Windy City Slam

Raised in Chicagoland, “Main Man” Matty Ice holds experience in places such as the NWA, OVW and Reality of Wrestling with training and coaching from the likes of Booker T and Doug Basham. The man once known as Matt Vine joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about being a 2-time ROW Champion, training with Rockin’ Randy in Premier Pro Wrestling, stories about Booker T, joining the emerging Midwest...

A proud member of the World Famous Fabulous Idols, the current Illiana Pro Wrestling League Champion and the longest reigning Rocket Pro Tag Team Champion “Old School Cool” Damien Grey joined Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time. Grey talks about what he learned from Black & Brave Academy, trying find a foothold in the business during the height of the pandemic, fluctuating weight, the l...

With a big weekend ahead, “One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his Maxwell Street Heritage Championship match against TNA star AJ Francis at 2econd Wrestling and his triple-threat match with Gunner Brave and Chico Suave at Freelance Wrestling’s Kirby Alexander benefit show, his body transformation from his days as UIC basketball player to independent pro w...

“Hawaiian Hitman” Koa Laxamana joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the third time to go behind the scenes of what’s happening with him in 2024, including his runs in AAW Pro and Rocket Pro Wrestling, his role as Chief Financial Officer for Midwest Championship Wrestling, his tumultuous exit from the NWA, a possible search for a new manager in 2025, Defiant Pro Wrestling, arm wrestling and more. Plus...

It took him awhile, but Jesus Desafio is spreading his wings on the Chicagoland independent scene. “Aztec Ammunition” joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his growth in Wrestle League, including his journey to win the Wrestle League Championship, his series of matches with Quinn Whittock, Wrestle League’s roster, training and working with Joseph von Jager and their rivalry o...

No longer “The Wild Child,” Connor Hopkins recently won the DREAMWAVE Championship from one of his trainers Christian Rose and has cemented himself as one of Illinois’ fastest rising stars. “The Crown Jewel” joins Windy City Slam to discuss the emotions of his victory at the highly-respected DREAMWAVE promotion, the plot to win that title, his run as Rocket Pro Wrestling Outer Limits Champion, Tho...

With Freelance vs. The World X coming up this weekend, one of Freelance Wrestling’s hottest stars of the last year, “Prince 100” Koda Hernandez joins Windy City Slam Podcast. Hernandez discusses his upcoming Freelance Legacy Championship match vs. Darin Corbin, teaming with his cousin Sabin Gauge as Latino’s Most Wanted to win the Black Label Pro Tag Team Championship, Pick N’ Pop with Darius Latr...

He’s one of the fastest rising stars on the Chicagoland independent circuit, a trainee at Chicago Style Wrestling and the current GALLI Lucha Libre Gladiadores Champion. “The Diamond in the Rough” Rafael Quintero joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his inspiration to get into wrestling, training at the CSW Academy with Steve Boz, the emotions of winning a championship in GA...

With TNA returning to Chicagoland this weekend, six-time World Tag Team Champion and two-time TNA World Champion Eddie Edwards of The System joins Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss “Against All Odds” and IMPACT TV tapings coming to Cicero Stadium, how long it took to adjust to teaming with Brian Myers after years with Davey Richards, feelings when he won the World Championship, reasons for re-sig...

Inspired by the return of CM Punk and prodded by his friend Roy “Flash” Gordon, “The WarGod” Ares Creed broke into pro wrestling in his late 20s and is beginning to emerge on the Chicago scene and the Midwest after a little over two years of training. Creed joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about a little about his acting and film background, training at the Freelance Wrestling Academy, influe...

Friend of the show, “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to preview “WrestlePunkz,” a new style of show from the creators of SSW geared toward an older audience with some different talent. Kross also provides a disclaimer about Trevor Outlaw and discusses his experience with former WWE Superstar nZo and recent run in places such as DREAMWAVE, 2econd Wrestling and...

Fifteen-year Chicagoland wrestling veteran “Shogun” Chris L.O.G.A.N. returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss training at Wrestle League and beams with pride about his many students and associates including Shaq Jordan, Quinn Whittock, Alfredo Méliès, Lulu La Reina, Kid Lat, “Thundercat” Adonis Allen, Jesus Desafio, Joseph von Jager, Mya Caras, Britany Kay and more. Shogun also previews this...

Armed with the knowledge of his many trainers, including Seth Rollins, Brian Kendrick, Lance Storm and Tommy Dreamer, “Nasty” Nic Nolan is one to watch on the Midwest independent scene. Nolan, the new champion at Midwest Championship Wrestling, joins Windy City Slam to talk about his diverse background, give tribute to recently deceased MCW owner Jimmy Smooth, provide insight on some of his bigges...

