
Wrestling, Chicago-Style
Episodes

7 hours ago
7 hours ago
1 hr 28 min
“Yours Rudely” Trevor Outlaw returns to Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time in over two years to open up about everything going on in his life inside and outside of the ring. Outlaw discusses his rise to the Freelance World Championship and Warrior Wrestling World Championship, paring down his wrestling schedule, working with Frank the Clown and The Leo Brothers, reconnecting with his faith, dabbling in acting and producing with the upcoming short film, “The Spot,” what his family and inner circle means to him and much more. Plus, Mike recaps TNA LockDown in Chicago from this past weekend and happenings from Chicago Style Wrestling and AAW Pro and previews lineups from AEW All In, NXT Heatwave, AAA, POWW Entertainment, 2econd Wrestling, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet, Northland Pro and more.
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!

Aug 18, 2026
Aug 18, 2026
38 min
With TNA LockDown coming to Chicago this weekend, Windy City Slam Podcast goes all in with special guests Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander. Ali discusses his TNA International Championship match against Jason Hotch, Order 4, working in a cage, what being a former police officer brought to his perspective, his training school (Chicago Wrestling Center), “The Spot” short film and more. Alexander, Current TNA X Division champion, talks about his defense against Leon Slater, the unique stipulation, the lineage of the X Division title, joining The System and the chemistry within the faction and more. Plus, Mike recaps SSW’s “War By The Shore” and previews the local scene with cards from Chicago Style Wrestling, AAW Pro and Southland Championship 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!

Aug 11, 2026
Aug 11, 2026
58 min
“The West Coast Warlord” Ryan Kross, one of the OG guests of Windy City Slam, returns to the show to talk all about this weekend’s “War By The Shore event by SSW Entertainment at Kenosha’s Historic Simmons Field. Kross discusses the entire lineup for the show, which features his son, Jordan, as SSW Unified Champion, going up against Chris Masters, plus the other former WWE stars on the show, including Kevin Thorn, Big Vito and Gene Snitsky, the makeover of the SSW roster in recent years with younger talent and an expanded women’s division, watching Jordan develop in his career over the last few years, Kross’ memories of watching Kenosha Twins game at Simmons Field, how much longer he might wrestle, hints on future SSW shows and more. Plus, Mike recaps local shows from Freelance Wrestling, Wrestle League and ARWPRO and previews cards from POWW Entertainment and C3 Ultimate 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!

Aug 4, 2026
Aug 4, 2026
1 hr 17 min
WWE’s biggest party of the summer produced some memorable moments, emotional roller coasters and some not-so good things. Former WWE.com writer Jordan Garretson returns to Windy City Slam to join Mike in recapping SummerSlam, the two World Championship matches, the new directions for the champions, Brock Lesnar’s endorsement of Oba Femi, an exciting return for Kevin Owens, a surprise victory for Chelsea Green and other thoughts about the two-day extravaganza. Plus, Mike previews local shows from Freelance Wrestling, ARWPRO, POWW Entertainment and Wrestle League while running down highlights from 2econd Wrestling and DREAMWAVE 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!

Jul 28, 2026
Jul 28, 2026
46 min
One of Chicagoland wrestling’s hottest rookies Brian Gorta has quickly made a name for himself on the Midwest independent scene. Windy City Slam Podcast welcomed Gorta to talk about training at the Chicago Wrestling Center under TNA star Mustafa Ali and local stalwarts Koda Hernandez and Alfonso Gonzalez, coming up the ranks with classmates Jonny Black, Kurt Diggity and Pinky Montoya, his debut against Andre Flo, chemistry with Montoya heading into their SSW Entertainment tag match next month, working in places such as Freelance Wrestling, Chicago Style Wrestling, Ego Pro Chicago and Bloodstone Wrestling and not looking too far ahead. Plus, Mike previews WWE SummerSlam and local cards from 2econd Wrestling, POWW Entertainment, DREAMWAVE and Ultimate Combat Gauntlet and recaps highlights from AEW Redemption, Illinois Valley Wrestling Federation, Iron Spirit Pro and Southland Championship 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!

