Davison Sarai has quite the story – she is a transgender woman, a professional therapist and broke into professional wrestling in her 40s. Sarai joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about her decision to start in the wrestling business decades after doing some backyard stuff with friends as a teenager, advice she gives to other transgender women, how doing a wrestling podcast got her discovered, influence of Nyla Rose, working with No Coast as their personal therapist at Rocket Pro Wrestling, e...
Apr 25, 2023•54 min•Ep. 168
A self-professed late bloomer, Jackson “Stampede” Larkin is starting to take over Chicagoland independent wrestling and he tells us his story on this week’s Windy City Slam Podcast. Larkin shares how he got his start, how many great wrestling minds helped piece together the man known as “Stampede,” how he grew into his current physique, the influence of C.Red, how a car ride with Elayna Black (aka NXT’s Cora Jade) got him some opportunities in the Twin Cities, getting noticed in the Chicago area...
Apr 18, 2023•53 min•Ep. 167
Longtime friends Mason Conrad and Joey Marx talk about teaming up as The Heroes of Our Time as they joined Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time. Conrad and Marx talk about their recent tour of Mexico, working as The OG’z as heels in GALLI Lucha Libre, friendships with Matt Bacaling, Big Jon Crowley, Carlos Robles and James Russo, time in Freelance Underground and Zelo Pro, expanding their reach in working for new promotions, Mason’s love for Star Wars and more. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance ...
Apr 11, 2023•46 min•Ep. 166
Former two-time World Heavyweight Champion EC3 joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his NWA National Championship match with the familiar-looking Cyon at NWA 312, his mind-set shift with Control Your Narrative following his WWE release, reconnecting with Billy Corgan after working with him in IMPACT Wrestling, his well-executed storyline with Rockstar Spud in IMPACT, the old-school vibe of the NWA mixed with traditional pay-per-view wrestling, his past relationship with NWA Worlds Heavyweig...
Apr 04, 2023•47 min•Ep. 165
Longtime Chicago-area wrestler Jay Bradley joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss NWA 312 coming to Highland Park in early April, his chemistry with Wrecking Ball Legursky as The Fixers, long relationship with NWA owner Billy Corgan, the NWA’s old-school vision, working local indies such as the LWF, Resistance Pro and Pro Wrestling Blitz, some of his favorite local opponents over the years and much more. Plus, Mike recaps action from AAW Epic and Warrior Wrestling 29 and offers predictions an...
Mar 28, 2023•56 min•Ep. 164
AAW Pro Executive Producer Trent Zuberi previews AAW Epic – the 19th Anniversary Event – and breaks down some of the main matches. He details the company’s history of great, internationally-known talent, how he hooked up with one of the Midwest’s premier wrestling organizations, what makes AAW shows so special and much more. Plus, Mike recaps a hectic All Heel Wrestling “March of War,” which featured a main event championship match between LGBTQ+ athletes in Mateo Valentine and Dog-Faced Bastard...
Mar 21, 2023•55 min•Ep. 163
“Dog-Faced Bastard” Greg Murray joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his extreme three-way brawl against Scott Spade and Kyzyle at Rockford Damage Inc., his upcoming All Heel Wrestling Championship match against Mateo Valentine, training and camaraderie at Chicago Style Wrestling, working with Trog the Caveman as The Bone Daddies at POWW Entertainment, his emotional day at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” last summer and much more. Plus, Mike recaps SSW HORSEPOWER with exclusive comments from Jordan ...
Mar 14, 2023•53 min•Ep. 162
From the basketball court and the streets come “One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell and “Prince 100” Koda Hernandez as the Freelance Underground Tag Team Champions, Pick N’ Pop, join Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time as a team. They discuss whose idea it was to put them together, wrestling teams such as the Coco Buffs and the Brothers of Funstruction, rivalry with the Bang Bros, their creative vignettes and promos, the growth of the Freelance Wrestling Academy and the upcoming FWA student s...
Mar 07, 2023•58 min•Ep. 161
Windy City Slam Podcast welcomes back friend of the show “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross to discuss his rise in the Midwest independents, including a regular spot at Warrior Wrestling, his run of luck at Warrior, his rematch with EC3 at SSW HORSEPOWER coming up on March 10 in Kenosha, how fans helped him get connected with 2econd Wrestling, who helped propel him into what he is today, charting his growth with that of contemporary Kal Herro and much more. Plus, Mike previews AEW Revolution an...
Feb 28, 2023•37 min•Ep. 160
Windy City Slam Podcast welcomes CBS58 Milwaukee news anchor Mike Curkov, originally from Chicago’s Northwest suburbs, to discuss his itch to become a wrestler, emphasis on taking it seriously, working a feud against former WWE Superstar Kevin Thorn/Mordecai at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling, which Attitude Era moment pulled him into watching wrestling, who trained him for his ring appearances and his upcoming match at SSW’s HORSEPOWER on March 10 in Kenosha. Plus, Mike recaps 2econd Wrestli...