One of the creators of Warrior Wrestling, Steve Tortorello of Pro Wrestling Ventures, returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about the upcoming “Battle for the Heart of Chicago event” on the North side of Chicago featuring Kylie Rae vs. Stephanie Vaquer, plus the 6th anniversary of the beginning of Warrior and what the future of the Warrior brand might be. Mike recaps Rocket Pro Wrestling’s ac...

With a career spanning over two decades, the dark and devilish Grin has been a superstar across numerous Chicago-area promotions, including the Lunatic Wrestling Federation, Pro Wrestling Blitz and SSW. Grin frees our minds as he joins Windy City Slam Podcast to offer a retrospective on his time in the ring and his recent late-career run in Rocket Pro Wrestling. He also discusses his character and...

Austin Michael Baldridge was destined to become a wrestler from the womb as he was named after two of the biggest stars of wrestling’s Attitude Era. AMB, the current Midwest Championship Wrestling (Ill.) Champion, joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time discuss about his MCW Championship victory from February, MCW’s next show at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa on this weekend where he defends h...

Little did we know that “Irish Car Bomb” Sean Mulligan and Windy City Slam’s Mike Pankow have a lot in common – they grew up in the same Chicago neighborhood, graduated from the same grammar school and high school and both gravitated toward wrestling. Now the two converge for a conversation on Windy City Slam as Mulligan discusses how a hobby became a 20-year wrestling career, how he got connected...

A health scare in late 2022-early 2023 nearly sidelined Dr. Jeff Luxon for good, but the longtime independent wrestler just keeps on ticking. Luxon returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss his medical issues, his comeback to the ring for SSW, working against NXT’s Tony D’Angelo (fka Joey Ariola) in some of D’Angelo’s early matches in POWW Entertainment, Luxon’s run with Florida Championship W...

Steve Ahrendt, a man who wears many hats on the Chicagoland independent wrestling scene, returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss upcoming events for Rocket Pro Wrestling (where he returns to in-ring competition), Chicago Style Wrestling and Frontline Pro, his experiences with NWA Chicago and Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby as well as names such as Joey Roth, Skye Blue, Missa Kate, Steve Micha...

Talking to Lulu La Reina can make anyone’s day better. The up-and-coming wrestler discusses her power of positivity and diverse training background when she joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time. La Reina ranks the difficulty of her trainers, talks about her experience with Reality of Wrestling in Texas, winning the Wrestle League Women’s Championship, watching Total Divas before really...

Chicagoland wrestling legend “Tenacious” Terry Allen joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about his training and upbringing in the business and previews the huge benefit show – the Mr. Bill Classic – this weekend in Kankakee, including his match against Steve Boz and the many names past and present in the Chicagoland area who will be a part of this extravaganza. Also, Mike recaps the fun Ego Pro...

“Uncle T” Solomon Tupu joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time to discuss his experience at world-renowned Black & Brave Wrestling Academy, owned in part by WWE Superstar Seth Freakin’ Rollins, The Hatekeepers in Chicago Style Wrestling, Smooth Operations in AAW Pro, his transition into the “Uncle T” character, his bond with fellow BxB guy Conan Lycan, upcoming matches, including his...

To preview SSW’s “HORSEPOWER II,” “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross returns to Windy City Slam Podcast. Kross helps run down the card of March 8’s show in Kenosha and talks about his experience with The Superwrestlers. Also, special correspondent Tony Gabagool recaps Rocket Pro Wrestling’s “Shamrock Showdown” and new RPW Champion “Simply Undeniable” Steve Michaels joins us to talk about his vict...

Former NWA Women’s World Tag Team Champion and current 2econd Wrestling Champion “Chicago’s Sweetheart” Missa Kate returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss her upcoming WrestleMania Week tour in Philadelphia, finally getting a 1-on-1 match with Kylie Rae in Chicago at Trouble Is Brewing, her recent run in Chicago Style Wrestling (where she started her career), the diversity of her training, g...

Born in Chicago and raised in Kenosha, “The 80’s Bay-bee” TW3 joins Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about his first 1-on-1 meeting with the legendary Vic Capri for the SSW Unified Championship at “HORSEPOWER II,” a benefit show for Mahone Middle School in his hometown. He also discusses his influences, including his uncle – Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, High Energy (Koko B. Ware and Owen H...