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Mark Mercedes & Tyrone Townsend founded the IWA in early 1998 after Mercedes returned from a year working abroad with Otto Wanz’s CWA in Germany and Ted Turner’s WCW in the USA. Townsend was finishing his University degree at UNSW COFA. Realizing that Australian wrestling scene was almost dead both Mercedes & Townsend decided that the time was right to restore Australian Wrestling.

 

At the time wrestling in the USA was booming with massive stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin & The Rock in the WWE and in the WCW the NWO were hot property. Back home in Australia both Mercedes and Townsend knew Australian audience was starved of quality local action. So after securing a huge contract in 1998 with the Royal Easter Show the ball began to roll for IWA with a long list of club venues jumping on board.  Family fun action was the focus, with quality performers and show, with these key ingredients it was not before long the IWA was a fulltime gig for both Mercedes & Townsend.

 

Soon IWA had the local Sydney scene wrapped up with venues all over Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong and Newcastle regions. Not to be complacent Mercedes & Townsend decided to ramp up the show turning IWA into a full touring machine, firstly buying a ring truck and hiring a ring crew to promote shows and tours regionally throughout NSW, QLD & Vic, eventually even reaching into the pacific islands touring both New Caledonia and Tahiti.

 

Over the following years IWA put Aussie Wrestling back on the mat, touring places that wrestling had not been since the early 60’s and 70’s. The IWA touring model became a success with much media attention from press, magazines and TV programs. Soon IWA formed a relationship with Channel V & both TVSN channels on the Foxtel network putting IWA into the mainstream and with a national audience.

 

It wasn’t before long both Mercedes and Townsend knew it was time for IWA to have its own television show.  So After many years working on the project the dream turned into reality in 2009. With IWA becoming the first in 30 years to finally put Australian wrestling back on the screens. Foxtel’s  Aurora Channel signed the deal with six 30 minute episodes. Two more seasons followed as well as a Christmas special.

 

In 2011 the Mercedes & Townsend business partnership finally split, after Townsend declaring he had spent enough time touring and being on the road and wished to change direction.  Mark Mercedes went on to buy out Townsend’s interest in the company, and continues today promoting and touring with IWA. Mercedes retired from in ring action in 2019 but continues to work backstage and as a tour manager.