Windy City Slam

A veteran of over two decades on the Chicagoland independent scene, Meathooks O’Bannon is gearing up for the biggest match of his career. The burly Irishman joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss POWW Entertainment Championship match against Will Emory at Wrestle Rage 24 this weekend, his top rivalries in his career, his tag team partnership with Kavan as Irish Pub Army, how an injury suffered in high school pointed him in the direction of pro wrestling, friendship of Jimmy Blaze, earning the respect of Eric Freedom and a locker room story about Dusty Rhodes. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from NXT Halloween Havoc, Wrestle League, Warrior Wrestling and 2econd Wrestling and previews Rocket Pro Wrestling, POWW Entertainment, WWE Crown Jewel and MLW Superfight in Cicero.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Young veteran and multiple-time tag team champion Sabin Gauge joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss his new faction in Freelance Wrestling, Mexican AF, the first thing he remembers when he started watching wrestling, influence of New Japan styles, his journey from Chicago Style Wrestling to Freelance to Mustafa Ali’s Chicago Wrestling Center, working with and against his cousin Koda Hernandez, working with Isaias Velazquez during Velazquez’s last run in Freelance, bond with Skye Blue, wrestling Mike Santana (aka Cruz Montana), working with BloodStone Wrestling and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from AAW Pro, Iron Spirit Pro, Southland Championship Wrestling, Hybrid Collective Wrestling and Illinois Valley Wrestling Federation while previewing 2econd Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling, ICW Milwaukee and NXT’s Halloween Havoc.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Armed with three decades in the pro wrestling business, PL Myers recently brought The Chicago Connection into Rocket Pro Wrestling. Myers joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about his return to wrestling after a bit of a hiatus, some hints on what Steve Michaels, Eric Schultz and the Connection have planned for RPW, his history with Road Warrior Hawk and getting to interview other talents from the Golden Era of wrestling and old school-type managers on the local scene. Plus, Mike presents news on a new GALLI Lucha Libre World Champion and recaps AEW WrestleDream while previewing local cards from AAW Pro, Hybrid Collective Wrestling, Southland Championship Wrestling, Northland Pro and Iron Spirit Pro.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“Your Local Surfer” Trent Surfer rides the wave to his first appearance on Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his rise in Freelance Wrestling, becoming the No. 1 contender to the Freelance Legacy Championship, his upcoming match vs. Shazza McKenzie, the varied influences behind his character, other Freelance Wrestling Academy up-and-comers, the mysterious Trentico, and his behind-the-scenes relationship with Trevor Outlaw. Also, Outlaw joins to the show to talk more about “The Spot” and makes some announcements. Mike recaps WWE Money In The Bank and TNA Bound For Glory and local highlights from BloodStone Wrestling, ARWPRO, DREAMWAVE and Chicago Style Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“Your Local Surfer” Trent Surfer rides the wave to his first appearance on Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his rise in Freelance Wrestling, becoming the No. 1 contender to the Freelance Legacy Championship, his upcoming match vs. Shazza McKenzie, the varied influences behind his character, other Freelance Wrestling Academy up-and-comers, the mysterious Trentico, and his behind-the-scenes relationship with Trevor Outlaw. Also, Outlaw joins to the show to talk more about “The Spot” and makes some announcements. Mike recaps WWE Money In The Bank and TNA Bound For Glory and local highlights from BloodStone Wrestling, ARWPRO, DREAMWAVE and Chicago Style Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Two-time ARWPRO Champion Donovan Marcelous returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his rivalry with Brendan Balling and ARW’s “Harvest Moon” this weekend, The Joe Alonzo Show in AAW Pro, learning from Alonzo, teaming up with Josh Bishop in hopes of adding AAW Tag Team gold, being a student of the game and expanding his horizons to West Coast independent promotions. Mike also dives deep into “The Spot” premiere event from last weekend and spoke with Hans Carden, Shaq Jordan, Arnley Sena and Trevor Outlaw. We also recap Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling and news of the first-ever Ego Pro Chicago Champion and preview BloodStone Wrestling, Chicago Style Wrestling, DREAMWAVE, WWE Money In The Bank and TNA Bound For Glory.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

