Windy City Slam

AAW’s Jimmy D; Sami Callihan of TNA/Wrestling Revolver

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, opinions on local stars such as Project MONIX and Alfonso Gonzalez, and who his influences are. Former TNA World Champion Sami Callihan also joins us to preview the Chicago debut of his promotion Wrestling Revolver as we break down the card, talk about his feud with Mance Warner, how hot TNA is and more. Plus, Mike recaps All Heel Wrestling and Game Changer Wrestling, highlights new champions at Wrestle League and previews GALLI Lucha Libre and AEW Dynasty.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Sean Lennon talks CSW, Chicago scene

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 Freelance and previews POWW Entertainment, Wrestle League, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet and Game Changer Wrestling shows.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“The Ragna-Rocker” KRUX blazes trail

“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 Roadblock, hits the highlights of Iron Spirit and Defiant Pro and previews cards for Freelance Wrestling, Chicago Style Wrestling, Southland Championship Wrestling and GALLI Lucha Libre.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Sean Galway’s comeback; Ali/Kross at SSW

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 rehab and his return to the ring at Freelance Wrestling. Plus, Mike recaps SSW Entertainment’s “HORSEPOWER III” and a class encounter between Mustafa Ali and Jordan Kross with audio from Ali’s post-match promo. There are also results from ARW Pro, 2econd Wrestling and AEW Revolution and previews of NXT, TNA, Iron Spirit and Defiant Pro.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“Iron” Mike Curkov is back; John Cena heel turn

Emmy-Winning, Pro-Wrestling news anchor “Iron” Mike Curkov, originally from Schaumburg, returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk SSW Entertainment/Sports N Signings’ “HORSEPOWER III.” The CBS58 Milwaukee morning anchor discusses his role in the fundraising event for Mahone Middle School in Kenosha, other matches on the card, favorite moments since he started dabbling in wrestling, the origins of his Stone Cold Stunner, Logan Paul, memories of Bob Uecker and more. Plus, Mike discusses WWE Elimination Chamber and John’s Cena’s heel turn and where it ranks among heel turns of the past. Tony Gabagool joins the show to recap Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Shamrock Showdown,” plus there’s talk of AAW Pro, Midwest Championship Wrestling, GALLI Lucha Libre, Ego Pro Wrestling, 2econd Wrestling and AEW Revolution.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Jordan Kross talks Mustafa Ali, HORSEPOWER III

With SSW Entertainment’s “HORSEPOWER III” around the corner, “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about next week’s fundraising wrestling event for Mahone Middle School in Kenosha. Kross discusses his main event match against TNA star Mustafa Ali, his past big-ticket foes at the event, the impact the show has on the community, his first title defense as All Heel Wrestling Champion, The Ice Pick Academy and memories of local legend Eric Priest, who passed away last week. Plus, Sean Lennon of PWE Report joins us to recap Chicago Style Wrestling while Mike hits the highlights from Freelance Wrestling and Southland Championship Wrestling while previewing WWE Elimination Chamber, AAW Pro “Epic,” Rocket Pro Wrestling, Midwest Championship Wrestling and GALLI Lucha Libre.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Omnipresent and opportunistic Eric Schultz

Will County’s top wrestling lawyer Eric Schultz has been getting “resultz” pretty much everywhere he has worked as he currently holds the Midwest Championship Wrestling and Northland Pro Championships. Schultz returned to Windy City Slam Podcast to brief us about MCW’s upcoming show on Feb. 28 in Ottawa, the trials and tribulations of obtaining the MCW title, his 800-plus-day reign at Northland Pro, facing Doug Simmons at All Heel Wrestling, working with The Undeniable at Rocket Pro, trying to hold together The Brass in Chicago Style Wrestling, thoughts on facing Benny Bargas in Southland Championship Wrestling, time in GALLI Lucha Libre, ARW Pro and more. Plus, Mike recaps NXT Vengeance Day, AEW Grand Slam Australia, Izzi Dame’s betrayal of Tony D’Angelo, All Heel Wrestling and Black Wrestlers Matter. We also preview shows from Freelance Wrestling, Freelance Wrestling Academy, CSW, SCW and Squared Circle Megastars.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

“Muscle Mommy” Mya Caras

With a background in powerlifting and jiu-jitsu, you think it would’ve been a natural fit for Mya Caras to become a professional wrestler at some point. But took a little prodding, attending some Rocket Pro shows and a meeting with “Shogun” Chris L.O.G.A.N. to convince Caras to give it a shot. “Muscle Mommy” joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about her journey, training at Wrestle League and Ice Pick Academy, making her in-ring debut at Rocket Pro against Devin August last spring, working and training with Britany Kay, Lulu La Reina and Josie Valentine, standing up to Steve Michaels, winning the Rookie Combine at Legacy Pro Wrestling in Milwaukee, 2025 goals and more. Plus, Tony Gabagool joins the show to recap RPW’s “Cupid’s Carnage” while Mike runs down happenings from DREAMWAVE Wrestling and Wrestle League and previews All Heel Wrestling, Black Wrestlers Matter and GALLI Lucha Libre as well as NXT and AEW events this weekend.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Royal Rumble recap with Jordan Garretson, local action

It was a newsworthy Royal Rumble and former WWE.com writer Jordan Garretson joins Windy City Slam Podcast to recap the start of the Road to WrestleMania with some twists and surprises. We also discuss Garretson’s in-person observations from Indianapolis, the shocking victory by Jey Uso, Roxanne Perez’s coming out party and the many scenarios for WrestleMania for stars such as John Cena, CM Punk, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Plus, Mike recaps AAW Pro’s “Chi-Town Rumble” and previews lineups for Rocket Pro Wrestling, DREAMWAVE Wrestling and Wrestle League.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!

Kid Lat emerging on Chicago scene

He’s a DePaul student during the week and wrestling superhero on the weekend. 19-year-old Kid Lat joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his journey through the Wrestle League school, the camaraderie of the Wrestle League locker room, getting a big break in Frontline Pro in Wisconsin, comparing his tag team partners “Thundercat” Adonis Allen and “The Big Guy” Josh Price, emerging at Rocket Pro Wrestling, working his way back from a forearm injury, his wrestling and comic book idols and more. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance Wrestling and Southland Championship Wrestling while previewing WWE’s Royal Rumble, AAW Pro’s “Chi-Town Rumble,” C3 Ultimate Wrestling and POWW Entertainment.

Mike Pankow is a 25-year-plus professional journalist and wrestling superfan who covers local Chicagoland wrestling and national promotions like AEW and WWE. If there is something going on in Chicago, Mike knows about it. Enjoy "Wrestling, Chicago-Style" on The Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network! Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com. Get your local wrestling fix every Tuesday everywhere podcasts can be found and always at WindyCitySlam.com!