International Wrestling Cartel Explained

International Wrestling Cartel
Acronym:IWC
Established:2001
Style:American Wrestling
Location:West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Founder:Bubba the Bulldog
Norm Connors
Owner:Bubba the Bulldog (2001)
Norm Connors (2001–2009)
Chuck Roberts (2009–2014)
Justin Plummer (2014–present)

International Wrestling Cartel[1] is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2] [3] It is owned and operated by Justin Plummer, has become the longest tenured owner.[4] [5]

Norm Connors ran the promotion for 9 years until he handed the reins to then announcer Chuck Roberts.[6] Roberts owned the International Wrestling Cartel till 2015[7] before being sold to Justin Plummer.[8] IWC holds live events[9] and pay-per-views now exclusively on their streaming network, the IWC Network.[10] Annual PPV events include Winner Takes All,[11] Caged Fury,[12] Reloaded,[13] Night of the Superstars,[14] and the long lasting Super Indy Tournament.[15] IWC aired 56 episodes of a weekly television show called IWC Ignition.[16]

In 2019, the promotion unveiled the IWC Network,[17] [18] which allowed streaming of live events and a back-catalog of past events as far back as 2002.[19] Produced by 2:1 Media,[20] events began streaming live for IWC Network subscribers or available as one-time purchases. The IWC is best known for their annual Super Indy Tournament. This tournament has featured many participants and winners who have gone on to become major television stars, and is often considered to be a launching pad into professional wrestling success. The local wrestlers would refer to popular, well known wrestlers as "Super Indy" and the tournament was born.[21]

Such talent from AEW and WWE have worked for the IWC (CM Punk,[22] Sterling James Keenan (Corey Graves),[23] Colt Cabana,[24] Christopher Daniels,[25] [26] AJ Styles.[25] [27] [22] [28]). IWC's Iron City Wrestling Academy is responsible for the training of current stars such as Britt Baker,[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] Wardlow,[34] [35] and Logan Shulo[36] [37] (Elias).

Championships

Current championships

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays heldLocationEventPrevious champion(s)
IWC World Heavyweight Championship[38] Bill Collier2December 3, 2022+Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaIWC 5th Annual Pittsburgh ClassicElijah Dean
IWC Women's ChampionshipKatie Arquette4December 2, 2023+Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaIWC 6th Annual Pittsburgh ClassicHolidead
IWC Tag Team ChampionshipTommy Dreamer & Channing Decker1April 27, 2024+Belle Vernon, PennsylvaniaSuperStar Showdown VThe Frontline (Tito Oric & Mambo Italiano)
IWC Super Indy ChampionshipGanon Jones, Jr.2December 2, 2023+Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaIWC 6th Annual Pittsburgh ClassicAnthony Catena
IWC High Stakes ChampionshipSam Handeman1December 2, 2023+Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaIWC 6th Annual Pittsburgh ClassicSpencer Slade
[39]

Super Indy Tournament

[27]

