Windy City Slam

Whether it’s being the wizard behind the curtain or “The Godfather” at ringside, James Russo bleeds Freelance Wrestling. Russo joins Windy City Slam for the first time in a long while to discuss Freelance’s upcoming anniversary show, Trevor Outlaw’s rise to the Freelance World Championship, working with Izzy Moreno, Bang & Matthews’ heel run and how their match with The Headbangers came along, Chico Suave, GPA, Pat Monix, whether Freelance Underground could make a return and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from Wrestle League and BloodStone Wresling and previews big shows from 2econd Wrestling, DREAMWAVE Wrestling and House of 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!

Dan Reyes made himself known in the ring and behind the scenes on the Chicagoland independent scene before stepping away from the business a few years ago. D-Rey joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his in-ring career as heartthrob Valentino, behind the scenes work with Zelo Pro, Zelo’s legacy, getting trained by Tony Scarpone, Bryce Benjamin and Robert “Ego” Anthony, favorite people to work with, whether he’d return to the business, memorable celebrity interactions and more. Plus, Mike reports on news from POWW Entertainment and GALLI Lucha Libre and previews lineups from Ultimate Combat Gauntlet, BloodStone 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!

As someone who was pretty much out of the game for many years, Chandler McClure resurrected his wrestling career in 2025 and now is an integral part of POWW Entertainment. McClure joined Windy City Slam for the first time to discuss his comeback, his role alongside Will Emory, his rivalry with Mason Percs, the quirky POWW Championship match he will be involved in at Summer Xplosion, his friendship with Eric Priest and time with working with him at IWA Mid-South and the early years of AAW Pro, his brief re-emergence at Kaiju Attack Wrestling several years ago and more. Plus, Mike gives opinions on the battle of El Grande Americanos and WWE Clash In Italy, recaps highlights from 2econd Wrestling and previews shows from POWW, Warrior 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!

A Triple Crown champion in POWW Entertainment, “It’s Ya Boi” Mason Percs has been steadily climbing the ladder of success and getting more exposure as he travels the country. Percs returned to Windy City Slam to discuss his quirky high-stakes match at POWW’s “Summer Xplosion 18,” his history with Kyle Allen, starting to work more companies and more states nationally, main-eventing “A Day For Priest” last year against Mustafa Ali, working behind the scenes with MLW, long-term goals and more. Plus, Mike recaps AAW Pro, Freelance Wrestling, ARWPRO and AEW Double Or Nothing and previews WWE Clash In Italy, 2econd Wrestling and Northland 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!

Capturing his first top championship in 13 years, the new Southland Championship Heavyweight Champion Logan Steel joined Windy City Slam for the first time to react to his victory over Benny Bargas this past weekend. Steel discussed The Brotherhood and The Torture Killers, Scott Spade’s influence, training at POWW Entertainment’s school, which towering Attitude Era wrestler he idolized, dream matches, what’s next in his run as SCW Champion, the eight-man tag team championship match at POWW Summer Xplosion and more. Plus, Mike recaps Chicago Style Wrestling and previews AEW Double Or Nothing, Freelance Wrestling, AAW Pro, ARWPRO 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!

One of the hosts of Sit Down Marks! Podcast and the host of DREAMWAVE Wrestling, DB joins Windy City Slam for the first time. We discuss DREAMWAVE All-Star Weekend coming up in June and a big outdoor show coming in July, some matches at these upcoming shows, DREAMWAVE Prelude and what’s to come from the pre-show format, DB’s backstory in pro wrestling, how Sit Down Marks! came to be, Jay Repsel’s hard work and connections and more. Plus, Mike recaps WWE Backlash and previews Chicago Style Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling, POWW Entertainment and Illiana Pro 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!

AAW Pro Executive Producer Trent Zuberi returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about the company’s last show at the historic Berwyn Eagles Club, the transition back to 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, key happenings from “Crush and Destroy,” including a surprise appearance by Seth Rollins, the evolution of new AAW Heavyweight Champion Rafael Quintero, Robert “Ego” Anthony’s legacy in AAW and beyond, the team behind the scenes and AAW’s next show “Homecoming.” Plus, Tony Gabagool joins the program to recap Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Kicks On 66,” which featured a new RPW Champion being crowned and a major swerve in the main event. Plus, Mike runs down news and highlights from ARWPro, POWW Entertainment and Iron Spirit Pro, talks about WWE departures and previews WWE Backlash.

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 man known as “The COO” at Rocket Pro Wrestling, “Nuke” Kevin Palmer returned to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss RPW’s season-finale “Kicks On 66.” We break down the card, match-by-match as Mike speculates on what might happen this weekend, we discuss big matches such as Marshe Rockett vs. Shaq Jordan, Aaron Stone vs. Isaiah Moore and Jonny Nigh vs. Damien Grey, and what to expect for next season of RPW. Plus, Mike recaps AAW Pro’s finale at the Berwyn Eagles Club which featured a new champion and a surprise appearance by a WWE star and Freelance Wrestling while previewing a loaded weekend, including shows from POWW Entertainment, ARWPro 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!

Former WWE.com staffer Jordan Garretson returns to break down all the happenings surrounding the latest installment of WrestleMania in Las Vegas, including CM Punk’s true Mania moment, a surprise finish in the Randy Orton-Cody Rhodes match, what’s next for Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar, celebrity celebrity involvement, shorter matches, what clicked and what didn’t and where WWE goes from here. Plus, Mike recaps Chicago Style Wrestling and previews events from Freelance Wrestling, AAW Pro and AllStar 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!

“Hawaiian Hitman” Koa Laxamana returns to Windy City Slam to catch us up on the latest in his career, including Ego Pro Chicago and AAW Pro, his reaction to the Berwyn Eagles Club situation, a personal Rock story and his takes on the card for WrestleMania 42. Plus, Tony Gabagool chimes in with Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Spring Break” recap while Mike hits the highlights of AEW, TNA, ARWPro, Warrior Wrestling, 2econd Wrestling and DREAMWAVE and previews Chicago Style Wrestling’s show this weekend and discusses Jack Valor and Eddie Grayson signing with the NWA.

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!