Professional wrestling in Israel has been promoted since the 1950s after thenation's establishment.
In the 1950s,Rafael Halperin worked in the United States as a professional wrestler inVince McMahon Sr.'sCapitol 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 theBloomfield 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 theYad 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]
Israeli Pro Wrestling Association (IPWA) is an independent wrestling promotion, the first such promotion operating in Israel. IPWA was founded on 17 October 2001 by Gery Roif and ran a few exhibition matches on national TV before holding the initialSummer Splash event in summer 2002.[5] In 2005 almost the entire IPWA roster starred in a wrestling/social satire sitcom series "Makkat Medina" ("The Land Under Attack"), gaining further recognition in Israel. BothKevin Von Erich andBret Hart visited the crew during taping.[6] On 16 August 2012Tatanka main evented theWrestling Super Show as he defeated Rabbi Swissa to win theIPWA Heavyweight Championship.[7] Two months later the match was shown on Israeli sport channel ONE. On 19 April 2014 former two timeWWE Cruiserweight champion and two timeECW Tag Team champion,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 featureJay Lethal defending theROH World Championship againstDavid Starr.[8] The card is also scheduled to include a championship match between Roif andMatt Sydal.[9] In December 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.
All Wrestling Organization (AWO) was founded in early June 2012 by Mahran Abdul Hai,[10] as Israel's second promotion. The debut show, "WrestleFest", was held on 21 June in front of a sold-out crowd of 600 fans. The show was sponsored and broadcast by Panet. On 21 November 2013Joe E. Legend main evented the "Autumn Fallout" show which took place in Tel Aviv. On 29 May 2014 the promotion ran the first local professional wrestling show in Haifa. The show was taped and was broadcast on the Ego Total channel. "WrestleFest III" took place on 26 June 2014 and saw the debut of former WWE superstarsCarlito andChris Masters (who won the AWO championship). This show was also broadcast on Ego Total as well as the main Ego channel. AWO currently has two championships, theAWO Heavyweight Championship[11] and theAWO Israeli Championship.[12]
Israeli Wrestling League (IWL), a third wrestling federation in Israel was founded in 2013 by Eitan Levy and Lidor Bushari.[13] The first performance of the league took place in May 2013 during the filming of the wrestling season in the fourth season of HaYafa VeHaChnun, the Israeli version ofBeauty and the Geek.[14] The wrestling academy, led by Lidor Bushari, opened in May 2014 inRehovot at the Alternative Sports Center, where performances were held every two-month. As of 2017, the academy operates inPetah Tikva, where its shows are being held as well. The IWL has one belt, theIWL 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 AlliancesEuropean Heavyweight Championship inTira forAll Wrestling Organization.[16]
Ultimate Wrestling Israel (UWI), the fourth wrestling federation in Israel was founded in November 2015.[17] The UWI currently has one belt, theUWI Shomer Shabbos Heavyweight Championship, previously known as the UWI Heavyweight Championship until February 2017.[18]
In July 2017 theDrive in Arena in Tel Aviv hosted the largest wrestling show in Israel in over 20 years, known as theRage Megashow.[19][20] The show featured the return of Kevin Von Erich (with his sonsRoss andMarshall)Tatanka andMarty Jannetty to Israel.[21][22] Other international stars includedBad 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 theIsraeli Wrestling League and began posting photos and videos to Social Media to promote the league. While the opening of the promotion has been delayed due to the outbreak of theGaza war, the organization is continuing to work behind the scenes to get things ready to run shows and open an academy.
British promotionAll Star Wrestling – at the time the recipient of a share ofITV television coverage in the UK – toured Israel in the late 1980s. Lead heelKendo Nagasaki included a group photo of the tour party atBen 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 wrestlerWilliam Regal (then known as Steve Regal), future WCW/TNA wrestlerDave 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]
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 toKendo Nagasaki 30 November 1976 inSolihull for ITV'sWorld of Sport (transmitted Saturday 11 December 1976) during which commentatorKent Walton mentioned that Joynson would be leaving on the Israel tour the next day.[26]
In September 2007Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now Impact Wrestling) announced two shows to take place in Tel Aviv in November, in theNokia Arena.[27] Wrestlers promoted to attend includedTNA World Heavyweight ChampionKurt Angle,Samoa Joe,Christian Cage,Abyss,AJ Styles,X Division ChampionJay Lethal,Team 3D,Triple X,Sonjay Dutt,James Storm,Gail Kim,Jackie Moore,Chris Harris,Eric Young,Robert Roode,Voodoo Kin Mafia, andPetey Williams.[28][29] The tour was ultimately canceled stating business reasons.
Both theImpact! TV series andpay-per-views are carried onEGO Total in Israel.[30]
In January 2019Major League Wrestling announced EGO Total as their first international TV partner.[31]
In February 2019, it was announced that in AprilRing of Honor scheduledJay Lethal to defend theROH World Championship againstDavid 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 atG1 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]
Kevin Von Erich and his brotherMike Von Erich came to Israel in the early 1980s. TheVon Erich family were wrestling forWorld Class Championship Wrestling which was carried in Israel onMiddle East Television, on Saturday nights.[37] During this time, WCCW was the most popular English-language program in Israel.[38] The Von Erich family trip to Israel was considered very successful and credited them for bringing popularity of professional wrestling to Israel.[39] During the tour, WCCW created aWCCW Middle Eastern Championship which Mike Von Erich won defeatingGino Hernandez on 7 August 1985.[40] Among the main participants on the Israel tour includedChris Adams,Iceman King Parsons,Buddy Roberts,Scott Casey,Brian Adias,Rip Oliver,Kelly Kiniski and Johnny Mantell.
