FIW Wrestling

From Mark

In 1998, I created Fire & Ice Wrestling, and from 1999 to 2002, an incredible team of talent and I brought dozens of electrifying live shows to fans all across Ohio.

As the exclusive promoter, I took on the financial risks and served as the primary booker and agent, pouring my heart into building something special. But FIW was never a one-man show—it was a collective effort driven by the amazing talent, crew, fans and supporters who believed in my original vision.

This site is a tribute to every wrestler, referee, manager, video editor, camera person, commentator and behind-the-scenes contributors who gave their all to entertain and perform. It’s also a space to reflect on the journey of FIW, answer some of the most frequently asked questions and share memories of a time when independent wrestling was raw and real.

FIW was a place of both optimism and frustration. We had the privilege of working with some of the best in-ring talent of the era, but with strong personalities came strong opinions. Creative differences and professional disagreements were part of the journey, and while they ultimately contributed to the company’s closure in 2002, they don’t define its legacy.

My goal here isn’t to dwell on those challenges but to celebrate the passion and dedication of everyone involved—and to provide clarity for fans who’ve wondered about FIW’s story for over two decades.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope this site brings back fond memories while honoring the remarkable people who made Fire and Ice Wrestling a reality.

— Mark, FIW Founder

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at YBAJediKnight@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

How did FIW begin?

In 1998 Mark and two other friends decided to create an entertainment based Pro Wrestling company. At the time, most independent promotions were ignoring the entertainment aspects of the business and either putting on one dry old school match after another or doing dangerous backyard stuff. FIW was an attempt to focus more on the fan's experience and provide a more compelling product overall.

Is there a FIW Title history?

Someone a long time ago did an accurate title history up through mid 2002 here...

https://www.angelfire.com/indie/usaindy/fiwtitle.htm

This doesn't reflect the last few months of FIW but it is accurate through May of 2002.

Standout FIW Superstars

Looking back after all these years, everyone deserves at least an honorable mention.

Having said that, anyone who held the FIW Championship certainly comes quickly to mind.

"Viper" was the first Champion and he was FIW co-founder and trainer Brian King. Sadly, Brian passed away in 2012.

Other Champions - David Starr, Rob Felon, Shank Dorsey, Marcus Dillon, Matt Mason, Country, Rip Malibu and Kage.

Most controversial or memorable FIW moment?

There were several...

- Only months after we launched, several workers decided to leave an existing promotion to work with us. From the outside looking in this was perceived as a "talent raid" which made for good storylines and the local fans were abuzz but in reality each worker made very calm, level headed decisions for themselves.

- We contacted a venue in Marysville, Ohio that ended up inviting us to run a show there. Turns out another local promotion had been running there for years before us but something happened that burnt the bridge for them so they were glad to find a replacement company. This was seen by some as deeply disrespectful feeling that we "stole the town" out from under a rival promotion but in reality it wasn't that at all.

- While running a show in Columbus, Ohio in 2001, a legit shoot argument broke out backstage which escalated and could easily be heard by the fans in attendance. Most fans assumed it was part of the show but it was legit ending with several talents being let go after the fact.

- At a show in Crooksville, Ohio we ran an angle that involved the local police dragging away one of our commentators on FIW TV which was viewed by many local fans as a bit "too real" and partially because of the fans protest, the crowds grew as it became one of our hottest towns to run.

- The last show was called "Endgame" and since it was the last show, we put the main FIW Title on Kage, a newcomer who was not ready for it at all, but we wanted him to experience the in ring win of that magnitude. This was seen as terrible booking by some of the workers and was very controversial.

That same "Endgame" show ended with a double, double cross with Mark aligning with Matt Mason to screw Drew Hansen only to have Shank Dorsey pull a battered and broken Drew Hansen over Shank's own body showing the two of them were in cahoots the whole time double crossing Mark to give Drew the win and also giving Drew control of FIW. The first thing the bloody and battered Drew Hansen did was get on the house mic and fire Mark Stone which was the storyline ending of the company.

Greatest FIW Accomplishment?

Really the entire three year run collectively. There were many high points like having stories done about us on local TV but all these years later, what stands out the most is that we came from relative obscurity and became a thriving regional independent wrestling promotion that fans could count on. People knew if they bought an FIW ticket, it was money well spent and it was going to be well worth it.

Why did FIW shut down in 2002?

As FIW grew more successful, it faced increasing internal challenges and external competition. Rival promotions, some started by former FIW team members and talent, began to emerge and while many of our workers remained loyal and dedicated, a few actively worked against the company’s vision behind the scenes feeling they were "above" everyone else. This poor attitude while beginning with only a few began to spread and despite efforts to unify the team and maintain a shared direction, these conflicts proved too difficult to overcome, leading to the tough decision to close FIW in November of 2002.

Any plans to bring FIW back?

The FIW of 1999 to 2002 will never return in that form, no. Over the years, people have moved on with their lives, some have passed away and some are not well enough healthwise, others have unresolved personal issues that would not let them come back.

Having said that, you never say never in the wrestling business.

Doing a "Reunion Show" may be possible but getting schedules to come together would be a challenge to say the least because many of the original talents are no longer even in Ohio.

Doing a full blown promotion again is no small task and would require significant funding along with a unified group of talent committed to their promoter's vision. I don't think it's very likely but again, you never say never.

Fire & Ice Wrestling (FIW) Legacy Site

From Mark

Frequently Asked Questions

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