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Windy City Slam

Mike Pankow

Wrestling, Chicago-Style

sports wrestling

All Episodes

47:43

Rocket Pro’s newest manager Bobby Lennox

Windy City Slam ·

2026/04/07

Growing up on the Golden Era of WWE, Bobby Lennox appreciates the old-school role of wrestling manager. Lennox, Rocket Pro Wrestling’s newest ringside manager, joins Windy City Slam to discuss his clients Zeke Kickem’ and Gustavo in RPW, possibly growing his stable and what type of talent he is looking for, which talents drew him to wrestling as a youth, what brought him to RPW and his goals in the promotion. Plus, Mike recaps NXT Stand & Deliver, which saw the crowing of Chicago’s own Tony

45:06

Jack Valor & Eddie Grayson growing up quickly

Windy City Slam ·

2026/03/31

Less than three years into the business, Jack Valor and Eddie Grayson have blossomed into one of Chicagoland’s best tag teams, recently becoming the Chicago Style Wrestling Tag Team Champions. Valor and Grayson make their second appearance on Windy City Slam, sharing their feelings on becoming champs, working with WWE legends such as Hornswoggle and Chavo Guerrero Jr., relationship with Rafael Quintero, young talent coming up at the CSW Academy, finding occasional singles opportunities, working at

59:41

Eric Schultz still getting “resultz”

Windy City Slam ·

2026/03/24

Eric Schultz has proven to be versatile in the ring and the courtroom as the six-year veteran has racked up the accomplishments over the span of his career. Schultz, the current Southland Championship Wrestling Genesis Champion, returns to Windy City Slam to discuss his upcoming match vs. Warren C. Freiberg at SCW “Shamrocks & Shenanigans,” The Undeniable showing cracks in Rocket Pro Wrestling, his storied time with Chicago Style Wrestling, working with Ryan Matthews, Damien Walker and Sean

41:27

New SSW Champ Jordan Kross, HORSEPOWER IV

Windy City Slam ·

2026/03/17

“The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross reached the mountaintop by becoming SSW Unified Champion in front over 1,400 fans in the main event at HORSEPOWER IV in Kenosha last week. Kross returned to Windy City Slam Podcast to help recap the fun fundraiser show, his emotions of winning the title from his father Ryan Kross, the atmosphere of the show, proving his trainers “right,” some of the young talent breaking out such as CJ Martin, Brian Gorta and Jay Leon, the variety of SSW and more. Plus, Mike

71:10

A Conduit + Punk Rock Jock = CJ Martin

Windy City Slam ·

2026/03/10

One of Chicagoland’s freshest faces to the independent wrestling scene, CJ Martin joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time. Martin, a former football linebacker at North Park University, discusses which former WWE Superstar caught his eye when he first was exposed to pro wrestling, his Punk Rock Jocks team with Jordan Kross at 2econd Wrestling, being a part of Darin Corbin’s Conduits of Corbin’s Knowledge at Freelance Wrestling, training at Freelance Wrestling Academy, his upcoming six-man

63:14

Steve Ahrendt opens up

Windy City Slam ·

2026/03/03

Longtime Chicago independent wrestling personality Steve Ahrendt returns to Windy City Slam to discuss his final year in the business, working as a commentator and authority figure for places such as Rocket Pro Wrestling and Chicago Style Wrestling, his time as host of The Power Hour and the camaraderie he built with his co-hosts, the card for this weekend’s RPW “Shamrock Showdown, CSW’s big show coming to Elmwood Park, Frontline Pro, NWA Chicago and more. Plus, Mike recapped WWE Elimination Chamber

51:29

THE Ryan Matthews reflects on his career

Windy City Slam ·

2026/02/24

In his mid-20s, THE Ryan Matthews just decided it was time to step away from pro wrestling just eight years into the business. The former Chicago Style Wrestling Tag Team Champion, Rocket Pro Outer Limits Champion and White Castle Crave Champion joined Windy City Slam to reflect upon his career, favorite moments, memories and opponents, The Brass, The Undeniable, why he decided to step away, his upcoming final match against Trip Jordy at Ego Pro Chicago on March 6 and what could be next in his life

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

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