Feb 21, 2023•53 min•Ep. 159
Coming up on nearly four years in the wrestling business, Kayla Kassidy has grown on the Midwestern independent scene and gained opportunities in the NWA and MLW. Kassidy joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to talk about her time in wrestling, including working with Jazz and Madusa/Alundra Blayze, her experience against Max the Impaler, stops in Freelance and Freelance Underground and her upcoming debut this weekend at 2econd Wrestling against Heather Monroe, working with Billie Sta...
Feb 14, 2023•44 min•Ep. 158
After strutting his stuff pretty much everywhere for the last two decades, IMPACT Wrestling newcomer Dirty Dango joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss IMPACT’s upcoming events in the Chicago area, reuniting with some familiar faces, his goals in the company, his brief tag team with Robert Anthony and more. Plus, we pay tribute to the legendary Leaping Lanny Poffo (aka The Genius) with exclusive never-before-heard audio from STARRCAST 2018. In addition, Pat Ackerman of the Lovely Intoxicated M...
Feb 07, 2023•59 min•Ep. 157
Chicago veteran indie wrestler Craig Mitchell joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss Freelance Wrestling’s upcoming charity event “RedHawk Rumble” at Marist High School, growing up in the business, the early days of Freelance, his longtime rivalry with GPA, working through an Achilles’ injury while wrestling Bryan Keith and more. Mike also recaps a strong Royal Rumble, including the Sami Zayn-Bloodline dynamic, and previews Rocket Pro Wrestling and POWW Entertainment shows. ...
Jan 31, 2023•48 min•Ep. 156
Ezio Orlandi is starting to rise on the local scene and “Beyond Alpha” joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his training at Freelance Wrestling Academy and The Nightmare Factory (with QT Marshall, Cody Rhodes and Glacier), how fellow college wrestler “Chief of Beef” Hunk Kasady pointed him in the right direction, amateur wrestling compared to the pro style, upcoming matches for AllStar Lucha Libre and 2econd Wrestling, working for Freelance and Freelance Underground and more. Mike also reca...
Jan 24, 2023•41 min•Ep. 155
With a background in dancing, Shelly “The Bombshell” burst onto the Chicagoland independent scene in the spring of 2022 and made immediate waves. Shelly joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss training at Steve Boz’s school, the emotions of her first career match against AEW star Skye Blue in Chicago Style Wrestling, getting advice from Vic Capri, working with Mario Pardua and Eric Schultz as Team Babushka, the family camaraderie of CSW, having Max Caster freestyle on her in SSW and more. Mike...
Jan 17, 2023•41 min•Ep. 154
Coming back to local independent wrestling after a long hiatus, Koa Laxamana just wants to have fun doing what he loves. Laxamana joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss the different stages of his wrestling career, competitive bodybuilding, his visit to the WCW Power Plant, working out with Hulk Hogan as a 19-year-old aspiring wrestler, return to Southland Championship Wrestling and working with POWW Entertainment and Rocket Pro. Plus, Pat Ackerman of the Lovely Intoxicated Men joins Mike to ...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 153
From a short experiment of working as a wrestler to becoming a self-made man as a graphic designer for wrestling event posters and refereeing 900 matches in between, Derek Sharp of Curtain Jerker Designs has seen pretty much everything in independent wrestling. Sharp talks about his experiences, road stories, how he started his business and coming up with themes and concepts for posters to help bring fans to shows. Plus, Mike recaps a hot AAW “Unstoppable” show and previews Rocket Pro Wrestling,...
Jan 03, 2023•52 min•Ep. 152
From North of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, Sierra has become one of the Midwest’s top female wrestlers. Sierra, the Chicago Style Wrestling Women’s Champion and No. 1 contender to the AAW Women’s Championship, joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss her journey, coming up in the business with Frankie DeFalco’s Brew City Wrestling, her achievements, her upcoming match against Christi Jaynes at AAW “Unstoppable,” breaking through in CSW, traveling and tag-teaming with her boyfriend, Joey “Jet” ...
Dec 27, 2022•31 min•Ep. 151
WWE alumnus Maven joins Episode #150 of Windy City Slam Podcast, a special early Christmas present for Windy City Slam supporters. We discuss his WWE career, Tough Enough, his favorite WWE moment (hint: It's not dropkicking The Undertaker out of the 2002 Royal Rumble), his current job, wrestlers with which he still stays in contact, rough times, his favorite TV show and many more unplanned topics. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance Underground with the big Calvin Tankman-Project M.ON.I.X. title match, ...
Dec 20, 2022•52 min•Ep. 150
Chicago independent wrestling superstar Project M.O.N.I.X. returned to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss the journey to his upcoming Freelance Underground Championship match against Calvin Tankman at “The Final Countdown,” James Russo’s belief in him, his battle with Chico Suave and leaving the door open for their friendship and much more. Plus, Pro Wrestling Enforcer’s Sean Lennon stops by to recap 2econd Wrestling’s “Dynasty” and preview Warrior Wrestling 26. Plus, Mike talks DREAMWAVE Wrestl...
