Professional wrestling in Israel

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Professional wrestling in Israel has been promoted since the 1950s after the nation's establishment.

Israeli professional wrestling promotions

In the 1950s,

Vince McMahon Sr.'s Capitol Wrestling Corporation.[1] He later returned to Israel, where he popularized professional wrestling.[2] His most well known matches in Israel were against Achmad Fuad and the "Jordanian Tiger" Abu Antar. The match with Fuad took place on 18 June 1966 in front of 6,000 fans at the Bloomfield Stadium and caused the police to use tear gas after a big riot broke out immediately after Fuad attacked the victorious Halperin.[3] The match with Abu Antar took place on 20 September 1973 and was the most successful local wrestling match seen in the country, as the Yad Eliyahu Arena was sold out to witness Halperin defeat the "Jordanian Tiger". This was Halperin's last match and after he retired from professional wrestling.[4]

Little Guido defeated Rabbi Swissa in IPWA's traditional Passover Bash which was the last show of the promotion. In April 2019 however, IPWA returned with an additional Passover Bash event, which is scheduled to feature Jay Lethal defending the ROH World Championship against David Starr.[8] The card is also scheduled to include a championship match between Roif and Matt Sydal.[9]
In December of 2019 IPWA held Cinema City Wrestling - a huge event at Cinema City Glilot, featuring IPWA Champion Matt Sydal vs. WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn, AEW's Sammy Guevara and AEW's Darby Allin squaring off against Rabbi Swissa. In June 2022 IPWA held WrestleMitzvah in Cinema City Glilot, that even aired on Fite TV. The first ever IPWA Women's champion was crowned as Emersyn Jayne from Scotland defeated Ireland's Session Moth Martina. UK's Heidi Katrina beat France's Mila Smidt, Liverpool's Harley Hudson defeated Leeds' Kacie and UK's Cara Noir beat Yuval Goldshmit. Rabbi Swissa held his retirement match on this show against Big Yarin Elkariff. October 2023 IPWA was supposed to hold a big event "Young and Wrestlers" at the Netanya City Hall Arena featuring UK's Harley Hudson, Aleah James, Safire Reed, Scotland's Emersyn Jayne and more. However, due Hamas' attack on Israel the show was cancelled. In February 2024 IPWA reopened their Wrestling School at Gabi Noah Gym in Netanya and returned to full operation since. In September IPWA held a show called "New Generation" featuring the new trainees, with AVIZOV defeating Matan Katz to become the new IPWA World champion. The next IPWA shows to be held are "Empowerment" on 11 November in Netanya and "Wrestling like in America" on 12 February 2025 in Tel Aviv.

AWO Israeli Championship.[12]

IWL Heavyweight Championship.[15]
The IWL held its final show in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic with the hope of finding a new venue but was unable, this led to the organization closing down and their ring was sold.

On 12 August 2015, Chaos defended the Union of European Wrestling Alliances European Heavyweight Championship in Tira for All Wrestling Organization.[16]

UWI Shomer Shabbos Heavyweight Championship, previously known as the UWI Heavyweight Championship until February 2017.[18]

In July 2017 the

Marshall) Tatanka and Marty Jannetty to Israel.[21][22] Other international stars included Bad Bones, David Starr, and Jurn Simmons.[23][24]

In 2023, Israeli Comedian Jonathan Barak announced that he was opening Wrestling Israel. Barak had purchased the ring previously owned by the

2023 Israel-Hamas War
, the organization is continuing to work behind the scenes to get things ready to run shows and open an academy.

