IWF Promotions was an
independent professional wrestling company based in
Denver, Colorado that was founded in 2001 by Tamera Halbeisen. IWF was the only known wrestling company in the United States that was owned by a Hispanic Woman. Showcasing two styles of professional wrestling including American professional wrestling and the Mexican style;
Lucha Libre
Lucha libre (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term used in Latin America for professional wrestling. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has developed into a unique form ...
with over 25 high-impact live events yearly in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area.
History
IWF Promotions was started July 14, 2001 by Tamera Halbeisen, Larry Shelton and Alan Carnill. Hosting shows with a Rock and Wrestling theme, booking local bands and independent
professional wrestling at events held at the Gothic Theater in Denver, Colorado. Continuing to cross promote independent wrestling IWF joined with Knockout Events, a regional
Toughman
The Toughman Contest, founded in 1979 in Bay City, Michigan by late boxing promoter Art Dore (1936-2022), is a chance for the novice amateur boxers (those with no more than five sanctioned wins in the past five years) to test themselves in the ...
organization throughout 2002 and 2003 and then again in 2005.
Beginning in 2003 a series of semi-monthly events were held at the Sheridan Recreation Center, Sheridan, Colorado.
Professional wrestlers involved in these events included
The Honky Tonk Man,
Superfly Jimmy Snuka
James Reiher Snuka (born James Wiley Smith; May 18, 1943 – January 15, 2017) was a Fijian American professional wrestler. He is better known by the ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.
Snuka wrestled for several promotions from the 1970s to 2010 ...
, Beautiful Bobby Dean, Kato, Beetlejuice (Alan Carnill), breaking ground for many independent wrestlers such as
Prodigee & Shocktherapy.
January 25, 2004 Co-Founder Alan Carnill was killed after he was thrown from a car in which he was a passenger. The car went out of control on an icy bridge before flipping over outside
Hays, Kansas
Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 21,116. It is ...
on his way back home to Colorado after working a wrestling show the night before in Hoisington, Kansas. The other passengers in the car include Larry Shelton, Carrie Mathews, Joseph McDougal and Gerald Krueger.
IWF continued to run semi-monthly events in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area, as well in the rocky mountain region including
Gillette, Wyoming, Pueblo and Fairplay, Colorado until closing in January 2005.
After a year and a half hiatus IWF resumed operations as IWF Premier Pro Wrestling by booking monthly wrestling shows and opened The Butcher Shop, a professional wrestling training gym located in Commerce City, Colorado. IWF Promotions currently runs monthly wrestling shows under IWF Premier, IWF Lucha Libre & Primos Hardcore & Wrestling throughout the metro Denver, Colorado area.
In August 2011 IWF Promotions was sold to Joseph McDougal and he continues to run it exclusively under the Primos Hardcore & Wrestling name, Joseph also runs and has maintained the Butcher Shop Pro Wrestling Gym in the Denver metro area.
The Butcher Shop
The Butcher Shop trains both American or
Sports Entertainment and Lucha Libre style wrestlers. Guest trainers have included
Dennis Condrey,
Jerry Lynn,
Big Van Vader
Leon Allen White (May 14, 1955 – June 18, 2018), better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or simply Vader, was an American professional wrestler and professional football player. Throughout his career, he performed for New Japan Pro-Wrestli ...
(Leon White),
Mad Man Pondo (Kevin Canady), and
Colt Cabana
Scott Colton (born May 6, 1980), better known by the ring name Colt Cabana, is an American professional wrestler, color commentator, and podcaster. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a wrestler and as a coach, and he performs the same d ...
(Scott Colton).
Publicity
In 2008 the Butcher Shop was featured by the
Westword
''Westword'' is a free digital and print media publication based in Denver, Colorado. ''Westword'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue cir ...
Newspaper.
The Greeley Tribune featured High Flying Wrestling action at the Fiesta
IWF was featured in the Independent film Faces and Heels: A Real Look at Independent Wrestling by Daniel R. Beehler.
Roster
Champions
Friends of IWF
*
Jerry Lynn
*
Big Van Vader
Leon Allen White (May 14, 1955 – June 18, 2018), better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or simply Vader, was an American professional wrestler and professional football player. Throughout his career, he performed for New Japan Pro-Wrestli ...
(Leon White)
*
Dennis Condrey
*
Mad Man Pondo (Kevin Canady)
* Scot Summers
*
Corporal Robinson (Steve Robinson)
* Tiki Tapu
*
Violent J (Joseph Frank "Joe" Bruce)
*
Bobby Lashley
* Hijo de Rey Misterio
* The Universal Heartthrob Don Juan
*
Colt Cabana
Scott Colton (born May 6, 1980), better known by the ring name Colt Cabana, is an American professional wrestler, color commentator, and podcaster. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a wrestler and as a coach, and he performs the same d ...
(Scott Colton)
See also
*
List of independent wrestling promotions in the United States
References
External links
The Official IWF Premier Pro Wrestling on MyspaceThe Official IWF Premier Pro Wrestling on TwitterThe Official IWF Premier Pro Wrestling YouTube Channel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iwf Promotions
Independent professional wrestling promotions based in the Southwestern United States
Professional wrestling schools
Companies based in Denver
Sports in Denver
Sports organizations established in 2001