PODCAST

Windy City Slam

Mike Pankow

Wrestling, Chicago-Style

sports wrestling

All Episodes

55:05

“Rockstar” Jonny Nigh plays the hits

Windy City Slam ·

2026/02/17

A little bit of a late bloomer in the wrestling business, “Rockstar” Jonny Nigh’s career didn’t start till he was 28 years old. Now, a bit of a grizzled veteran, the new Rocket Pro Wrestling Outer Limits Champion joins Windy City Slam to talk about his career, recent run in RPW, ride with The Idols and how much of a family that faction was, his first title defense coming up next month, how a chance meeting at a birthday party got him in the door, how important Rion Skillz was to him and others in

58:12

Rare air: Shaq Jordan takes flight

Windy City Slam ·

2026/02/10

Despite a minor setback of dropping the Rocket Pro Wrestling Championship, Shaq Jordan’s star has risen exponentially over the last two years. Jordan, the current Frontline Pro Champion, returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about his all-star faction and RPW, breaking through at Frontline, his desire to regain the Wrestle League Champion and what WL means to him, working with and being trained by Mustafa Ali and much more. Special correspondent Tony Gabagool also joins the show to recap Rocket

71:56

Ready to Rumble: Jordan Garretson is back

Windy City Slam ·

2026/02/03

Former WWE Digital staffer Jordan Garretson returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to break down all the happenings from last weekend’s Royal Rumble, what was good, what fell flat and the future holds during the Road to WrestleMania while Mike harps on Chelsea Green being pigeonholed in her WWE role and some contrived moments in the Rumble matches. Jordan and Mike also look ahead at some potential WrestleMania matchups. Plus, we recap 2econd Wrestling and FabWrestling results and preview lineups for

42:33

All in the family: Referee Brian Allen

Windy City Slam ·

2026/01/27

Being part of a pro wrestling family, it only made sense that Brian Allen got into the business. But the vocation he chose may not be as glamorous as being a wrestler, but a referee is still very important to a show. Allen, whose father and brother are wrestlers, joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss how he became a ref, if he ever had an inclination to become a wrestler, a story about his dad picking up King Kong Bundy from the airport, a bizarre incident at Juggalo Championship Wrestling,

35:51

Drillbit Damien Walker offers some perspective

Windy City Slam ·

2026/01/20

“Being the dumbest one in the room” has certainly helped young Drillbit Damien Walker grow up pretty quickly in the wrestling business. Surrounding himself with people with “Ice Pick” Vic Capri, Doug Simmons, Jordan Kross, Missa Kate and Pat Monix, Walker has shown signs of a bright future, and he discusses his journey on this week’s Windy City Slam. Walker talks about training at The IcePick Academy, evaluates what he’s improved upon over the last year, working with Dave Rydell and Jeff Luxon with

39:04

Jordan Kross back again; Local indie recaps

Windy City Slam ·

2026/01/13

In a card-subject-to-change episode of Windy City Slam, “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross joins us again to talk SSW’s “HORSEPOWER IV” event coming in March and the talent that has been announced, his SSW Championship against his father, how The Punk Rock Jocks team with CJ Martin came together in 2econd Wrestling, expanding his reach to the Northeast, working for DREAMWAVE and more. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling and ARW Pro, previews lineups from 2econd, Chicago

36:44

2econd Wrestling’s Rabbi Fine returns

Windy City Slam ·

2026/01/06

2econd Wrestling promoter Rabbi Jeremy Fine returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss four years in the wrestling business, relationship with Colt Cabana, previews of two shows this month (including “Clouded Judgement” and “Thriller In The Miller 3), Sean Login, David Ali, Missa Kate, what’s ahead in 2026 for 2econd, Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from AAW Pro “Windy City Classic XX” and previews lineups from Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling,

34:26

Something’s cookin’ with Will Emory

Windy City Slam ·

2025/12/30

He’s a jacked specimen and a double champ in the ring and culinary artist outside of it. Will Emory, who has re-emerged over the last couple of years as a dominant force in POWW Entertainment, joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to talk about the two stages of his in-ring career – as “The High Priest” William Jacobs and becoming “Champ Champ” after coming back from his hiatus, what caused him to take two years off from wrestling and what pushed him to come back, his upcoming match with

34:39

Merry Christmas with Alfonso Gonzalez

Windy City Slam ·

2025/12/23

A former Freelance Wrestling World Champion and a regular in Ego Pro Chicago, Alfonso Gonzalez is a talented wrestler and just a hilarious guy. Gonzalez returns for a special holiday edition of Windy City Slam to discuss his new Christmas album (he’s a recording artist now, too), being the first wrestler to cash in a Red Star Medallion at Freelance, an altercation with Jeff Jarrett at an Iron Spirit Pro event, being a trainer at Mustafa Ali’s Chicago Wrestling Center, emerging CWC students Brian

45:23

Donovan Marcelous rises; John Cena, Missa Kate farewells

Windy City Slam ·

2025/12/16

He’s brash, he’s cool, he’s the new ARW Pro Champion. “Marvelous” Donovan Marcelous joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to talk about beating Greg Glover for the ARW title, his run in AAW Pro with Joe Alonzo where he helped Chuck Smooth’s 6-year-old son turn on him, the influence of his wrestling father, working the Hammond Civic Center, getting advanced training from Ace Steel and more. Plus, Mike tributes John Cena and “Chicago’s Sweetheart” Missa Kate, who both wrestled their final

