Windy City Slam

Pauly Thomaselli returns

Two-decade veteran Pauly Thomaselli returns to Windy City Slam Podcast for our special 250th episode to recount even more tales from his storied career. Thomaselli discusses regaining “his smile” as he wrestled Mike Morris at POWW Entertainment’s WrestleRage 22, teaming with his brothers, working with Hardcore Craig, Ryan Kross and Jeff Luxon over the years, his time in Juggalo Championship Wrestling, the evolution of The Haters, young wrestlers he thinks can be stars and more. Plus, Mike recaps Chicago Style Wrestling and WrestlePunkz and previews stacked events from Freelance Wrestling, AAW Pro, Southland Championship Wrestling and AEW.

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!

Wrestling photographer Mike Bare

Mike Bare has shot over 100 wrestling shows around Chicagoland over the last few years. Windy City Slam goes behind the lens of the man in charge of Michael Bare Photography as we welcome him to the show for the first time. Bare discusses working for companies such as POWW Entertainment, Chicago Style Wrestling, Midwest Championship Wrestling and All Heel Wrestling, how he started doing ringside photography, his photography background, when he started watching wrestling, memorable moments shooting wrestling shows, passion for roller coasters and more. Plus, we welcome back Tony Gabagool to recap Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Harvest Havoc” and announce a special guest for their next event. Mike also recaps ICW Milwaukee and ARW Pro and previews CSW, Squared Circle Megastars, WrestlePunkz 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!

Freelance prospect Robbie Reeves; New POWW & AHW champs

Freelance Wrestling Academy prospect “Bricked Up” Robbie Reeves is already making waves on the local scene, including reigning as co-holder of the Defiant Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship. The 19-year-old Reeves joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his training at FWA, moving up the Freelance Wrestling card, teaming with Stone Ambrose as White Meat, how Robert “Ego” Anthony ribbed him during and after a match at Navarro Farm, how a chance meeting with a grammar school classmate opened his eyes to wrestling and more. Plus, new POWW Entertainment Champion Mason Percs and new All Heel Wrestling Champion Jordan Kross join us to react to their victories. Mike recaps POWW’s “WrestleRage 22,” All Heel Wrestling’s “Rise In Fall, We Love Wrestling’s one-year anniversary show and WWE Crown Jewel while previewing shows such as Rocket Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Ventures, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet and Third Coast Wrestling.

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!

Germ T. Ripper talks wrestling, punk rock, comedy

He’s a punk rocker, comedian, donut aficionado and local wrestling personality. Germ T. Ripper joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss hosting Ripper’s Room in POWW Entertainment, punk rock, favorite comedians, deathmatch wrestling and quick donut critiques and helps break down POWW’s Wrestle Rage 22. Plus, Mike recaps TNA Bound For Glory, NXT Halloween Havoc and Freelance Wrestling, including a new champion with a familiar face, highlights another title change in the area and previews WWE Crown Jewel, All Heel Wrestling and other local events.

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!

All Heel Wrestling’s Damien Walker & King Torch

All Heel Wrestling is set for its first show in about nine months when they return to Woodstock on Nov. 2. Windy City Slam Podcast welcomes “The Lost Boy” Damien Walker and AHW promoter King Torch to the program for the first time to discuss “Rise In Fall,” partnership with Northland Pro and an exclusive announcement about Damien’s debut match with Jordan Kross. Damien talks about wrestling training with help from Missa Kate, Pat Monix, Doug Simmons, Vic Capri and Kross, recovering from a devastating auto accident, getting into phenomenal physical shape and more. Plus, Mike recaps AAW Pro, Southland Championship Wrestling, POWW Entertainment and ICW Milwaukee and previews Freelance Wrestling, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet, 4th Wall Wrestling, Third Coast Wrestling, Defiant Pro Wrestling and TNA “Bound For Glory.”

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!