Jul 21, 2026
Jul 21, 2026
46 min
He’s a fun-loving dude who brings high energy to every show where he wrestles. Midwest-based Preston Ryker joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss being trained by Kongo Kong, how Kong brought him in when he was struggling a bit, being influenced by The Boogeyman, Matt Hardy and Kevin Thorn, his experience at SSW Entertainment at HORSEPOWER IV back in March and his match with tag team partner Rae Larson at SSW’s “War By The Shore” next month, being well-rounded, working behind the scenes at bigger promotions, merchandising and more. Plus, Mike recaps results and key happenings from Chicago Style Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling, DREAMWAVE and WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event and previews lineups from POWW Entertainment, Southland Championship Wrestling, Illinois Valley Wrestling, Illiana Pro Wrestling and AEW Redemption.
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!

Jul 14, 2026
Jul 14, 2026
52 min
He’s one of the world’s most known creators in the genre of wrestling action figure customization. He’s a Croatian 3D artist and designer who services customers all over the world. The Great Tom Veg, with a catalog of over 800 custom 3D wrestler heads, joins Windy City Slam Podcast to tell his story. Veg explains how some life events led to his creative calling, who in the customizing community reached out to him to push him toward this vocation, the artistic talents of his wife, Andrea, not watching pro wrestling until he started making the 3D heads, who some of his favorite wrestlers are, and how watching wrestling helped him bond with his children. Plus, Mike recaps results from New Japan’s G1 and previews WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event and shares news from POWW Entertainment, AAW Pro, ARWPRO, Southland Championship Wrestling and GLCW, and looks ahead at events by Chicago Style Wrestling, DREAMWAVE Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling and Iron Spirit 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!

Jul 7, 2026
Jul 7, 2026
1 hr 5 min
Longtime local wrestling broadcaster and interviewer Tyler Volz joins Windy City Slam to discuss his how he got into wrestling, working with AAW Pro and DREAMWAVE Wrestling over the years, stories about Billy Gunn and Cody Rhodes, getting in-ring training from Mustafa Ali and breaks down the card for this weekend’s AAW Pro event “United We Stand.” Plus, Mike recaps CM Punk’s return to Raw and previews events from POWW Entertainment, GALLI Lucha Libre, ARW Pro, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet and Great Lakes Championship 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!

Jun 30, 2026
Jun 30, 2026
45 min
Local content creator “I Am S L P W L K R” Arnley Sena joins Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss his upcoming short film “The Spot,” which stars local wrestlers Trevor Outlaw, Hans Carden, Solomon Tupu, Shaq Jordan and Mustafa Ali and is set to premiere in the fall. Sena talks about his video content career, getting into the independent scene a couple of years ago, Outlaw’s contributions to the film, the dangers of working ringside at shows, Jewel-Osco’s “Big Deal Energy” show and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from a busy weekend of Premium Live Events from WWE, NXT, TNA and NXT and local news from Freelance Wrestling, ARWPRO and Iron Spirit 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!

Jun 23, 2026
Jun 23, 2026
50 min
Chicago’s own Matthew Rehwoldt, TNA’s esteemed color commentator, returns to Windy City Slam to break down the Slammiversary card, discusses The Elegance Brand, Mustafa Ali, Mike Santana, The Hardys, Tom Hannifan, Michael Cole, the state of TNA, Lockdown’s return to Chicago at Credit Union 1 Arena on the campus of UIC and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from 2econd Wrestling, DREAMWAVE All-Star Weekend and House of Glory and previews lineups for WWE, NXT and AEW Premium Live Events, plus local cards for Freelance Wrestling, Chicago Style Wrestling, ARWPRO, Iron Spirit Pro and more.
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!