56:28

Tony Gabagool at head of the table

Windy City Slam ·

2025/12/09

He’s in the middle of many things at Rocket Pro Wrestling. He’s Tony Gabagool. Windy City Slam’s RPW special correspondent gets the featured guest treatment this week as he recaps “Christmas Chaos,” which featured the crowning of a new RPW Champion, and discusses winning a championship for 38 seconds, the state of the Chicago wrestling scene, John Cena’s retirement tour, the return of Tony D’Angelo and more. Plus, Mike recaps a weekend chock full of action from TNA, ROH, NXT, 2econd Wrestling,

40:41

California’s Johnnie Robbie

Windy City Slam ·

2025/12/02

Cutting her teeth on the West Coast and training with the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo, “La Traviesa” Johnnie Robbie is expanding her horizons. Robbie, the current West Coast Pro Champion, joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about her Chicago debut at Warrior Wrestling when she faces AEW star Willow Nightengale, getting into the business after a friend got her into watching wrestling, the respect of the business at the New Japan dojo, taking her first tour of Japan earlier this year, working

45:16

Warrior Wrestling returns with Steve Tortorello

Windy City Slam ·

2025/11/25

A phenomenon on the Chicagoland independent scene, Warrior Wrestling is returning and bringing back some of its household names. Warrior promoter Steve Tortorello joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss the parameters of the return, its upcoming show on Dec. 5 in Chicago, the card for “Resurrection,” which includes AEW star Willow Nightengale, international star Sam Adonis and more, the lucha libre heritage in Warrior, whether the company could return to Marian Catholic and more. Plus, Mike has a

54:56

Axel Rico collecting belts, expanding reach

Windy City Slam ·

2025/11/18

Holder of multiple championships and a local wrestling trainer, Axel Rico made time to come back to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about his exploits. Rico discussed his Metra Division title defense against FxB at Chicago Style Wrestling’s “Second City Showdown V,” his run as GALLI Lucha Libre World Championship (including a recent defense against Bandido and Gravity), being part of FOBIA at 2econd Wrestling, making his in-ring debut at GLCW’s “Blizzard Brawl” in Wisconsin, Rafael Quintero’s rise,

51:25

Rising star Rafael Quintero returns

Windy City Slam ·

2025/11/11

Less than three years into the wrestling business, Rafael Quintero already has worked in AEW and TNA rings and is one of the hottest prospects on the Chicagoland scene. “The Diamond In The Rough” returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about the latest in his career, including his upcoming AAW Pro Championship match against Trevor Lee at “Smokeshow,” his rivalry with Victor Iniestra at Chicago Style Wrestling and GALLI Lucha Libre, being trained by Axel Rico at the CSW Academy, match vs. Jack

70:04

Chicago/Joliet legend Robert “Ego” Anthony

Windy City Slam ·

2025/11/04

Windy City Slam Podcast celebrates its 300th episode with one of our biggest guests to date. Chicagoland/Joliet pro wrestling legend Robert “Ego” Anthony joins the program to discuss the rise of his promotion, Ego Pro Chicago, how working hand-in-hand with the special needs community helped grow the brand, some of the fantastic talent in Ego Pro, a new working relationship with Mustafa Ali’s Chicago Wrestling Center, returning to AAW Pro a couple of years ago after a tremendous run in Freelance

50:57

Salute to Gunner Brave (Cain)

Windy City Slam ·

2025/10/28

With a four-year commitment to the United States Army beginning in a couple of months, local independent wrestler Gunner Brave (aka Gunner Cain) returned to Windy City Slam Podcast to tell his story. Brave explains his decision to join the army, defending his Iron Spirit Pro Championship against Solomon Tupu, his time in Rocket Pro Wrestling and helping put over Shaq Jordan on his way out, living in an apartment with Tupu and Conan Lycan years ago, his close friend “Sabotage” Sean Logan, his

43:19

New CSW Women’s Champ Lili La Pescadita

Windy City Slam ·

2025/10/21

Three and a half years into her wrestling career, Lili La Pescadita continues her ascent as she won the Chicago Style Wrestling Women’s Championship and appeared on a TNA Premium Live Event within the last month. La Pescadita returned to Windy City Slam to talk about her rivalry with Aminah Belmont, the ultra-competitive CSW women’s division, working with TNA, Harley Hudson and Deonna Purrazzo, doing the right things in her quest to get signed, training with Mustafa Ali, learning from seminars and

60:18

“Psychotic” Jimmy Blaze’s fire still burns

Windy City Slam ·

2025/10/14

“Psychotic” Jimmy Blaze has been an integral part of pro wrestling for over three decades, and the longtime veteran of the ring wars returned to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk all about POWW Entertainment’s biggest show of the year, Wrestle Rage 23. Blaze discusses the action-packed card coming to Melrose Park on Nov. 1, his part in a 4-on-4 elimination steel cage match against The Reckoning, his students over the years including Mason Percs, Kyle Allen (Kyzyle), Will Emory and Tony D’Angelo, this

58:25

It's Suave-tober: Chico returns

Windy City Slam ·

2025/10/07

Nearly two decades into his career, Chico Suave recently overcame his underdog status to become Freelance Wrestling Legacy Champion and he’s got a busy month ahead. Suave returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss dethroning Koda Hernandez, first defense against Sabin Gauge, upcoming hardcore match against Dr. Redacted at Bloodstone Wrestling, being involved in Pat Monix’s “Final Phase” program, relationship with Robert “Ego” Anthony, the camaraderie of Ego Pro Chicago and his appearance at “A

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