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PODCAST

First Match

Join Jesse Kage as he interviews professional wrestling superstars of today and the legends of the past about their break into pro wrestling and the entertaining journey to their "First Match" and beyond!

sports wrestling

All Episodes

35:35

Ep. 21: Charles Robinson

First Match ·

2020/10/08

On the ***SEASON FINALE*** of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with WWE Referee Charles Robinson!!!Blood capsules, razor blades and a hair vs. hair match?! Jump in the first match time machine and learn all about when Little Naitch was really little! From watching wrestling with his grandma, having the police watch out for him because he was rooting for the heels, his big break, what makes a good ref, the important relationships with the wrestlers and much much more! Thank you

en-US

37:38

Ep. 20: SoCal Val

First Match ·

2020/10/01

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with SoCal Val!! Was so great catching up with Val and we talked everything from her persona as Nikki Hollywood in her RPG wrestling league back in the day to her first show that was 3 days before her 16th birthday! Then on to her move from LA to Orlando, learning from the legendary Francine, chair shots to the face and bumps from Abyss! Enjoy this amazing journey! Next week we welcome WWE Referee Charles Robinson as we wrap up

en-US

32:41

Ep. 19: Justin Credible

First Match ·

2020/09/24

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with the Hardcore Icon, Justin Credible! Like a lot of wrestling fans, Justin's love of pro wrestling came from watching WTBS with Flair and the Horseman and then an ad in PWI grabbed his attention and off he went! From training at the Hart Brother's Camp with Chris Jericho and Lance Storm teaching him the ropes, to his First Match to his journey to the WWE where he was CM Punk, Bautista and others first match and then to

en-US

28:30

Ep. 18: Vampiro

First Match ·

2020/09/17

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with Vampiro! We start in Thunderbay, Ontario with Vampiro playing hockey, playing in bands and needing to just get out of the middle of nowhere Canada. The journey to the ring would start with him staying in the back of the ring truck, selling merch and setting up the ring. All he learned to do was "lock-up" before he was thrown into the ring, with no gear for his First Match! Then we talk his journey to Mexico and beyond! Ian's

en-US

40:23

Ep. 17: Ken Shamrock

First Match ·

2020/09/10

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, Ken Shamrock! Stabbed at 10 years old, foster care, and a lot of fights, Ken had a rough start to say the least. But resiliency and the heart of a lion helped him to persevere and become one of the best fighters of all time! We follow Ken through those early years, being a "heavy" for Buzz Sawyer, his First Match, to Malenko introducing him to the strong style and bare knuckle world of Japan,

en-US

71:17

Ep. 16: Ricky Morton

First Match ·

2020/09/03

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with WWE Hall Of Famer, Ricky Morton! Ricky takes us back to traveling with his dad, setting up rings and learning the ropes, being "greener than owl shit", and the journey to becoming one half of one of the most prolific tag teams in the history of the sport, the Rock 'n' Roll Express! Ricky's stories about Flair, Anderson, Dusty, the Midnight Express and more will blow you away! Robert then pulls no punches in talking about the

en-US

43:01

Ep. 15: Brian Cage

First Match ·

2020/08/27

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with the FTW Champion and current AEW superstar Brian Cage! From making a "Who Betta Than Kanyon" sign to befriending Kanyon, creating his own backyard wrestling fed only to then have Kanyon come in and wrestle him in what he considers his first real match! It's truly un-real and awesome! Then we get into his early WWE try-outs, getting concussed on his first dark match, what his opinion is on the way his character is portrayed

en-US

51:23

Ep. 14: Brooklyn Brawler

First Match ·

2020/08/20

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with a WWE Legend, The Brooklyn Brawler! Steve Lombardi had zero intentions on being a pro wrestler, he was all about body building. That is until he sat in the Garden for some matches and that's when his world changed! From the Garden to the bar to hang with the wrestlers to find out what it's all about, to being told to get the hell away by Mr. Fuji only to find his own way in to their world through a crazy first night in

en-US

37:11

Ep. 13: Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler "FTR"

First Match ·

2020/08/13

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with one of the hottest tag teams in all of pro wrestling, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, FTR! Dax was sold on pro wrestling from the first time he saw Gordon Solie introduce Ric Flair, Cash saw Hogan first and was hooked! Both then took different journeys to the ring but their passion and style brought them together to create a "throwback" tag team powerhouse! In addition to the their road to the ring we talk learning the "Art

en-US

47:00

Ep. 12: Eric Bischoff

First Match ·

2020/08/06

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with the former president of WCW and the creator of the NWO, Eric Bischoff! From a list of pre-wrestling careers that spanned from being a print model to landscaping but NOT owning a butcher shop, to teaming up with Sony Onoo, Eric's journey to pro wrestling was a fun ride! He sold for the AWA until one day he was thrown in front of a camera and the rest is history! We talk about how to be a good announcer, how some rules are