Overseas wrestling promotions in Israel

All Star Wrestling

British promotion All Star Wrestling - at the time the recipient of a share of ITV television coverage in the UK - toured Israel in the late 1980s. Lead heel Kendo Nagasaki included a group photo of the tour party at Ben Gurion Airport in his 2018 autobiography. As well as himself, his manager "Gorgeous" George Gillette, frequent tag partner "Psycho" Shane Stevens and personal assistant Lawrence Stevens, the tour party as pictured included future WCW/WWE wrestler William Regal (then known as Steve Regal), future WCW/TNA wrestler Dave Taylor, then British Ladies Champion Mitzi Mueller, her frequent rival (and successor following Mueller's retirement) Klondyke Kate and Mueller's husband, referee and ASW promoter Brian Dixon.[25]

Edwin Shoburgh promotion

German promoter Edwin Shoburgh toured Israel in late 1976 with a roster including British wrestler Colin Joynson. The day before his departure, Joynson filmed a loss to Kendo Nagasaki November 30 1976 in Solihull for ITV's World of Sport (transmitted Saturday December 11, 1976) during which commentator Kent Walton mentioned that Joynson would be leaving on the Israel tour the next day.[26]

Impact Wrestling

In September 2007

Voodoo Kin Mafia, and Petey Williams.[28][29]
The tour was ultimately canceled stating business reasons.

Both the

EGO Total in Israel.[30]

Major League Wrestling

In January 2019 Major League Wrestling announced EGO Total as their first international TV partner.[31]

Ring of Honor

In February 2019, it was announced that in April Ring of Honor scheduled Jay Lethal to defend the ROH World Championship against David Starr at IPWA's Passover Bash.[32][33] Should Lethal lose the championship prior to the match, Starr would instead face whoever the new champion is at the time.[34] In March, Starr released a video on his feelings on the match, which Ring of Honor ordered to have taken down.[35] In early April however, Lethal lost the championship at G1 Supercard, however the new champion did not appear, and Lethal appeared as a non-champion. Starr proceeded to call out Ring of Honor again, for failing to deliver on their promises.[36]

World Class Championship Wrestling

Iceman King Parsons, Buddy Roberts, Scott Casey, Brian Adias, Rip Oliver, Kelly Kiniski
and Johnny Mantell.

WWE

WWE on TV

In the early 1990s the

Sport 5. As publicity for the program the WWF gave out free photo albums to high school kids.[41] In 1995 Dafna Lemish began a successful campaign to remove WWE content from TV, claiming a direct correlation between wrestling and violence in schools.[42] Eventually WWE programming was brought back to Israel, with Raw and SmackDown broadcasting on Sport 1 and Sport 1 HD.[43][44] Beginning in 2025, all WWE programming, moved to Netflix in Israel.[45]

Live shows

The WWE made several live appearances in Israel in 1994.

SmackDown brand, however due to the 2006 Lebanon War the WWE postponed the events to September, before eventually canceling the show, after having sold 22,000 tickets.[47][48]

Date City Matches
October 7, 1993 Tel Aviv 1-2-3 Kid beat Doink the Clown (
Mr. Hughes
) in a casket match
Lex Luger beat Ludvig Borga (subbing for WWF World Champion Yokozuna)
October 8, 1993 Haifa 1-2-3 Kid beat Doink the Clown (
Mr. Hughes
) in a casket match
Lex Luger beat Ludvig Borga (subbing for WWF World Champion Yokozuna)
7 February 1994 Jerusalem
The Steiner Brothers beat The Quebecers (TT) via count-out
Lex Luger beat Jeff Jarrett via count-out
Doink the Clown beat Bam Bam Bigelow
Diesel beat Billy Gunn (subbing for Marty Jannetty)
Bret Hart beat Yokozuna
(HW) via disqualification
8 February 1994 Tel Aviv Billy Gunn beat Adam Bomb
Jeff Jarrett beat Jim Powers
The Steiner Brothers beat The Quebecers (TT) via count-out
Doink the Clown beat Bam Bam Bigelow
Diesel beat Billy Gunn (subbing for Marty Jannetty)
Bret Hart and Lex Luger beat Yokozuna and Kwang
2 April 1994 Haifa
The Headshrinkers
2 April 1994 Holon Earthquake beat Bam Bam Bigelow
Kwang beat
Fatu beat Mo
Mabel beat Samu
Tatanka beat Jeff Jarrett via disqualification
Diesel beat Randy Savage via count-out
Bret Hart and Razor Ramon beat Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels
3 April 1994 Tel Aviv Bam Bam Bigelow beat Tatanka
Jeff Jarrett beat the 1-2-3 Kid
Earthquake beat Kwang
Razor Ramon (IC) beat Shawn Michaels
Mo defeated Fatu
Diesel beat Randy Savage via count-out
Bret Hart beat Owen Hart
4 December 1994 Tel Aviv
The Heavenly Bodies via disqualification
Davey Boy Smith beat King Kong Bundy

