International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) is a professional wrestling promotion based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Originating from the Dawson Wrestling Federation, it was formerly known as the Internet Wrestling Syndicate and World Wrestling Syndicate.
The IWS is one of the continent's longest-running promotions, and one of wrestling's standouts, while evolving into a proving ground for young talent from Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada.Babinsack, Joe (2009-02-25) "Joe Babinsack looks at the IWS in Montreal", Wrestling Observer, Retrieved on February 25, 2009.Curtis, Christopher. (2018-07-21) "The many, many lives of The Green Phantom, Montreal's teacher wrestler", Montreal Gazette, Retrieved on July 23, 2018.
History Formation and Early years In April 1998, SeXXXy Eddy organized the Dawson Wrestling Federation to perform on the grounds of Dawson College in Montreal. He became the promotion's first champion. Professional wrestling was banned from being performed on Dawson College property following the events of April 23, 1999, when SeXXXy Eddy and PCP Crazy F'N Manny introduced foreign objects in a multi-competitor match.
Eddy joined with Manny Elefthriou and Nic Paterson to form the World Wrestling Syndicate. WWS had their first show Blood, Sweat & Beers at Wally's on June 17, 1999. The last WWS show was Praise the Violence on April 8, 2000.
As the Internet Wrestling Syndicate In 2000, the promotion was renamed Internet Wrestling Syndicate, as Manny partnered with Wild Rose Productions, a Montreal-based Internet adult entertainment company owned by Carol Cox. The first IWS show Change, was held at Just For Laughs Cabaret on November 10, featuring PCP Crazy F'N Manny versus Danny Dallas, in the first of only three No-Rope Barbed Wire matches in IWS history.
IWS held its first seasonal Medley show at Praise the Violence on March 31, 2001. On May 25, IWS began promoting shows at Le Skratch in Laval, becoming its primary venue for the next two years. Two months later, at Un F'N Sanctioned, Hardcore Ninjaz faced PCP Crazy F'N Manny and The Green Phantom in the first IWS Fans Bring The Weapons Match. On November 10 at Born to Bleed, Justice Pain defeated Hardcore Ninja #1 and Hardcore Ninja #2 in a Triple Threat Match, retaining his CZW World Heavyweight Championship.
In Spring 2002, IWS inaugurated the IWS Tag Team Championship with the Extreme Dream Tag Team Tournament. The tournament was won by Maxx Fury & Hardcore Ninja #1, on March 16 at Extreme Dream Part 2. On May 18, at Freedom To Fight, The Green Phantom won his first IWS Heavyweight Championship in a 4-Way Elimination Match; defeating PCP Crazy F'N Manny, The Arsenal and SeXXXy Eddy. On July 14 at Scarred For Life, "The Generic Luchador" El Generico made his wrestling debut in a count out victory.Laprade, Patric (2013-01-30) "El Generico bound for NXT" , SLAM! Wrestling, Retrieved on January 30, 2013.
On August 16, 2003, Pierre Carl Ouellet (PCO) and Kevin Steen made their IWS debuts at Born to Bleed. On October 18, at Blood, Sweat and Beers, PCO defeated El Generico and Kevin Steen in a Triple Threat Match.Laprade, Patric (2021-04-08) "Kevin Owens et Sami Zayn, la fierté des Québécois!", TVA Sports, Retrieved on April 08, 2021. On November 15 at Payback's A Bitch, El Generico defeated Kevin Steen in their first-ever singles match against each other.Mithen (2022-05-06) "The Quest for the Holy Grail and How it was Found", Substack, Retrieved on May 6, 2022."IWS Payback's A Bitch Results Press Release", Internet Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on August 31, 2016. On December 13 at Season's Beatings, IWS held the last show of its first-run at Le Skratch.
On June 15, 2004 at Le SPAG, IWS held its 5th anniversary show "V", where Sid Vicious made his in-ring return from having suffered his near career-ending injury in WCW.Leroux, Yves. "Sid Vicious brings chaos to IWS anniversary", SLAM! Wrestling, June 14, 2004. Retrieved on June 14, 2004. During the event, El Generico defeated PCO in an IWS Title Match for his first IWS Heavyweight Championship, only to have Kevin Steen claim his #1 contendership won earlier that night against Excess 69. Kevin Steen defeated El Generico, also winning his first IWS Heavyweight Championship.