In the early 1990s theWWF (now WWE) was broadcast on Friday afternoons in Israel onSport 5. As publicity for the program the WWF gave out free photo albums to high school kids.[41] In 1995Dafna 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, withRaw andSmackDown broadcasting onSport 1 andSport 1 HD.[43][44] Beginning in 2025, all WWE programming, moved toNetflix in Israel.[45]
TheNXT vs. TNA Showdown special was set to be named Invasion, reviving the "Invasion" event name from2001, but due to controversy regarding the name and date coinciding with the second anniversary of theOctober 7 attacks insouthern Israel in 2023, WWE changed the name to Showdown.[46]
The WWE made several live appearances in Israel in 1994.[6][47] In July 2006 the WWE scheduled live events in Tel Aviv for theirSmackDown brand, however due to the2006 Lebanon War the WWE postponed the events to September, before eventually canceling the show, after having sold 22,000 tickets.[48][49]
| Date | City | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| 7 October 1993 | Tel Aviv | 1-2-3 Kid beat Doink the Clown (Steve Lombardi Razor Ramon(IC) beat I.R.S. via count-out Bob Backlund beatPapa Shango The Headshrinkers beatThe Smoking Gunns Diesel beatThe Brooklyn Brawler (subbing forMr. Perfect (wrestler)) The Undertaker beatAdam Bomb (subbing forMr. Hughes) in a casket match Lex Luger beat Ludvig Borga (subbing for WWF World Champion Yokozuna) |
| 8 October 1993 | Haifa | 1-2-3 Kid beat Doink the Clown (Steve Lombardi Razor Ramon(IC) beat I.R.S. via count-out Bob Backlund beatPapa Shango The Headshrinkers beatThe Smoking Gunns Diesel beatThe Brooklyn Brawler (subbing forMr. Perfect (wrestler)) The Undertaker beatAdam Bomb (subbing forMr. Hughes) in a casket match Lex Luger beat Ludvig Borga (subbing for WWF World Champion Yokozuna) |
| 7 February 1994 | Jerusalem | Adam Bomb beatBilly Gunn Kwang beatJim Powers The Steiner Brothers beatThe Quebecers(TT) via count-out Lex Luger beatJeff Jarrett via count-out Doink the Clown beatBam Bam Bigelow Diesel beat Billy Gunn (subbing forMarty Jannetty) Bret Hart beatYokozuna(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 | Earthquake beat Kwang Bam Bam Bigelow beatTatanka Diesel beatRandy Savage Bret Hart(HW) beatOwen Hart Men on a Mission beatThe Headshrinkers |
| 2 April 1994 | Holon | Earthquake beat Bam Bam Bigelow Kwang beatThe 1-2-3 Kid Fatu beatMo Mabel beatSamu Tatanka beat Jeff Jarrett via disqualification Diesel beat Randy Savage via count-out Bret Hart andRazor Ramon beat Owen Hart andShawn 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 | Aldo Montoya beatQuebecer Pierre The Bushwhackers beatTimothy Well andBarry Horowitz (subbing forSteven Dunn) Duke Droese beat Kwang Lex Luger beat Tatanka Razor Ramon(IC) beat Jeff Jarrett The Smoking Gunns beatThe Heavenly Bodies via disqualification Davey Boy Smith beatKing Kong Bundy |
IC = Entered match as Intercontinental Champion
TT = Entered match as Tag Team Champion
HW = Entered match as Heavyweight Champion
TheUWF Israeli Championship was a secondary title in theUniversal Wrestling Federation. It was awarded toJoshua Ben-Gurion in May 1991 and retired in November 1991.[50]
Israeli wrestler Aviv Maayan competed extensively in the United Kingdom in the 2000s. both for traditional "Old School" companies such asAll Star Wrestling and Premier Promotions and for Americanised "New School" promotions such asRevolution Pro Wrestling andIPW:UK in both of which he held the promotions' lead heavyweight singles titles.
In response to the2014 Jerusalem synagogue attack,World Championship Wrestling veteran,Bill Goldberg, put onTefillin to raise awareness of the incident.[51]
Noam Dar, was born inBeer Yaakov[52] and raised inAyr.[53] Dar was a contestant on Season 2 ofTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling'sBritish Boot Camp which was televised nationally in the UK onChallenge TV. Dar advanced to the final six but the competition but ultimately did not win.[54][55] On 31 March 2016, Dar was announced as a participant in WWE's upcomingGlobal Cruiserweight Series tournament,[56] making him the first Israeli wrestler to perform in theWWE. Dar currently wrestling on theNXT brand.[57]
On 7 August 2017, IsraeliTomer Shalom made hisWWE debut in a match againstJason Jordan.[58]
Despite theboycott imposed by theArab andMuslim-majority states, Israelis sometimes compete with Arab or Muslim wrestlers (particularly Noam Dar competing againstMustafa Ali).[59]
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 12 February in ZOA House Tel Aviv information at ZOA Official site[6]More updates and information about IPWA acrivity at IPWA's Official Site[7]
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