IC = Entered match as Intercontinental Champion
TT = Entered match as Tag Team Champion
HW = Entered match as Heavyweight Champion


Israeli impact on overseas wrestling

The UWF Israeli Championship was a secondary title in the Universal Wrestling Federation. It was awarded to Joshua Ben-Gurion in May 1991 and retired in November 1991.[49]

Israeli wrestler Aviv Maayan competed extensively in the United Kingdom in the

IPW:UK
in both of which he held the promotions' lead heavyweight singles titles.

In response to the 2014 Jerusalem synagogue attack, World Championship Wrestling veteran, Bill Goldberg, put on Tefillin to raise awareness of the incident.[50]

Challenge TV. Dar advanced to the final six but the competition but ultimately did not win.[53][54] On 31 March 2016, Dar was announced as a participant in WWE's upcoming Global Cruiserweight Series tournament,[55] making him the first Israeli wrestler to perform in the WWE. Dar currently wrestling on the 205 Live[56] and NXT UK[57]
brands.

On 7 August 2017, Israeli Tomer Shalom made his WWE debut in a match against Jason Jordan.[58]

Despite the

Mustafa Ali).[59]

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Pro Wrestling History in Israel". Israeli Pro Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2006-08-03. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  3. ^ "[The wrestling was staged... Halperin's victory was predetermined]" (in Hebrew). 1967-03-29. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01.
  4. ^ "ולתפארת מדינת ישראל: רפאל הלפרין, המתאבק העברי". בין החבלים (in Hebrew). 2014-05-06. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  5. ^ "Pro Wrestling / Blue-and-white Style / Welcome to the Haus". Haaretz. 2009-05-13. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  6. ^ a b "The History of the WWE - 1994". Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  7. ^ "Israel IPWA Event". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  8. ^ "Wrestler Starr slams Sinclair in politically charged promo, removes it - World News - Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  9. ^ "Wrestling's Ring of Honor world championship to be held in Israel". WIN. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  10. ^ "המתאבק הערבי שיביא את ה-WWE לישראל". ynet. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  11. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "AWO Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  12. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "AWO Israeli Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  13. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Israeli Wrestling League (IWL) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  14. ^ "ליגת ההיאבקות הישראלית - IWL". www.israeliwrestling.co.il. Archived from the original on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  15. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWL Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
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  17. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Ultimate Wrestling Israel (UWI) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  18. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "UWI Shomer Shabbos Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
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  22. ^ "Kevin Von Erich and Tatanka are ready to rumble in Israel". Ynetnews. 2017-04-03. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
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  25. ISBN 978-1-908345-45-5
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  26. ^ World of Sport. December 11, 1976. ITV. including Professional Wrestling from Solihull 1600-1645h, includes match Kendo Nagasaki vs Colin Joynson. Comment occurs during interval between rounds 2 and 3.
  27. ^ "TNA News: Carter, Israel Show, Bound for Glory Updates | 411MANIA". 411mania.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
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  29. ^ "Mixed WWE & TNA Bag: Angle, 'Mania, Christian, RAW - Wrestlezone". Wrestlezone. 2007-09-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  30. ^ "TNA Announces New International Television Deals - Wrestlezone". Wrestlezone. 2012-01-16. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  31. ^ "MLW partners with Ego TV to bring FUSION to Israel". MLW: Major League Wrestling®. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  32. ^ Solowrestling (2019-02-22). "Ring Of Honor anuncia que su Campeonato Mundial se defenderá por primera vez en Israel". www.solowrestling.