Manila Wrestling Federation

Last updated

Manila Wrestling Federation
AcronymMWF
Founded2014
Defunct2024
Style Professional wrestling
Headquarters Quezon City, Philippines
Founder(s)
  • Fabio Makisig
  • Mr. Lucha
  • Robin Sane
  • Tarek El Tayech
  • Veronica Shannon
  • William Manzano
Website manilawrestling.com

Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in the Philippines. MWF was founded in late 2014, and relaunched in 2018. It shut down on May 25, 2024.

Contents

MWF promotes itself as the home of "Aksyonovela" – a portmanteau of the Filipino word for "action" and the suffix of telenovela – representing the mix of athletic wrestling action and timely, relatable storytelling that the promotion presents. [1]

History

MWF's beginnings came on the heels of another Philippine pro wrestling promotion, Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR). Some of MWF's founders – like Mike Shannon, Robin Sane, Mr. Lucha, Tarek El Tayech, and William Elvin – had worked with PWR, but internal issues led to their departure from that company in late 2014. [2] They then started laying the foundations of MWF along with co-founder Tala Haliya, recruited wrestlers and talents, and started wrestling training. [3] [4]

MWF informally launched at History Channel's HistoryCon event in August 2016, staging wrestling matches across three days of the convention. MWF wrestlers were joined by wrestlers from Singapore Pro Wrestling (SPW), like The Eurasian Dragon, "The Statement" Andruew Tang, Alexis Lee, and The Thaibarrian. [5]

In April 2017, MWF produced its debut show, MWF Live, at the Makati Square Arena. [6] [7] After 4 more shows, MWF did a relaunch of its product in February 2018 at MWF Open House: Level UP, at the University of the Philippines Diliman. [8] [9]

Starting MWF 1: Kasaysayan, all of MWF's shows are numbered sequentially. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

MWF also produces an online weekly wrestling show, Aksyonovela TV, on its YouTube channel. Its first episode aired on October 23, 2019. In November 2019, MWF started to tape episodes in front of a live audience. [15]

On May 25, 2024, on a Facebook post, Manila Wrestling Federation announced its abrupt closure.

On June 27, 2024, one month after the closure of MWF, PUSO Wrestling was on the soft launch featuring most of the MWF wrestlers as its current roster. It is officially launched in August 2024.

Championships

ChampionshipLast champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
Notes
MWF ChampionshipJake De Leon2December 3, 2023440+Oro Plata Mata defeated MWF All-Stars; thus Fabio Makisig no longer being the champion. JDL Defeated Main Maxx in a Matira Matibay Rules at MWF: Noche Buena

MWF Championship

Established in 2018. Redesigned in 2019 and is now known as the “Jeepney belt”, which contains Filipino themed symbols like perlas "pearls", araw "sun", tambo "reed/bulrush", manok "chicken", pula at bughaw na strap "red and blue strap", and Jeepney main plate. [16]

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1Robin SaneDecember 1, 2018MWF Noche BuenaQuezon City1237Defeated Fabio Makisig to become the inaugural champion. [17]
2 Ho Ho Lun July 27, 2019MWF 10: RepublikaManila11,081
Vacated July 12, 2022n/an/aThe championship was vacated due to inactivity per pandemic. Initially, it wasn't supposed to be vacated as MWF Commissioner Sonny Go declared that Ho Ho Lun was still the champion, and the MWF wrestlers would compete in a series of matches and face Ho Ho Lun in the future. The title was quietly vacated, and the wrestlers who topped the rankings will fight for the MWF Championship.
3 Jake de Leon September 11, 2022MWF: Road To Fate 2022Quezon City191Won the vacant MWF Championship in a 3-Way Elimination match involving Nigel San Jose, and Fabio Makisig.
4Fabio MakisigDecember 11, 2022MWF: Noche Buena 2022Quezon City1357Defeated Jake De Leon in a Main Event Manila Rules Match to become MWF Champion.
5 Jake de Leon December 3, 2023MWF: Noche Buena 2023Makati City2440Oro Plata Mata defeated MWF All-Stars; thus Fabio Makisig no longer being the champion. JDL Defeated Main Maxx in a Matira Matibay Rules at MWF: Noche Buena
DeactivatedMay 25, 2024n/an/aThe championship was deactivated due to MWF closing.