Dec 13, 2022•52 min•Ep. 149
“Yours Rudely” Trevor Outlaw is one of a kind, according to himself, and Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed back the polarizing Chicago wrestler to discuss his ongoing feud with Matt Knicks at Freelance Wrestling, banding together with Frank the Clown and FTC LLC, his upcoming match against Mance Warner at Warrior Wrestling, holding grudges and becoming the best at whatever he does. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance, Rocket Pro Wrestling, POWW Entertainment and Blizzard Brawl and previews big shows from...
Dec 06, 2022•55 min•Ep. 148
Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed longtime Chicago wrestler Paul Thomaselli to discuss working with some well-known names such as Claudio Castagnoli, Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn, the many companies for which he’s worked, ringside hazards, the Thomaselli clan, family, tattoos, Reese’s candy and much more. Plus, Mike recaps WWE Survivor Series and previews another big weekend of action, including POWW Entertainment, Rocket Pro, Northland Pro, Freelance Wrestling and GLCW's "Blizzard Brawl." Mike Pan...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 147
Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed legendary Chicago wrestling personality Billy Whack and we discuss the rise and fall of the LWF (Lunatic Wrestling Federation) from its underground origins to becoming legitimate in 1997, his time with Pro Wrestling Blitz, relationship with the Kross family, his love for 1980s and 1990s toys (including Masters of the Universe) and his upcoming “Night of the SUPERWRESTLERS” project. Plus, Mike recaps a red-hot weekend of action, including an in-depth report from A...
Nov 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 146
Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed back Chicago independent wrestler Missa Kate to talk about her evolution, including her NWA run, road stories with NWA brethren, a taste of AEW Dark, recalling her conversation with Maria Kanellis at WrestleMania weekend in 2021 and parlaying that into a role with Women’s Wrestling Army, her upcoming match with Leslie La Muñeca at All Heel Wrestling’s “WrestleHaven,” her street fight with Heather Reckless at Berwyn Championship Wrestling and creating designs for ...
Nov 15, 2022•45 min•Ep. 145
Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed 2022 Jim Lynam Memorial Tournament winner “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin, who will challenge Jake Something for the AAW Championship at “The Windy City Classic” on Nov. 25. Beef talks about building confidence by defeating Mike Bennett to gain momentum heading into the JLMT, his impressive run in the tournament, which throwback wrestlers he emulates and studies and much more. Plus, Mike recaps Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Harvest Havoc” with exclusive post-show reaction fro...
Nov 08, 2022•55 min•Ep. 144
Rocket Pro Wrestling General Manager Damien Saint joined Windy City Slam Podcast to delve inside the reasons for his actions last Spring that put The Fabulous Idols in charge of RPW, his first few months as GM, this weekend’s stacked “Harvest Havoc” show in Joliet, his beefs with JBek and Steve Ahrendt, his time in the U.S. Army and much more. Plus, Mike recaps 2econd Wrestling and Rockford Damage Inc. and previews POWW Entertainment’s WrestleRage 20 and WWE Crown Jewel. Mike Pankow is a wrestli...
Nov 01, 2022•55 min•Ep. 143
A veteran of nearly two decades, POWW Entertainment stalwart Scott Spade joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss the upcoming WrestleRage 20 event, POWW vs. Southland Championship Wrestling, how a fantasy camp got him into the business, wrestling nerdom, in-ring style, and appreciation of tag teams and old-school wrestling. Plus, Mike provides an in-depth recap of Freelance Underground’s “Same Ol’ Situation” featuring reaction from Storm Grayson, plus talk of Freelance Wrestling, Chicago Style...
Oct 25, 2022•57 min•Ep. 142
The dominant Backwoods Brown returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss surpassing 1,000 days as GLCW Champion, tells a special story of lost wrestling gear being returned to him, previews One Fall Entertainment’s upcoming charity show “Pink Heals,” and talk about his beloved Chicago Bears. Plus, Mike provides an in-depth preview of Freelance Underground’s “Same Ol’ Situation” in Joliet, recaps AAW’s Jim Lynam Memorial Tournament and POWW Entertainment and previews Freelance Wrestling, Chicag...
Oct 18, 2022•59 min•Ep. 141
Sportskeeda reporter and AAW Pro backstage interviewer Kevin Kellam joins Windy City Slam Podcast to preview the Jim Lynam Memorial Tournament, discuss what Lynam meant to the company, the AAW fan experience and much more. Plus, Mike recaps SSW’s “They’re Here and with exclusive audio of Jordan Kross following his SSW Tag Team Championship victory. We also recap WWE Extreme Rules, and IMPACT Wrestling’s Bound For Glory and preview the week ahead in local wrestling. Mike Pankow is a wrestling sup...
Oct 11, 2022•43 min•Ep. 140
Local pro wrestler “Mr. Made For TV” Tully Bertorelli joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his wrestling career with stops in Crash Tested Wrestling and Frontline Pro, the upcoming Chicagoland Championship Wrestling show in Michigan City, his burgeoning career as an actor and stunt performer in shows such as “Empire,” “Fargo” and “Chicago PD” and much more. Mike also recaps Rocket Pro Wrestling and the return of Warrior Wrestling and previews WWE Extreme Rules, IMPACT Boun...
Oct 04, 2022•53 min•Ep. 139