Kevin Steen's first title reign in 2004, marked a pivotal milestone in the history of the promotion when he became the first IWS Heavyweight Champion to internationally defend the title, defeating Roderick Strong on October 30 in New Jersey at JAPW."Jersey All Pro Wrestling 2004 Results" , JAPW, Retrieved on March 25, 2015. These events and various upcoming plans of expansion led the promotion to be renamed the International Wrestling Syndicate, coincidentally acknowledging Montreal's professional wrestling territorial era via Lutte Internationale.Laflamme, Steve. "International Wrestling", Kayfabe Memories, Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
As the International Wrestling Syndicate 2005 to 2010 At Un F'N Sanctioned on March 26, 2005, The Green Phantom defeated Chris Hero, Beef Wellington beat Super Dragon, and Franky The Mobster defeated Kevin Steen for both the CZW Iron Man and IWS World Heavyweight Championships at the Medley."IWS Un F'N Sanctioned 2005", CAGEMATCH, Retrieved on January 21, 2019. At Freedom to Fight on July 9, IWS held its first international event and only cage match, when SeXXXy Eddy won the IWS World Heavyweight Championship in a 4-Way Elimination Cage Match at Viking Hall in Philadelphia."IWS Freedom To Fight 2005", CAGEMATCH, Retrieved on January 21, 2019. On July 23, IWS inaugurated the IWS Canadian Championship with preliminary matches for Extreme Dream Tournament II. On August 20, Chris Bishop defeated El Generico in the Extreme Dream Tournament Final Match for the IWS Canadian Championship.
On June 3, 2006 at Un F'N Sanctioned, Sabu worked his (then) last independent match teaming with PCO defeating The Green Phantom and Dru Onyx, 48 hours prior to debuting on WWE Raw.Keller, Wade. (2006-06-05) "Keller's WWE RAW Report 6/5", Pro Wrestling Torch, Retrieved on June 5, 2006. On July 29 at Summer Slaughter, Max Boyer won the Extreme Dream Tournament Final in a 6-Way Elimination Match. On August 8 at Breakout, Viking defeated Excess in an IWS World Heavyweight Title vs. Career Match.
On March 24, 2007 at Un F'N Sanctioned, Christian Cage & Max Boyer defeated PCO & Jake Matthews. On September 22 at Blood, Sweat & Beers, Kevin Steen defeated Jay Briscoe, while The Dudley Boyz (renouncing to being billed as Team 3D during the event) and Franky The Mobster beat PCO, Paranoid Jake Matthews and Brick Crawford.Laprade, Patric. (2007-09-23) "Dudleys deliver, Grenier surprises at IWS in Montreal", SLAM! Wrestling, Retrieved on September 23, 2007. On November 3 at Freedom to Fight, Christopher Daniels defeated IWS Canadian Champion Max Boyer in a Non-Title Match.
On February 16, 2008 at Violent Valentine, El Generico defeated Kevin Steen for the IWS World Heavyweight Championship. On March 22 at Know Your Enemies, Kevin Steen regained the IWS World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Max Boyer and El Generico in a 3-Way Match. On May 24 at Freedom to Fight, Kevin Steen became the first to hold two IWS titles simultaneously, when he defeated Max Boyer in an IWS Championship Unification Match. On September 27 at Un F'N Sanctioned, Excess beat Shayne Hawke for the vacant IWS Canadian Championship in the Extreme Dream Tournament Final Match, while Kevin Steen retained the IWS World Heavyweight Championship against Joey Mercury.
On January 10, 2009 at Season's Beatings, The Green Phantom defeated "Big Rig" Brodie Lee in a Christmas Tree Deathmatch. On May 30, IWS celebrated its 10th anniversary "X" at the Medley, where Kevin Nash made his return to Montreal in a losing effort against PCO in a Grudge Match, concluding a genuine rivalry originating from subsequent WWE matches in Montreal & Quebec City in 1995.Laprade, Patric. "Ouellet makes Nash tap out in grudge match", SLAM! Wrestling, June 1, 2009. Retrieved on June 1, 2009.