Combined reigns

RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns
Combined days
1 Ho Ho Lun 11,081
2Fabio Makisig1357
3 Jake de Leon 2265
4Robin Sane1237

Roster

Male wrestlers

"The Senyorito" Jake de Leon PWR JakeDeLeon2.jpg
"The Senyorito" Jake de Leon
Ring NameNotes
Aaron LiwanagLeader of Bahay ng Liwanag
Bienvenido "Bro. Benny" SorianoMember of Bahay ng Liwanag
Black ShirtMWF Aspirant
Blue ShirtMWF Aspirant

Inactive; has not wrestled since March 2023

Serafin LiwanagFormer member of Brgy. Bagsakan (as CJ Serafin). Current member of Bahay ng Liwanag
"Godkiller" Dabid RavenaMember of Oro Plata Mata
Danny Zamora
El KatipuneroMember of Super Friends
Fabio MakisigLeader of HSSL
Gray Shirt/DiakonoMWF Aspirant

Member of Bahay ng Liwanag

Isaiah ValenciaMember of Brgy. Bagsakan
Jake de Leon Current MWF Pinoy Wrestling Champion

Leader of Oro Plata Mata

Joey RosasMember of HSSL

Winner of Hong Kong-Philippine Alliance Cup

JomarFormer leader of Bahay ng Liwanag.
Kanto "Kilabot" Terror
Ken CiferWorld Underground Wrestling - PH

Winner of the Chilly Willy Wrestling Cup Tournament 2023

WUW International Tag Team Champion

Khayl SisonMember of HSSL

Inactive; has not wrestled since March 2023

Kurt JimenezMember of Oro Plata Mata
Main MaxxFormer member of Oro Plata Mata
Migs ValdezInactive; has not wrestled since August 2023
Nigel San JoseLeader of Brgy. Bagsakan
Orange ShirtMWF Aspirant; later known as Hakai Mateo in PUSO Wrestling
Pablo SalvacionInactive; has not wrestled since March 2023
RazaelWorld Underground Wrestling - PH
Red ShirtMWF Aspirant
"Danger" Rex Lawin
Robin SaneWorld Underground Wrestling - PH
Saint John MartinWorld Underground Wrestling - PH

WUW International Tag Team Champion

Female wrestlers

Crystal PWR Crystal.jpg
Crystal
Ring NameNotes
Chelsea MarieMember of Brgy. Bagsakan
CrystalInactive; hiatus
Jorelle LiwanagMember of Bahay ng Liwanag
JoyaMember of HSSL
Patricia LigaiaMWF's Backstage Chismosa
Super PMember of Super Friends

Other personnel

Mr. Sy PWR MrSy2.jpg
Mr. Sy
Ring NameNotes
Chuck LopezMWF Referee
Dante GuinooMWF Referee; occasional wrestler

"Ang Official na Wrestler"

Eduardo JuanMWF Referee
Romeo MoranMWF Commentator
Sig PechoMWF Ring Announcer
Sonny GoMWF Commissioner, Commentator, and Ring announcer (Main Event championship matches only)
Mr. SyManager of Oro Plata Mata
Tarek El TayechSenior analyst

Manager of Kanto "Kilabot" Terror

Veronica ShannonMWF President
William ElvinCreative Director, occasional commentator

MWF Alumni

Visiting international wrestlers

2013 Singapore. Ho Ho Lun against a wrestler called Bit Man, operating an arm bar on his opponent. Ho Ho Lun Wrestling 2013.jpg
2013 Singapore. Ho Ho Lun against a wrestler called Bit Man, operating an arm bar on his opponent.

References

  1. "Rappler Talk Sports: Manila Wrestling Federation". Rappler. July 19, 2019.
  2. "PWR 2014: From My Side of the Fence [No Curtains Needed #3]". MWF Insider Blog. March 21, 2018.
  3. "Manila Wrestling Federation". The Philippine Star. August 17, 2019.
  4. "Musings from the Tech Booth – Part 2, and Your Questions Answered [No Curtains Needed]". MWF Insider Blog. June 17, 2018.
  5. "3 Things We Learned From The Manila Wrestling Federation's Debut". Smark Henry. August 31, 2016.
  6. "[FULL RESULTS] MWF Live: MWF x MCS". Smark Henry. April 8, 2017.
  7. "The Arena (Rune Stones & Voodoo, Who Do #6)". MWF Insider Blog. April 16, 2018.
  8. "Here's What Went Down At The 2018 Relaunch of the Manila Wrestling Federation". Smark Henry. February 25, 2018.
  9. "New and improved MWF at 'Open House: Level UP'". Rappler. February 26, 2018.
  10. "MWF 1: Kasaysay makes history". Manila Bulletin. April 10, 2018.
  11. "Manila Wrestling Federation makes history in Quezon City". Fox Sports Philippines. April 9, 2018.
  12. "Event Results". MWF Insider Blog. February 25, 2018.
  13. "MWF 6: Noche Buena Delivers One Strong Ending to 2018". When in Manila. December 4, 2018.
  14. "Fabio Makisig and local wrestlers strike back vs 'Foreign Invasion' at MWF 11: Road to Fate". BusinessWorld. September 24, 2019.
  15. "MWF tapes episodes for 'Aksyonovela TV' weekly online wrestling show". Rappler. November 15, 2019.
  16. "BAKIT GANYAN ANG MWF BELT?". Manila Wrestling Federation. September 2, 2022.
  17. "Robin Sane becomes inaugural MWF champ". Manila Bulletin. December 3, 2018.
  18. "Ex-WWE superstar Tajiri claims he's the 'mother' of Philippine wrestling". Spin.ph. May 21, 2019.