrose , Massachusetts . Founded in January 2001 by promoters Dan Mirade & Neil Manolian , the MWF is one of the top promotions in the Northeastern United States along with Chaotic Wrestling , New England Championship Wrestling and Yankee Pro Wrestling . Among the wrestlers who have appeared in the promotion include independent wrestlers Abyss , A . J . Styles , Kofi Kingston , Joey Mercury , Antonio Thomas , Chris Sabin , Alex Shelley , Rick Fuller , Homicide , and " Hurricane " John Walters . Due to its close working relationship with World Wrestling Entertainment , the promotion is one of several on the independent circuit to regularly feature a large number of former World Wrestling Federation veterans including " Road Dog " Jesse James Armstrong , Scotty 2 Hotty , Al Snow , Kamala , Demolition ( Ax and Smash ) and MWF President Paul Bearer . Former WWF World Heavyweight Champion The Iron Sheik served as MWF Lt . Commissioner . Others who have also made appearances include The Missing Link , Bob Orton , Jr . and Ox Baker . John Cena , Sr . , the father of multi - time World Heavyweight Champion John Cena , took control of the promotion in September 2007 after buying out Chairman Neil Manolian ' s partial stock in the company . Cena became MWF South President after a confrontation with Paul Bearer at Soul Survivor VIII . History . The Millennium Wrestling Federation was founded by Dan Mirade & Neil Manolian in January 2001 , partly founded in memory of longtime Boston promoter Tony Rumble , and held their first show on September 28 of that year . Based in Melrose , Massachusetts , the promotion regularly began running shows in the greater Boston area for over a year before the debut of its weekly half - hour television program " MWF Xtra " on Labor Day weekend . The show was hosted by Dan Mirade and MWF on - air personalities The Jackal & Dr . Brad Von Johnson as well as special guest Tiger Mulligan , who would later win the promotion ' s Heavyweight Championship defeating " 2Xtreme " John Brooks in the tournament finals of the " Soul Survivor " competition at the " Soul Survivor I " supercard to crown the first MWF Heavyweight Champion and was presented the championship belt by Bobby " The Brain " Heenan . On October 5 , 2002 , Gary Michael Cappetta & Superstar Billy Graham appeared at a MWF benefit show at the America Civic Center in Wakefield , Massachusetts . The card also featured Road Dogg and the MWF debuts of " Die Hard " Eddie Edwards & Todd Hanson . A second show , " MWF ULTRA " , was also introduced with its first episode on October 12 , 2003 but eventually became a monthly , one hour special in October 2004 . Its guests have included Johnny Fabulous , Karl Lauer , Scotty 2 Hotty , Demolition Smash , The Iron Sheik , Percy Pringle and actress Brigitte Nielsen . In addition to its wide use of regional cable TV throughout the New England area , the promotion also began broadcasting its shows via internet broadcast and in - demand in May 2005 and became available in over 60 countries . That same year , the two more championships were created with " Die Hard " Eddie Edwards winning a tournament for the MWF Television Championship and , at " MWF Iron Sheik Appreciation Night " , Todd Hanson and Beau Douglas won a Tag Team Royal Rumble eliminating The Islanders for the titles . The MWF Heavyweight Championship , which had since become vacant , was won by Dylan Kage when he defeated Slyck Wagner Brown on the first episode of " MWF ULTRA " . On November 11 , 2005 , the " Soul Survivor III " supercard featured MWF Heavyweight Champion Dylan Kage joining forces with Paul Bearer defeating Luis Ortiz , and MWF Television Champion Eddie Edwards defending his title against Fergal Devitt & John Walters in the main event in Lynn , Massachusetts . The show also featured Test , The Sandman , The Missing Link and Ox Baker . NWA Ireland wrestler Fergal Devitt appeared at several MWF events while in New England during his 2005 - 2006 US tour . Facing Eddie Edwards and John Walters in a triple treat for the MWF TV Title , the match ended after 15 minutes when Edwards pinned Walters for the title . This match , gained considerable attention on the US independent scene . Involved in fundraising and other community projects , the Millennium Wrestling Federation ' s on - going " Keep The Kids Off The Streets " Campaign presents live wrestling events in inner city neighborhoods . Its efforts in fundraising activities has raised tens of thousands of dollars for a number of charities and non - profit organizations including the American Red Cross , the Special Olympics and has received extensive press coverage from The Boston Globe , The Howard Stern Show , KISS 108 FM , the Eddie Andelman Show , CN8 Sports Pulse and ESPN Radio . The promotion has also been involved in promoting other non - wrestling events in Boston such as hosting the Boston premiere of " The Condemned " ( including a Q & A with " Stone Cold " Steve Austin ) and The Iron Sheik ' s appearance on Toronto ' s Hi - Fi Network and promoting the Wrestling ' s Living Legends reunion on the morning of WrestleMania 23 in Windsor , Ontario . The event also featured Demolition ( Ax and Smash ) in their first appearance in sixteen years . In September 2007 , MWF Chairman Neil Manolian sold his share of the promotion to John Cena , Sr . , giving him majority control of the company , and as a result , was named MWF President three months later , replacing on - air personality The Jackal who had been appointed to the position at the beginning of the year . During the first half of 2008 , a number of wrestlers from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling appeared for the promotion . On March 29 , the promotion held its first show in Nashua , New Hampshire at " Live Free or Die " . On June 21 , the MWF held the final professional wrestling event at the Good Time Emporium in Somerville , Massachusetts prior to its close at the end of the month . The " " Night of Champions " " supercard included MWF Heavyweight Champion Todd Hanson successfully defending his title against Abyss , Rick Fuller and Executioner Milonas in a Monster ' s Ball match . In the main event . The undercard featured a lumberjack match between MWF Television Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Jay Lethal , MWF Tag Team Champions The Canadian Superstars against Beau Douglas and a mystery partner . The event also had the debut of Homicide and the return of Chris Sabin . This was followed by a VIP Q & A session and an autograph / photo fanfest with Abyss , Jay Lethal , Homicide , Chris Sabin and Leticia Cline as well as a special appearance by MWF President John Cena , Sr . and the Iron Sheik . The promotion also held a raffle in which the winner would receive a free lunch with the Iron Sheik . The event was originally scheduled to be held on March 29 , however the promotion was forced to reschedule the event when Total Nonstop Action Wrestling needed Jay Lethal , Chris Sabin and Homicide for an additional television taping of " TNA Impact ! " during WrestleMania weekend in Orlando , Florida . Controversy . Iron Sheik . A regular on the independent circuit since the early 1990s , the Iron Sheik became associated with the MWF soon after its establishment and was later named the MWF Lt . Commissioner . On August 5 , 2005 , the Iron Sheik , Dan Mirade and MWF Commissioner Dr . Brad Von Johnson were involved in a serious car accident when they were hit head on by a drunk driver following an event , " Iron Sheik Appreciation Night " , in Blackstone , Massachusetts . The Iron Sheik caused a disturbance at the event earlier refusing to sign autographs or to actively participate in the show going on a drug induced episode in the parking lot locking himself in a wrestlers car . The three were later treated at a local hospital and the Iron Sheik later claimed he might never wrestle again . In November 2004 , during an MWF Studio Shoot Interview shoot interview with Dan Mirade , the Iron Sheik went on a tirade when asked about his appearance at WrestleMania III with Nikolai Volkoff and their match against The Killer Bees ( B . Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell ) making several controversial and derogatory statements in reference to Brian Blair . This interview was later released on a three - hour DVD and has since become popular on websites such as YouTube and led to his appearances on Howard Stern . The video has been seen by over one and a half million fans . In 2008 , the MWF conducted another shoot interview with the Iron Sheik . Similarly released on DVD , the Sheik verbally attacked Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior , making remarks about what he ' d do to the Warrior ' s daughter if she was 18 . He later made a Christmas challenge to Kramer , footage from the infamous " Iron Sheik Appreciation Night " and a " " drug induced " " telephone interview . The Sheik was attacked by the MWF Stalker , claiming he had gotten alcohol poisoning when an MWF cameraman had given him beer in his hotel room . Jim Neidhart . On December 28 , 2001 , the promotion held its second live event in Revere , Massachusetts which was to raise money for Butch Miller , better known as Bushwhacker Butch of The Bushwhackers , who was hospitalized from an untreated staph infection . Among those who headlined the show included Road Dogg and ECW wrestlers Little Guido , Super Nova and Chris Chetti . " Tough Enough " finalist Christopher Nowinski also made a surprise appearance . A few weeks prior to the event , Jim " The Anvil " Neidhart contacted the promotion via e - mail offering to appear at the show . Neidhart also said he would donate an official Hart Foundation leather jacket for the raffle being held . In exchange , the promotion agreed to provide transportation . When the company was unable to afford to fly him in from Calgary , which would cost at least $ 1 , 200 ( more than the cost of the actual fundraiser ) , Neidhart offered to sell his frequent flyer miles for $ 500 which the promotion accepted . The promotion received no contact from Neidhart after that point and , on the day of the fundraiser , Neidhart did not arrive . According to owner Dan Mirade , he was later told that Neidhart had been planning on coming to Boston to spend Christmas week with a " ring rat " . When she decided to spend Christmas with her family down south , Neidhart stayed in Calgary and did not return the money he received from the promotion . Receiving no response to their e - mail and telephone messages , the promotion posted Neidhart ' s home phone number on the front page of the MWF website . The promotion , which had gotten a number of replies from fans asking for an explanation for Neidhart ' s absence , explained that they had not received word from Neidhart and suggested fans to confront Neidhart themselves . Neidhart got in contact with the promotion soon after this and claimed that he had intended to send the money back , but now refused because they had " " upset him " " . Neidhart eventually claimed in a later e - mail that he had sent the $ 500 to Butch Miller , however this was denied by both Butch Miller and longtime tag team partner Luke Williams . Soon after seeing him on the Raw 15th anniversary show , Dan Mirade wrote about the incident on his website and challenged Neidhart for an explanation however Neidhart has not responded . Criticism of the professional wrestling industry . In recent years , Mirade has been increasingly outspoken against both the increasing violence of " hardcore wrestling " as well as steroid and drug abuse which has resulted in the deaths of a high number of professional wrestlers . Dan Mirade also criticized certain ethical standards and business practices , particularly after the ring death of independent wrestler Dan Quirk , advocating some sort of system to regulate the professional wrestling industry . Tony Rumble Memorial Battle Royal . The Tony Rumble Memorial Battle Royal is the main event held at the semi - annual memorial show for the late Tony Rumble , a wrestler and longtime wrestling promoter in the New England area throughout the 1990s . Todd Hanson won the first on the November 22 , 2003 MWF Ultra program . The next battle royal was held at the MWF ' s " Soul Survivor II " and won by Bull Montana , a close friend of Tony Rumble , on November 13 , 2004 . The third show was co - hosted by the MWF and AWA New England which was won by 72 - year - old Ox Baker . This was his first wrestling match in several years . On August 4 , 2007 , Rick Fuller won the 4th annual Tony Rumble Memorial Battle Royal .