IWS held its (then) final show on October 9, 2010 at Club Soda, featuring IWS originals SeXXXy Eddy, PCP Crazy F'N Manny, The Arsenal and IWS World Heavyweight Champion The Green Phantom in a Fans Bring The Weapons Match.
Revival In early 2014, IWS announced its return in May at the Plaza Theatre. At Praise the Violence, on May 10, Shayne Hawke won the vacant IWS Canadian Championship in a 4-Way Match. At XV:15 FKN Years on August 23, IWS celebrated its 15th anniversary, featuring Tommy Dreamer. On September 20 at Scarred 4 Life, "Speedball" Mike Bailey won the IWS World Heavyweight Championship against The Green Phantom.
At Un F'N Sanctioned on March 28, 2015 at Corona Theatre, Mike Bailey defeated Hallowicked and Jesse Neal in a Triple Threat Match. On September 5 at Scarred 4 Life, Vampiro returned to Montreal after 30 years since making his pro wrestling debut in Quebec, and Mike Bailey retained the IWS World Heavyweight Championship against Jack Evans.Laprade, Patric. (2015-09-04) "Montreal show brings Vampiro full circle", SLAM! Wrestling, Retrieved on September 04, 2015.
On March 5, 2016 at Un F'N Sanctioned held at Métropolis, Black Dynomite won the IWS World Heavyweight Championship in a 4-Way Match versus Rey Mysterio, Jack Evans and Mike Bailey. On May 28 at Bloodstream: Vol. 2, Hardcore Ninjaz won the Tag Team Invitational Gauntlet Match for the IWS World Tag Team Championship."IWS Bloodstream: Vol.2 Official Results", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on May 30, 2016.
On February 4, 2017 at Freedom To Fight, Scott Parker defeated Black Dynomite in an IWS Championship Unification Match."IWS Freedom To Fight Official Results", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on February 07, 2017. On August 5 at Scarred 4 Life, Stefany Sinclair became the first-ever IWS Women's Champion and TDT (Tabarnak De Team) successfully defended the IWS World Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks.Brinck, Martin. (2017-08-06) "8/5 IWS in Montreal, Quebec: Young Bucks drop names of Sami and Owens after main event, Buxx Belmar vs. Bailey", PWTorch, Retrieved on September 17, 2017. At First Blood on November 4, Franky TM faced Johnny Mundo to a no-contest."IWS FIRST BLOOD 2017 QUICK RESULTS", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on November 06, 2017. At Season's Beatings on December 2, Big Magic won the IWS World Heavyweight Championship in a 4-Way Elimination Match."IWS Season's Beatings 2017 Results", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on December 03, 2017.
On January 20, 2018 at Freedom To Fight, WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne fought IWS Canadian Champion Matt Angel to a no-contest."Freedom To Fight Results", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on January 22, 2018. On March 3 at Un F'N Sanctioned, Matt Angel successfully defended the IWS Canadian Championship versus "Flying" Frank Milano and Rob Van Dam."IWS UnFnSanctioned 2018 Official Results", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on March 5, 2018. On April 28 at Unstoppable, TDT and Buxx Belmar defeated Les Brasseurs with Scott Parker and British Strong Style."IWS Unstoppable Results", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on May 1, 2018. On July 14 at Hardcore Heat, PCO defeated WALTER in a rematch to their critically acclaimed confrontation at Joey Janela's Spring Break 2.Williams, Ian. (2018-05-22) "Pierre Carl Ouellet Is Old as Hell and Still Banging on the Indie Circuit", Vice Sports, Retrieved on May 23, 2018."IWS HARDCORE HEAT 2018 RESULTS", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on July 15, 2018. On October 6 at British Strong Style, Moustache Mountain defeated TDT for the IWS World Tag Team Championship."IWS BRITISH STRONG STYLE RESULTS", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on October 08, 2018.