TournamentWinnerDate wonLocationEvent
Super Indy TournamentDuke DavisOctober 7, 2023Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 22[40]
Super Indy TournamentCole KarterOctober 8, 2022Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 21
Super Indy TournamentCole KarterOctober 16, 2021Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 20
Super Indy TournamentBrian Pillman Jr.September 12, 2020Washington, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 19[41] [42]
Super Indy TournamentWardlowJune 15, 2019Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 18
Super Indy TournamentJonathan GreshamJune 9, 2018Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 17
Super Indy TournamentAdam ColeJune 10, 2017Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 16[43]
Super Indy TournamentJosh AlexanderJune 11, 2016Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 15
Super Indy TournamentDylan BosticJune 13, 2015Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 14
Super Indy TournamentR.J. CityJune 14, 2014Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 13
Super Indy TournamentFacadeJune 15, 2013Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 12
Super Indy TournamentSami CallihanJune 23, 2012Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 11
Super Indy TournamentEgotistico FantasticoJune 18, 2011Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 10
Super Indy TournamentShima Xion[44] May 8, 2010Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 9
Super Indy TournamentSuper HentaiMay 15 & 16, 2009Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 8
Super Indy TournamentJerry LynnMay 11, 2008Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 7
Super Indy TournamentLarry SweeneyMay 11, 2007McKeesport, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 6
Super Indy TournamentDeliriousApril 15, 2006Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 5
Super Indy TournamentJohn McChesneyApril 29, 2005McKeesport, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 4
Super Indy TournamentChris SabinMay 8, 2004West Mifflin, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 3
Super Indy TournamentColt CabanaMay 10, 2003White Oak, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy 2
Super Indy TournamentSuper HentaiMay 22, 2002Monroeville, PennsylvaniaSuper Indy
[45]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Gold Standard:The Jeff Gorman Story. April 27, 2021.
  2. Web site: Kreikenbohm. Philip. 2020-09-18. CageMatch.
  3. Web site: Sweat Equity: Bobby Piskor's hard-earned rise to local wrestling renown. September 18, 2020. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. en.
  4. Web site: Reloaded Results – IWCwrestling.com. September 17, 2020. en-US.
  5. Web site: Kreikenbohm. Philip. Cage Match.
  6. Web site: IWC says farwell to promoter - blearcherreport.com. Bleacher Report. 2021-03-07. en-US.
  7. Web site: Winner Takes All 2014 Results – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  8. Web site: In Focus | Superstar showdown at the Rostraver Ice Garden.
  9. Web site: Live Events – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  10. Web site: IWC Network & iPPV – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-16. en-US.
  11. Web site: Winner Takes All 2019 Quick Results – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  12. Web site: Caged Fury 2019 Quick Results – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  13. Web site: Reloaded 6.0 Results – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  14. Web site: NIGHT OF THE SUPERSTARS 8 RESULTS – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  15. Web site: Super Indy Tournament History – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  16. Web site: IWC Ignition TV Series – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  17. Web site: IWC Network & iPPV – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  18. Web site: Bands returning to the stage at Butler drive-in movie theater TribLIVE.com. 2020-09-18. triblive.com. July 23, 2020.
  19. Web site: 2002 – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  20. Web site: lastwordonprowrestling.com. EliteGuy101 2019-02-17 Filed Under: "Indy Wrestling" Source. 2019-02-18. Former IMPACT WRESTLING Star Madison Rayne Wins The IWC Women's Championship. 2020-09-18. TheRingReport.com. en-us.
  21. Web site: Promotor Norm Connors talk about dusty rhodes problems with him – 411Mania.com. 2021-03-07. en-US.
  22. Web site: Dilbert. Ryan. Dream Bouts That Could Have Been If CM Punk Never Left WWE. 2020-09-18. Bleacher Report. en.
  23. Web site: Dilbert. Ryan. WWE NXT Profile and Scouting Report: Corey Graves. 2020-09-18. Bleacher Report. en.
  24. Web site: Kreikenbohm. Philip. 2020-09-18. CageMatch.
  25. Web site: IWC Super Indy Title History – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  26. Web site: Kreikenbohm. Philip. 2020-09-18. CageMatch.
  27. Web site: Kreikenbohm. Philip. 2020-09-18. CageMatch.
  28. Web site: About – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-16. en-US.
  29. Web site: IWC Women's Title History – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  30. Web site: Britt Baker (@realbrittbaker) • Instagram photos and videos. 2020-09-18. www.instagram.com. en.
  31. Web site: Fair. Meg. Pittsburgh Indy Wrestling Roundup: International Wrestling Cartel, Threat Level Midnight. 2020-09-18. Pittsburgh City Paper.
  32. Web site: Snowden. Jonathan. Off the Top Rope: Britt Baker on Injuries, a House Divided and Kenny Omega. 2020-09-18. Bleacher Report. en.
  33. Web site: Fair. Meg. Pittsburgh Indy Wrestling Roundup: International Wrestling Cartel, Threat Level Midnight. 2020-09-21. Pittsburgh City Paper.
  34. Web site: 2019-10-28. Wardlow Is Coming, What Is Known About AEW (All Elite Wrestling) Coming Monster?. 2020-09-18. The Overtimer. en-US.
  35. Web site: Thakur. Sanjay. Possible New Inner Circle Member Wardlow Debuts On Dynamite. 15 November 2019. 2020-09-18. en-US.
  36. Web site: IWC World Heavyweight Title History – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-17. en-US.
  37. Web site: /ccpa/. 2020-09-18. TribLIVE.com. en-US.
  38. Web site: IWC Promoting The Return Of Rhyno In 2019 Fightful Wrestling. 2020-09-21. www.fightful.com. en.
  39. Web site: Wrestler Roster – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-16. en-US.
  40. Web site: Tache . Mus . 2023-10-16 . Super Indy 22 Results!!! IWCwrestling.com . 2023-11-02 . iwcwrestling.com . en-US.
  41. Web site: Kreikenbohm. Philip. 2020-09-18. CageMatch.
  42. Web site: Taigermen. 2020-09-14. RISULTATI: IWC Super Indy #19 12/09/2020 (Con Atleti AEW e IMPACT). 2020-09-21. Zona Wrestling. it-IT.
  43. Web site: 411MANIA. 2020-09-21. Adam Cole Announced For IWC Super Indy Tournament. en-US.
  44. Web site: DJZ to The WWE Performance Center. 2020-09-18. Wrestling World. May 22, 2019 . en.
  45. Web site: Super Indy Tournament History – IWCwrestling.com. 2020-09-16. en-US.