en-US

46:04

Ep. 11: Matt Sydal

First Match ·

2020/07/30

On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with one of the most prolific high flyers in pro wrestling history, Matt Sydal! From building his own backyard wrestling fed with his buddies which included selling tix and concessions, to having that shut down by his parents because of the blood, to being the first person under 18 to receive a wrestling license in Missouri, to a full "out of body experience" in his First Match, Matt's story will inspire you and his unique

en-US

42:45

Ep. 10: James Storm

First Match ·

2020/07/23

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with one half of the NWA World Tag Team Champions, James Storm! From a high school wrestling champion to a walk on basketball scholarship, to being the only one of eighty dudes who made it through a wrestling camp try-out, James Storm's journey to the ring was loaded with ups, downs, a compound shoulder fracture, and learning on the fly! James Storm's journey to the ring and beyond is a hell of a ride! Plus don't miss the story of the

en-US

55:05

Ep. 9: Al Snow

First Match ·

2020/07/16

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with an ECW Original, Al Snow. From a 24 hour bus ride to his first wrestling camp with Gene and Ole Anderson, which would have broken a normal dude, as it did most everyone at the camp except Al, to having to piss in a jug because he couldn't get up to use the bathroom after that first day. Then on to a two ring battle royal for his First Match, as well as early matches with Kerry Von Erich and Hercules Hernandez. Al Snow's origin story

en-US

49:53

Ep. 8: Chris Jericho

First Match ·

2020/07/09

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with a cat that many people believe to be the G.O.A.T. in pro wrestling, the one and only Chris Jericho! From watching wrestling with his grandma to bugging Jesse "The Body" Ventura for advice in the street to training at the Hart Brothers Camp with no Harts in a pink bowling alley, Jericho's story is full of eye opening and often hysterical moments! Also don't miss when Chris lets us in the "Inner Circle" and tells us about his

en-US

67:36

Ep. 7: Raven

First Match ·

2020/07/02

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with an ECW legend, RAVEN! One of my favorite wrestlers of ALL time Raven talks some pre-wrestling life being a Marine, going to school to be in the CIA or FBI, his first day at The Monster Factory and a day one concussion, dad jokes, his "maybe" first match or was it his 7th or 9th but not 8th, his devastating "finisher" from the second rope, crazy road stories, and so much more! Jake The Snake, Jerry Lawler and more! Do NOT miss this

en-US

47:52

Ep. 6: Rob Van Dam

First Match ·

2020/06/25

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with the "The Whole F'n Show" Rob Van Dam!An EPIC episode that starts with the sounds of a joint being rolled and ends with a bong rip! Jump in the First Match time machine and enjoy the origin story where Rob first discovers wrestling by being wow'd by Corporal Kirchner rappelling to the ring, then at 16 years old has a run in with The Million Dollar Man, in the ring! Pucker up for that story! Then his stories of training with the

en-US

55:36

Ep. 5: Nick Aldis

First Match ·

2020/06/18

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with the NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis!Nick's love of pro wrestling started as a kid growing up in the UK and he turned that love into an amazing journey that took him to training with the now internationally famous Knight family (who you may have become familiar with through WWE Superstar Paige and the movie Wrestling With My Family) to his first appearance in a battle royal and an interesting meeting with Jake "The

en-US

56:02

Ep. 4: Mickie James

First Match ·

2020/06/11

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with WWE Superstar Mickie James w/ a special appearance by her son! ;)Mickie's journey started with a love of pro wrestling from basically birth that led her to training with legends like Dory Funk, Ricky Steamboat and more as she kept craving more! Follow along as Mickie discusses some of the characters she trained with and made her debut with...from A Jake The Snake type knock off to "Candy" the cast was awesome! Plus we talk home made

en-US

50:14

Ep. 3: Corey Graves

First Match ·

2020/06/04

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning when a little Matt Polinsky had dreams of becoming a professional wrestling star! We follow Matt's journey from dream to reality of his first match in a barn to Sterling James Keenan to the early days of Corey Graves at FCW all the way to his first night commentating on RAW and everything in between!Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!Thank you to Boulevard Burgers

en-US

72:56

Ep. 2: Brian Heffron "The Blue Meanie"

First Match ·

2020/05/28

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning to when Brian Heffron was just a little Meanie and discovered his love for pro wrestling! Take some catholic guilt, Pete The Pirate, The Lumberjack, line dancing in Lima Ohio, inspiration from his grandpa, the Irish Estevez, a high imitation voice that represented every person Brian talks about along his journey and some highlights that include Al Snow, Mick Foley and some CRAZY must hear moments and we've got this weeks FIRST

en-US

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