One of pro wrestling’s premier deathmatch artists Dr. Redacted joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss how he got into wrestling, the evolution of the Dr. Redacted character, why deathmatches have a cult following, injuries sustained throughout his career, working with Game Changer Wrestling, winning ICW Milwaukee’s Insane 8 in 2023, his rivalry with Chico Suave at BloodStone Wrestling, Tommy Trainwreck and We Love Wrestling and his love for Disney theme parks and encounters he has had with fans. Plus, Mike recaps Southland Championship Wrestling’s “WrestleTopia VII,” the weekend of premium live events in Chicago and the shocking news of Pac’s death. Plus, there’s previews of upcoming shows from Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling, Ego Pro Chicago, POWW Entertainment and C3 Ultimate Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Two of Chicagoland’s top independent wrestling broadcasters Steve Ahrendt and Tyler Volz join Windy City Slam to talk about how this dream duo came together for the upcoming film “The Spot.” We catch up with Ahrendt’s exploits at Rocket Pro and Chicago Style Wrestling and talk to Volz about some of the latest in AAW Pro. We also discuss the quick chemistry they developed on set and what to expect from the short film, which premieres at Hollywood Blvd. on Oct. 4. Plus, Mike previews AEW All Out and WWE’s Worlds Collide premium live events happening around the Chicago area and lineups from local indies such as Southland Championship Wrestling’s “WrestleTopia VII,” Ultimate Combat Gauntlet, BloodStone Wrestling, POWW Entertainment and Warrior Wrestling up in Milwaukee.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Still the reigning AAW Pro Champion, “The King of Chicago” Joe Alonzo is TNA’s newest star. Alonzo joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss winning his dark match over The Home Town Man at LockDown in Chicago to earn his TNA contract, his X Division qualifying match against KC Navarro, taking aim at Leon Slater, thoughts on other Chicagoland talent in TNA, John E. Bravo, Robert “Ego” Anthony and Donovan Marcelous, what he needs to do to impress Santino Marella and Daria Rae and his goals in TNA. Plus, Mike recaps action from AAA TripleMania 34, Chicago Style Wrestling, ARWPRO and Rocket Pro Wrestling, which featured a return of a local star who we haven’t seen in nearly a year.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

With the premiere of “The Spot” quickly approaching, Windy City Slam welcomes current Rocket Pro, Wrestle League and ARWPRO Indiana State Champion Shaq Jordan and local photographer and artist Vero Delgado, two of the stars of the upcoming short film. The two discuss how they got involved with “The Spot” and their characters in the film. Jordan discusses the growth of his stable at Rocket Pro while Delgado shares the story of how she first discovered pro wrestling. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance Wrestling’s “Bonesaw,” Wrestle League’s “Lucha Libre In The Park” and WWE Sunday Night Main Event and previews lineups from Chicago Style Wrestling, Rocket Pro, POWW Entertainment, ARWPRO, Zero1’s Reign and AAA’s TripleMania 34.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Emerging young star Davina Thorne has only been wrestling for about a year and a half, but “The Head Diva” is already making her name around Chicagoland and even around the country. Thorne joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss training at the Freelance Wrestling Academy, working at places such as Freelance Wrestling and AAW Pro, how BloodStone Wrestling brought her and her boyfriend, fellow wrestler, Anakin Murphy, together, Deathmatch wrestling, her parents being wrestling fans, working against nationally-known talent such as Nyla Rose and Serena Deeb, how the Divas Revolution helped inspire her and more. Plus, Mike recaps premium live events from AEW, NXT and AAA and takes a spin around the local scene with news from POWW Entertainment and ICW Milwaukee and previews lineups for Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling and Wrestle League.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“Yours Rudely” Trevor Outlaw returns to Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time in over two years to open up about everything going on in his life inside and outside of the ring. Outlaw discusses his rise to the Freelance World Championship and Warrior Wrestling World Championship, paring down his wrestling schedule, working with Frank the Clown and The Leo Brothers, reconnecting with his faith, dabbling in acting and producing with the upcoming short film, “The Spot,” what his family and inner circle means to him and much more. Plus, Mike recaps TNA LockDown in Chicago from this past weekend and happenings from Chicago Style Wrestling and AAW Pro and previews lineups from AEW All In, NXT Heatwave, AAA, POWW Entertainment, 2econd Wrestling, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet, Northland Pro and more.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

With TNA LockDown coming to Chicago this weekend, Windy City Slam Podcast goes all in with special guests Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander. Ali discusses his TNA International Championship match against Jason Hotch, Order 4, working in a cage, what being a former police officer brought to his perspective, his training school (Chicago Wrestling Center), “The Spot” short film and more. Alexander, Current TNA X Division champion, talks about his defense against Leon Slater, the unique stipulation, the lineage of the X Division title, joining The System and the chemistry within the faction and more. Plus, Mike recaps SSW’s “War By The Shore” and previews the local scene with cards from Chicago Style Wrestling, AAW Pro and Southland Championship Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“The West Coast Warlord” Ryan Kross, one of the OG guests of Windy City Slam, returns to the show to talk all about this weekend’s “War By The Shore event by SSW Entertainment at Kenosha’s Historic Simmons Field. Kross discusses the entire lineup for the show, which features his son, Jordan, as SSW Unified Champion, going up against Chris Masters, plus the other former WWE stars on the show, including Kevin Thorn, Big Vito and Gene Snitsky, the makeover of the SSW roster in recent years with younger talent and an expanded women’s division, watching Jordan develop in his career over the last few years, Kross’ memories of watching Kenosha Twins game at Simmons Field, how much longer he might wrestle, hints on future SSW shows and more. Plus, Mike recaps local shows from Freelance Wrestling, Wrestle League and ARWPRO and previews cards from POWW Entertainment and C3 Ultimate Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