Juggalo Championship Wrestling’s Caleb Konley

He’s the American Champion for Insane Clown Posse’s Juggalo Championship Wrestling and has wrestled for almost 20 years for dozens of independent promotions and two stints for TNA. “The Obsession” Caleb Konley joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss JCW’s Train of Terror tour coming up at the end of the month, which includes stops in Joliet, Milwaukee and Detroit. Konley also talks about connected with ICP and JCW, the atmosphere of a JCW show, time in TNA teaming with Trevor Lee and working with Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood, following TNA even after his departure, the rise of Joe Hendry, working on “Heels” and more. Plus, Mike recaps action from AEW WrestleDream, Chicago Style Wrestling, DREAMWAVE and ARW and previews NWA Chicago, AAW Pro, Southland Championship Wrestling, POWW Entertainment and 2econd Wrestling.

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!

Eddie Grayson & Jack Valor; Rocket Pro, Ego Pro recaps

They’re still in their teens, but Eddie Grayson and Jack Valor are starting to show wrestling wisdom beyond their years. The teenage tag team sensation joins Windy City Slam to discuss their rise in Chicago Style Wrestling from the academy to performing on main cards, how they became a team, Eddie’s dad’s involvement in the shows, balancing school with pro wrestling, Jack’s title victory in Honor Among Wrestling, Eddie’s Will Ospreay story and more. Plus, after a huge weekend of wrestling in Joliet, Tony Gabagool talks Rocket Pro Wrestling and PWE Report’s Sean Lennon recaps Ego Pro Wrestling. Plus, Mike runs down highlights from NXT and WWE, results from recent Midwest Championship Wrestling and POWW Entertainment shows and previews CSW, DREAMWAVE and Burlington Brawl.

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!

Jumpin’ in Joliet: Rocket Pro’s Kevin “Nuke” Palmer; Ego Pro preview

Joliet becomes the pro wrestling capital of Illinois this weekend with Rocket Pro and Ego Pro shows taking over the town. RPW Head of Creative and Talent Relations Kevin “Nuke” Palmer joins Windy City Slam to talk RPW’s stacked “Darkness Falls,” his career and passion for wrestling, the creative process, long-term storytelling and more. Mike also previews Ego Pro Wrestling, which features appearances by WWE’s Kofi Kingston, TNA’s JDC and AEW’s Top Flight and a lineup of great independent talent. We also recap Freelance Wrestling, 2econd Wrestling and SSW and preview NXT’s premiere on the CW at Allstate Arena, WWE’s Bad Blood, POWW Entertainment, One Fall Entertainment and ICW Milwaukee.

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 Professor” Bobby Fish; local recaps

He’s a member of the Rogue Horsemen in MLW and has wrestled for over two decades all over the world, including in New Japan Pro Wrestling, ROH, AEW and NXT. “The Professor” Bobby Fish joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his career, what’s next for him in MLW, the influence of DDP Yoga, upcoming match against Joey “Jet” Avalon at One Fall Entertainment’s “Pink Heals,” how wrestling in Japan molded his style and influenced his career, working with Kyle O’Reilly as ReDragon, Undisputed Era in NXT, his time in AEW, Swerve Strickland, Timothy Thatcher and favorite opponents. Plus, Mike recaps events, such as Southland Championship Wrestling’s “WrestleTopia V,” ICW Milwaukee and and POWW Entertainment, and previews 2econd Wrestling, Freelance Wrestling, SSW and Third Coast Wrestling.

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!

Backwoods Brown on Pink Heals, Da Bears

Currently in recovery from spinal fusion surgery, one of the Midwest’s most dominant wrestlers, Backwoods Brown, returns to Windy City Slam. Backwoods promotes One Fall Entertainment’s benefit show coming soon to Sheboygan, Wis. The former GLCW Champion talks about the stacked card for “Pink Heals” (which includes Alberto El Patron, Bobby Fish, Leva Bates, TW3 and Joey “Jet” Avalon), losing the GLCW title to Shawn Spears, when fans might expect him to return to action, and his optimism for his beloved Chicago Bears. Plus, Mike provides results for Chicago Style Wrestling and TNA Victory Road while previewing Southland Championship Wrestling’s “WrestleTopia V,” Ultimate Combat Gauntlet 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!