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  33. ^ "Ring of Honor World Championship to be defended in Israel - Israel News - Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com. 23 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  34. ^ "Jay Lethal To ROH World Title For First Time Ever In Israel Against David Starr | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  35. ^ "David Starr Got Political, Censored Before ROH Title Match In Israel". UPROXX. 2019-03-20. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  36. ^ "David Starr Calls Out ROH Again; Says They Lied To IPWA And Have No Honor | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  37. ^ Roif, Gery. "משפחת ואן אריק בישראל - הסיפור המלא | Von Erichs in Israel - The full story". www.ipwa.co.il. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  38. ^ "Born-Again Bashing". Classic Wrestling Articles. 2014-10-14. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  39. ^ "Wrestling History in Israel". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  40. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "WCCW Israel Tour - Tag 5 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  41. ^ "World Wrestling Entertainment: Achieving Continued Growth and Market Penetration through International Expansion". The Sport Journal. 2006-09-06. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
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  43. ^ "WWE Israel Scheduling". WWE. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  44. ^ "Sport 1 Schedule" (in Hebrew). Sky Sport 1. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
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  47. ^ "WWE Plans September Live Events in Tel Aviv". corporate.wwe.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
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  49. ^ "UWF Israeli Championship". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  50. ^ "20 Things You Didn't Know About Bill GoldbergHe's a spokesman for the ASPCA". Complex. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  51. ^ צפריר, עירד (21 August 2016). "נועם דר: "כמובן שהתוצאה נקבעת מראש, אבל אפשר לדבר עם היריב והמארגן כדי לקבוע איך הקרב יילך"". הארץ. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017 – via Haaretz.
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  54. ^ Mike Killam (7 December 2014). "Mark Andrews Wins TNA British Boot Camp Season 2". Wrestlezone. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  55. ^ Caldwell, James (2016-03-31). "First competitors set for Global Cruiserweight Series, including Zack Sabre, Jr. & NXT stars". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  56. ^ "205 Live recap: A fitting final end to the Noam Dar-Cedric Alexander feud". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  57. ^ "Scots wrestler Noam Dar on his ICW homecoming, whirlwind career and teaching WWE stars the word dafty". 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  58. ^ "WWE: המתאבק תומר שלום ערך קרב ב-RAW". sport1.maariv.co.il. 8 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  59. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Mustafa Ali vs. Noam Dar: WWE 205 Live, Feb. 21, 2017. YouTube.

Rabbi Swissa vs. Darby Allin, IPWA Cinema City Wrestling 2019 [1] Sammy Guevara vs. Yuval Goldshmit, IPWA Cinema City Wrestling 2019 [2] WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn vs. IPWA Champ Matt Sydal, IPWA Cinema City Wrestling 2019 [3] Wrestling in Israel takes a cinematic platform, Jerusalem Post article about IPWA Cinema City show [4] IPWA WrestleMitzvah 2022 on Fite TV / Thriller TV [5] IPWA Wrestling Like in America to take place February 12th in ZOA House Tel Aviv information at ZOA Official site [6] More updates and information about IPWA acrivity at IPWA's Official Site [7]

  1. ^ "היאבקות ישראלית Ipwa Wrestling - כוכב Aew דארבי אלין מול הרב סוויסה. מופע הבא 12 לפברואר בתל אביב". YouTube. 23 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Full Free Video: Sammy Guevera vs. Yuval Goldshmit - IPWA Wrestling, ISRAEL. Dec 15, 2019". YouTube. 19 December 2019.
  3. ^ "**Free Match**: IPWA Championship: (C) Matt Sydal vs "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn". YouTube. 22 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Wrestling in Israel takes a cinematic platform". 7 October 2019.
  5. ^ "▷ IPWA: WrestleMitzvah - Official Replay - TrillerTV". 18 July 2022.
  6. ^ https://zoatlv.co.il/event/%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%92%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%94%D7%94%D7%99%D7%90%D7%91%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99-ipwa-wrestling-%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%92-%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%A2-%D7%94/
  7. ^ https://ipwa-wrestling.com
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