WWE’s biggest party of the summer produced some memorable moments, emotional roller coasters and some not-so good things. Former WWE.com writer Jordan Garretson returns to Windy City Slam to join Mike in recapping SummerSlam, the two World Championship matches, the new directions for the champions, Brock Lesnar’s endorsement of Oba Femi, an exciting return for Kevin Owens, a surprise victory for Chelsea Green and other thoughts about the two-day extravaganza. Plus, Mike previews local shows from Freelance Wrestling, ARWPRO, POWW Entertainment and Wrestle League while running down highlights from 2econd Wrestling and DREAMWAVE weekend.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

One of Chicagoland wrestling’s hottest rookies Brian Gorta has quickly made a name for himself on the Midwest independent scene. Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed Gorta to talk about training at the Chicago Wrestling Center under TNA star Mustafa Ali and local stalwarts Koda Hernandez and Alfonso Gonzalez, coming up the ranks with classmates Jonny Black, Kurt Diggity and Pinky Montoya, his debut against Andre Flo, chemistry with Montoya heading into their SSW Entertainment tag match next month, working in places such as Freelance Wrestling, Chicago Style Wrestling, Ego Pro Chicago and Bloodstone Wrestling and not looking too far ahead. Plus, Mike previews WWE SummerSlam and local cards from 2econd Wrestling, POWW Entertainment, DREAMWAVE and Ultimate Combat Gauntlet and recaps highlights from AEW Redemption, Illinois Valley Wrestling Federation, Iron Spirit Pro and Southland Championship Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

He’s a fun-loving dude who brings high energy to every show where he wrestles. Midwest-based Preston Ryker joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss being trained by Kongo Kong, how Kong brought him in when he was struggling a bit, being influenced by The Boogeyman, Matt Hardy and Kevin Thorn, his experience at SSW Entertainment at HORSEPOWER IV back in March and his match with tag team partner Rae Larson at SSW’s “War By The Shore” next month, being well-rounded, working behind the scenes at bigger promotions, merchandising and more. Plus, Mike recaps results and key happenings from Chicago Style Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling, DREAMWAVE and WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event and previews lineups from POWW Entertainment, Southland Championship Wrestling, Illinois Valley Wrestling, Illiana Pro Wrestling and AEW Redemption.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

He’s one of the world’s most known creators in the genre of wrestling action figure customization. He’s a Croatian 3D artist and designer who services customers all over the world. The Great Tom Veg, with a catalog of over 800 custom 3D wrestler heads, joins Windy City Slam Podcast to tell his story. Veg explains how some life events led to his creative calling, who in the customizing community reached out to him to push him toward this vocation, the artistic talents of his wife, Andrea, not watching pro wrestling until he started making the 3D heads, who some of his favorite wrestlers are, and how watching wrestling helped him bond with his children. Plus, Mike recaps results from New Japan’s G1 and previews WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event and shares news from POWW Entertainment, AAW Pro, ARWPRO, Southland Championship Wrestling and GLCW, and looks ahead at events by Chicago Style Wrestling, DREAMWAVE Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling and Iron Spirit Pro.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Longtime local wrestling broadcaster and interviewer Tyler Volz joins Windy City Slam to discuss his how he got into wrestling, working with AAW Pro and DREAMWAVE Wrestling over the years, stories about Billy Gunn and Cody Rhodes, getting in-ring training from Mustafa Ali and breaks down the card for this weekend’s AAW Pro event “United We Stand.” Plus, Mike recaps CM Punk’s return to Raw and previews events from POWW Entertainment, GALLI Lucha Libre, ARW Pro, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet and Great Lakes Championship Wrestling.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Local content creator “I Am S L P W L K R” Arnley Sena joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss his upcoming short film “The Spot,” which stars local wrestlers Trevor Outlaw, Hans Carden, Solomon Tupu, Shaq Jordan and Mustafa Ali and is set to premiere in the fall. Sena talks about his video content career, getting into the independent scene a couple of years ago, Outlaw’s contributions to the film, the dangers of working ringside at shows, Jewel-Osco’s “Big Deal Energy” show and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from a busy weekend of Premium Live Events from WWE, NXT, TNA and NXT and local news from Freelance Wrestling, ARWPRO and Iron Spirit Pro.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy “Wrestling, Chicago-Style” on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!