On this episode of First Match we go all the way back to the beginning with one of the most prolific high flyers in pro wrestling history, Matt Sydal!

From building his own backyard wrestling fed with his buddies which included selling tix and concessions, to having that shut down by his parents because of the blood, to being the first person under 18 to receive a wrestling license in Missouri, to a full "out of body experience" in his First Match, Matt's story will inspire you and his unique perspective on pro wrestling may just change the way you watch it!

Make sure you listen until the very end to find out who's up next week!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

First Match T-Shirts are now available to order!!!! http://www.firstmatch.bigcartel.com

(US shipping only at this point for merch)

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Want to support the show with a donation:

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

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On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with one half of the NWA World Tag Team Champions, James Storm!

From a high school wrestling champion to a walk on basketball scholarship, to being the only one of eighty dudes who made it through a wrestling camp try-out, James Storm's journey to the ring was loaded with ups, downs, a compound shoulder fracture, and learning on the fly! James Storm's journey to the ring and beyond is a hell of a ride! Plus don't miss the story of the rib he pulled on Rhyno!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

First Match T-Shirts are now available to order!!!! http://www.firstmatch.bigcartel.com

(US shipping only at this point for merch)

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Want to support the show with a donation:

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with an ECW Original, Al Snow.

From a 24 hour bus ride to his first wrestling camp with Gene and Ole Anderson, which would have broken a normal dude, as it did most everyone at the camp except Al, to having to piss in a jug because he couldn't get up to use the bathroom after that first day. Then on to a two ring battle royal for his First Match, as well as early matches with Kerry Von Erich and Hercules Hernandez.

Al Snow's origin story is a painful, sometimes funny and exciting journey that you can't miss. Plus, Al takes us to school with a wealth of knowledge on the business from in ring psychology to performance and beyond!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

First Match T-Shirts are now available to order!!!! http://www.firstmatch.bigcartel.com

(US shipping only at this point for merch)

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Want to support the show with a donation:

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with a cat that many people believe to be the G.O.A.T. in pro wrestling, the one and only Chris Jericho!

From watching wrestling with his grandma to bugging Jesse "The Body" Ventura for advice in the street to training at the Hart Brothers Camp with no Harts in a pink bowling alley, Jericho's story is full of eye opening and often hysterical moments! Also don't miss when Chris lets us in the "Inner Circle" and tells us about his upcoming project that will look back at his amazing 30 year career!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

First Match T-Shirts are now available to order!!!! http://www.firstmatch.bigcartel.com

(US shipping only at this point for merch)

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Want to support the show with a donation:

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with an ECW legend, RAVEN!

One of my favorite wrestlers of ALL time Raven talks some pre-wrestling life being a Marine, going to school to be in the CIA or FBI, his first day at The Monster Factory and a day one concussion, dad jokes, his "maybe" first match or was it his 7th or 9th but not 8th, his devastating "finisher" from the second rope, crazy road stories, and so much more! Jake The Snake, Jerry Lawler and more! Do NOT miss this episode!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

First Match T-Shirts are now available to order!!!! http://www.firstmatch.bigcartel.com

(US shipping only at this point for merch)

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Want to support the show with a donation:

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with the "The Whole F'n Show" Rob Van Dam!

An EPIC episode that starts with the sounds of a joint being rolled and ends with a bong rip! Jump in the First Match time machine and enjoy the origin story where Rob first discovers wrestling by being wow'd by Corporal Kirchner rappelling to the ring, then at 16 years old has a run in with The Million Dollar Man, in the ring! Pucker up for that story! Then his stories of training with the Original Sheik and getting to know this "Long Haired Hippie" Sabu to his first match and beyond! It's an episode you don't want to miss!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

T-Shirts are now available to order, US Only at this point, for just $25 including the shipping and handling! The front has the First Match Logo and the back says "And My First Match Was..."

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with the NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis!

Nick's love of pro wrestling started as a kid growing up in the UK and he turned that love into an amazing journey that took him to training with the now internationally famous Knight family (who you may have become familiar with through WWE Superstar Paige and the movie Wrestling With My Family) to his first appearance in a battle royal and an interesting meeting with Jake "The Snake" Roberts that included blood?! Then on to his "First Match" that included a very heavy handed Saraya Knight (Paige's Mom)! Plus a TON more!

Enjoy!!!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

T-Shirts are now available to order, US Only at this point, for just $25 including the shipping and handling! The front has the First Match Logo and the back says "And My First Match Was..."

Sizes still available: S (limited quantity), M, L, and XL.

Until we restock next month, we are out of 2XL.

Pay Pal: [email protected]

Venmo: @Jesse-Kage

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning with WWE Superstar Mickie James w/ a special appearance by her son! ;)

Mickie's journey started with a love of pro wrestling from basically birth that led her to training with legends like Dory Funk, Ricky Steamboat and more as she kept craving more! Follow along as Mickie discusses some of the characters she trained with and made her debut with...from A Jake The Snake type knock off to "Candy" the cast was awesome! Plus we talk home made "LOD" style shoulder pads, ring psychology, scary injuries, huge ovaries and box wine keg stands!

Don't miss this episode!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

T-Shirts coming NEXT WEEK!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning when a little Matt Polinsky had dreams of becoming a professional wrestling star! We follow Matt's journey from dream to reality of his first match in a barn to Sterling James Keenan to the early days of Corey Graves at FCW all the way to his first night commentating on RAW and everything in between!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

T-Shirts coming soon...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of First Match we go way back to the beginning to when Brian Heffron was just a little Meanie and discovered his love for pro wrestling! Take some catholic guilt, Pete The Pirate, The Lumberjack, line dancing in Lima Ohio, inspiration from his grandpa, the Irish Estevez, a high imitation voice that represented every person Brian talks about along his journey and some highlights that include Al Snow, Mick Foley and some CRAZY must hear moments and we've got this weeks FIRST MATCH!

Also, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW the podcast on whatever platform you are listening on!

Thank you to Boulevard Burgers St. Pete Beach home of the "Kage Burger" for signing on as a sponsor! Visit their website https://blvdburgers.com/

As well as a special thank you to Georgia Print House at https://www.georgiaprinthouse.com for being the official merch provider for First Match! 

T-Shirts coming soon...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.