One of Chicagoland’s freshest faces to the independent wrestling scene, CJ Martin joins Windy City Slam Podcast for the first time. Martin, a former football linebacker at North Park University, discusses which former WWE Superstar caught his eye when he first was exposed to pro wrestling, his Punk Rock Jocks team with Jordan Kross at 2econd Wrestling, being a part of Darin Corbin’s Conduits of Corbin’s Knowledge at Freelance Wrestling, training at Freelance Wrestling Academy, his upcoming six-man scramble at SSW HORSEPOWER IV, the rest of card at HORSEPOWER, his hatred for Tornado Kid and more. Plus, Tony Gabagool joined the show to talk about the big weekend of wrestling in Joliet with Ego Pro Chicago and Rocket Pro Wrestling. Mike also talks POWW Entertainment, Warrior Wrestling, Wrestle League, ARW Pro, AEW Revolution and NXT Vengeance Day.

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!

Longtime Chicago independent wrestling personality Steve Ahrendt returns to Windy City Slam to discuss his final year in the business, working as a commentator and authority figure for places such as Rocket Pro Wrestling and Chicago Style Wrestling, his time as host of The Power Hour and the camaraderie he built with his co-hosts, the card for this weekend’s RPW “Shamrock Showdown, CSW’s big show coming to Elmwood Park, Frontline Pro, NWA Chicago and more. Plus, Mike recapped WWE Elimination Chamber weekend, Freelance Wrestling, 2econd Wrestling, Southland Championship Wrestling and Iron Spirit Pro while previewing Ego Pro Chicago 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!

In his mid-20s, THE Ryan Matthews just decided it was time to step away from pro wrestling just eight years into the business. The former Chicago Style Wrestling Tag Team Champion, Rocket Pro Outer Limits Champion and White Castle Crave Champion joined Windy City Slam to reflect upon his career, favorite moments, memories and opponents, The Brass, The Undeniable, why he decided to step away, his upcoming final match against Trip Jordy at Ego Pro Chicago on March 6 and what could be next in his life. Plus, Mike recapped CSW and AAW Pro events and previewed WWE Elimination Chamber weekend in Chicago and local lineups from Freelance, 2econd Wrestling, Southland Championship Wrestling, Ultimate Combat Gauntlet 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!

A little bit of a late bloomer in the wrestling business, “Rockstar” Jonny Nigh’s career didn’t start till he was 28 years old. Now, a bit of a grizzled veteran, the new Rocket Pro Wrestling Outer Limits Champion joins Windy City Slam to talk about his career, recent run in RPW, ride with The Idols and how much of a family that faction was, his first title defense coming up next month, how a chance meeting at a birthday party got him in the door, how important Rion Skillz was to him and others in the business, the rise of Maximus Orion and more. Plus, Mike recaps AEW Grand Slam Australia and TNA No Surrender and hits the highlights of Wrestle League’s “Berwyn Blitz,” while also previewing cards from Chicago Style Wrestling, AAW Pro 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!

Despite a minor setback of dropping the Rocket Pro Wrestling Championship, Shaq Jordan’s star has risen exponentially over the last two years. Jordan, the current Frontline Pro Champion, returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to talk about his all-star faction and RPW, breaking through at Frontline, his desire to regain the Wrestle League Champion and what WL means to him, working with and being trained by Mustafa Ali and much more. Special correspondent Tony Gabagool also joins the show to recap Rocket Pro’s “Cupid’s Carnage while Mike recaps highlights from DREAMWAVE and POWW Entertainment and previews events from Wrestle League and AllStar Lucha Libre as well as TNA and AEW premium live 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!

Former WWE Digital staffer Jordan Garretson returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to break down all the happenings from last weekend’s Royal Rumble, what was good, what fell flat and the future holds during the Road to WrestleMania while Mike harps on Chelsea Green being pigeonholed in her WWE role and some contrived moments in the Rumble matches. Jordan and Mike also look ahead at some potential WrestleMania matchups. Plus, we recap 2econd Wrestling and FabWrestling results and preview lineups for DREAMWAVE, Rocket Pro Wrestling, POWW Entertainment and Bloodstone 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!

Being part of a pro wrestling family, it only made sense that Brian Allen got into the business. But the vocation he chose may not be as glamorous as being a wrestler, but a referee is still very important to a show. Allen, whose father and brother are wrestlers, joined Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss how he became a ref, if he ever had an inclination to become a wrestler, a story about his dad picking up King Kong Bundy from the airport, a bizarre incident at Juggalo Championship Wrestling, working for places such as POWW Entertainment, AAW Pro and Ego Pro Chicago, his connection with Robert “Ego” Anthony and more. Plus, Mike previews WWE Royal Rumble, 2econd Wrestling and FabWrestling and recaps 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!

“Being the dumbest one in the room” has certainly helped young Drillbit Damien Walker grow up pretty quickly in the wrestling business. Surrounding himself with people with “Ice Pick” Vic Capri, Doug Simmons, Jordan Kross, Missa Kate and Pat Monix, Walker has shown signs of a bright future, and he discusses his journey on this week’s Windy City Slam. Walker talks about training at The IcePick Academy, evaluates what he’s improved upon over the last year, working with Dave Rydell and Jeff Luxon with The Wreckers, time with SSW, All Heel Wrestling and 2econd Wrestling, getting in the door with ARW Pro and Chicago Style Wrestling and more. Plus, Mike recaps TNA Genesis and CSW’s “Season Premiere” and previews lineups for Ultimate Combat Gauntlet, Southland Championship Wrestling, 2econd Wrestling 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!

In a card-subject-to-change episode of Windy City Slam, “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross joins us again to talk SSW’s “HORSEPOWER IV” event coming in March and the talent that has been announced, his SSW Championship against his father, how The Punk Rock Jocks team with CJ Martin came together in 2econd Wrestling, expanding his reach to the Northeast, working for DREAMWAVE and more. Plus, Mike recaps Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling and ARW Pro, previews lineups from 2econd, Chicago Style Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling, GALLI Lucha Libre and TNA Genesis and offers his take on the WWE Undisputed Championship changing hands.

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!

2econd Wrestling promoter Rabbi Jeremy Fine returns to Windy City Slam Podcast to discuss four years in the wrestling business, relationship with Colt Cabana, previews of two shows this month (including “Clouded Judgement” and “Thriller In The Miller 3), Sean Login, David Ali, Missa Kate, what’s ahead in 2026 for 2econd, Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears and more. Plus, Mike recaps happenings from AAW Pro “Windy City Classic XX” and previews lineups from Freelance Wrestling, Rocket Pro Wrestling, ARW Pro and Healthy Brain 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!