Windy City Slam

With TNA Slammiversary this weekend, Chicago guy and TNA color commentator Matthew Rehwoldt returned to the show for the first time in nearly five years to discuss the big event, including the three-way main event between Trick Williams, Joe Hendry and Mike Santana for the TNA World Championship. We discuss the Slammiversary card, the current state of TNA, TNA’s working agreement with NXT, Mustafa Ali’s storytelling, Leon Slater’s ...

The New World Order – better known simply as the NWO – was a pop culture phenomenon in the late 1990s and catapulted professional wrestling into the mainstream consciousness. ESPN journalist Marc Raimondi joined Windy City Slam to chat about the revolution and his new book, “Say Hello to The Bad Guys: “How Professional Wrestling’s New World Order” Changed America.” We go back to how the NWO was formed and ask Marc about his researc...

Longtime wrestling contributor and local historian Nick Headford joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss a special event to honor the life of Eric Priest, who passed away suddenly earlier this year. Headford talks about the diverse group of talent who are scheduled to work at “A Day For Priest” at the end of July in West Chicago, memories of Priest and what to expect from the show, as well as the latest in POWW Entertainment. Plus...

Growing up in the same area as WWE Superstar CM Punk, maybe it was destiny for “Big Hoss Hippie” Regan Lydale to become a professional wrestler. Lydale, who just won the Defiant Pro Wrestling Championship this past weekend, joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss how a family friend pushed her toward Tommy Else, who in turn prepared her for the rigors of the Freelance Wrestling Academy, her upcoming Freelance Wo...

Formerly of Alpha Zeta Zeta, Hans Carden has made his name from mastering the single-leg Boston Crab and securing multiple championships. Carden joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his runs as Chicago Style Wrestling Metra Division Champion and GALLI Lucha Libre Discovery Champion, a memorable rib played on him and Charlie Kleiman during their time as AZZ, training at CSW Academy, his first memory of flippin...

Rocket Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion “Simply Undeniable” Steve Michaels may be a beast in the ring, but he owns a heart of gold outside of it. Michaels returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his yearlong reign as RPW Champion, being the rock of The Undeniable, his upcoming match with former NXT and AEW wrestler Parker Boudreaux, participating at the Cauliflower Alley Reunion Showcase, working a show with Steve “Mongo” M...

Thanks to The IcePick Academy, “Icebox” Josie Valentine has transformed herself into a potential star over the last year. Valentine joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss her stint at Black and Brave, her father’s influence, the ups and downs of her wrestling journey, who pointed her toward The IcePick Academy and Vic Capri, her character makeover, filling out her literal wrestling bingo card and more. Plus, we...

Returning to Windy City Slam Podcast is the inaugural NWA Chicago Champion “Polish Power” Mario Pardua. Pardua joins us to discuss working his way through Chicago Style Wrestling and the CSW Academy, defeating his mentor “Superstar” Steve Boz to win the NWA Chicago title, teaming with Boz at NWA 76 last summer, Team Babushka with Shelly Benson and Eric Schultz, getting a pic with Billy Corgan, branching out to more companies, aspir...

She’s one of the fastest rising wrestlers on the independent scene, a former Ohio Valley Wrestling Women’s Champion who has seen action in Illinois at DREAMWAVE, Uprising Women’s Athletes and Chicago Style Wrestling. “The Ultimate Athlete” J-Rod joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss the great names who have held the OVW Women’s title, working for DREAMWAVE, career aspirations in and out of the ring, what she learned from her WWE...

He’s done a little bit of everything on the Chicagoland independent scene, including broadcasting, managing, podcasting, working as an authority figure, and even wrestling. Steve Ahrendt returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss a loaded card for Chicago Style Wrestling’s “Nowhere Generation,” the latest happenings in CSW, his match at Rocket Pro against Shaq Jordan and run-in with Aaron Stone, Mario Pardua becoming NWA Chicago...

Friend of the show, “The Godfather of the Lovely Intoxicated Men,” Tony Gabagool joins Windy City Slam Podcast for his first full-fledged interview as he recaps Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Kicks on 66” season finale. Gabagool discusses the chaotic Three Stages of Hell main event between The Freebirds and Youth Gone Wild as well as some of the other craziness that went down in Joliet last weekend. Gabagool also offers his views on the i...

One of the Chicago area’s rising stars, Ezio Orlandi, and his cohorts in FOBIA are strong-arming their way toward the top of 2econd Wrestling. Orlandi returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his journey, quest to regain the Maxwell Street Heritage Championship, thoughts on Sean Login, what to expect at “Anchorfists,” starting to train at the Chicago Style Wrestling school, expanding his reach in the Midwest, upcoming match ag...

In a stacked episode, AMB and Oscar Rodriguez of Midwest Championship Wrestling join Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about MCW “Street Fight” this weekend in Ottawa. AMB and Rodriguez discuss the card, the evolution of MCW and trying to grow the brand every day. Plus, former WWE.com writer Jordan Garretson returns to dive deep into WrestleMania 41 weekend, including a megastar who was conspicuous by his absence, the ups and downs o...

The now-former Freelance Wrestling World Champion Alfonso Gonzalez returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about the emotions of winning the title, dreams of wrestling Damien Sandow, defending the Freelance Underground Independent Championship at Defiant Pro, previewing matches at the upcoming Ego Pro Chicago show in Shorewood, relationship with Robert “Ego” Anthony, having a hot sauce named after him and more. Plus, we recap an...

Chicago wrestling legend TINY returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about retiring from in-ring competition and helping backstage at POWW Entertainment. He also talks about the future of the company in talents such as Mason Percs and Will Emory, a burgeoning women’s division and a busy month of shows in May. TINY also reflects on the recent passings of “Awesome” Ondy Austin and Mr. Bill. Also, Mike recaps the Chicago debut of ...

Longtime ring announcer and broadcaster for promotions such as AAW Pro, Freelance Underground, Freelance Wrestling and Zelo Pro, Jimmy D is one of Chicago indie wrestling’s most recognizable voices. Windy City Slam Podcast welcomes Jimmy D for the first time to preview AAW’s “Ring of Fire,” discuss what drew him to wrestling, times working for various local promotions, interactions with Drew McIntyre, Eddie Kingston, Mustafa Ali, o...

The Chicagoland independent wrestling scene is robust with great talent spread out through many promotions. PWE Report’s Sean Lennon joins Windy City Slam Podcast to recap Chicago Style Wrestling’s “Figure Four Leaf Clover” (which featured some surprises), Freelance Wrestling (including their top champions and the Red Star Medallion), the state of Chicagoland indie wrestling, top local independent women and more. Plus, Mike recaps ...

“From the Far Side of the World Tree,” “The Ragna-Rocker” KRUX makes his debut appearance on Windy City Slam Podcast to explain his mission in pro wrestling, preview Illinois Valley Wrestling Federation’s inaugural show “The Donnybrook Brawl,” his connection with Angus McDuff, his inspirations to get into wrestling, working with PRW and ARW Pro and how he could fit in as a Juggalo. Plus, Mike recaps TNA Sacrifice and WWE/NXT Roadbl...

A gruesome leg injury and excruciating rehab didn’t stop Sean Galway from returning to what he loved. A year after breaking his leg in a match, “The Irish Stallion” joins Windy City Slam to walk us through his origins in the wrestling business, training at Freelance Wrestling Academy, what he remembers from his debut match, his “gambler” gimmick, the match vs. Dante Leon at Iron Spirit Pro where he suffered the injury, the long reh...