Mike Pankow

Welcome to Windy City Slam, wrestling coverage from the heart of Chicago and beyond.

Photos

Rocket Pro Wrestling: Kicks on 66 & Fan Axxess 2024

St. Joseph Park, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, May 4, 2024.

SSW HORSEPOWER II

Mahone Middle School, Kenosha, Wis, Friday, March 8, 2024.

SSW: The 20th Anniversary Event

The Brat Stop, Kenosha, Wis, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

2econd Wrestling: Half Nelson. Full Force.

Buffalo Creek Brewing, Long Grove, Ill., Sunday, August 13, 2023.

Freelance Underground: Wrestling ... It's What You Crave 2

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, August 5, 2023

WAW North America: A Knight To Remember

Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Ill., Friday, July 28, 2023.

The Heathen presents "The Starlight Invitational"

Starlight Skatepark, Winthrop Harbor, Ill., Sunday, June 11, 2023.

POWW Entertainment: You Better Work

Brauer House, Lombard, Ill., Sunday, June 4, 2023

Rocket Pro Wrestling: Kicks on 66 & Fan Axxess

St. Joseph Park, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, May 6, 2023

Fusion Wrestling Chicago: Kings and Queens

Five Star Swap Mart (GALLI Arena), Villa Park, Ill., Friday, May 5, 2023.

AHW 6: March of War

Starlight Skatepark, Winthrop Harbor, Ill., Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Mahone Middle School, Kenosha, Wis., Friday, March 10, 2023.

2econd Wrestling: Identity Theft

Bernard Weinger JCC, Northbrook, Ill., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.

Freelance Underground: Back For More

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

Freelance Underground: The Final Countdown

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

AHW 5: WrestleHaven

Starlight Skatepark, Winthrop Harbor, Ill., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.

Rocket Pro Wrestling: Harvest Havoc 2022

St. Joseph’s Park, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

Freelance Underground: Same Ol' Situation

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.

SSW: They're Here 10-8-2022

The Brat Stop, Kenosha, Wis., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.

CSW: Falling Down 2022

American Legion, Franklin Park, Ill., Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.

Post scrum Cardona 1.png

Wrestling Showcase 2022

Hyatt Regency Schaumburg Chicago, Schaumburg, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

AHW WFnW crossover

Foley’s Bar & Grill, Lake Geneva, Wis., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022.

Midwest Wrestling Reunion 2022

BBQ’d Procductions, Lake Zurich, Ill., Sunday, July 17. 2022.

Freelance Underground: Blaze of Glory

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, July 2, 2022.

All Heel Wrestling 3: Spring Wreckoning

Paris Banquet Hall, North Chicago, Ill., Sunday, May 1, 2022.

CSW: Bad Friday

American Legion, Franklin Park, Ill., Friday, April 22, 2022.

Freelance Underground: Double Back

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, March 19, 2022.

2econd Wrestling: Flood Zone

Bernard Weinger Jewish Community Center, Northbrook, Ill., Sunday, March 6, 2022.

POWW: Winter Warfare 2022

Bridgeview Park District, Bridgeview, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

Zelo Pro: Violent Valentines

Brauer House Live, Lombard, Ill., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022.

Zelo Pro: Any Given Sunday

BaseCamp Pub, Lisle, Ill., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021.

Freelance Underground: The Final Phase

Church Street Brewing Company, Itasca, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.

SSW: Face Your Fears 10-9-2021

The Brat Stop, Kenosha, Wis., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.

Berwyn Championship Wrestling: "The Return"

Berwyn Eagles Club, Berwyn, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.

POWW 3rd of July Celebration

Bridgeview Park District, Bridgeview, Ill., Saturday, July 3, 2021.

Freelance Underground: Back to Church Street, Part Brew

Church Street Brewing Company, Itasca, Ill., Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Warrior Wrestling: Stadium Series 2021 #1

Dave Mattio Field, Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Saturday, June 5, 2021

Chicago Style Wrestling Inglorious Basterds

American Legion 974, Franklin Park, Ill., Friday, April 16, 2021.

GLCW Big Valbowski

Great Lakes Championship Wrestling: The Big Valbowski

Circle B Recreation, Cedarburg, Wis., Friday, March 26, 2021.

Warrior Wrestling: Stadium Series 2

Dave Mattio Field, Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020.

Warrior Wrestling: Friday Night Lights

Dave Mattio Field, Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Friday, August 7, 2020.

Warrior Wrestling 8

Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020

Freelance Underground: We're Just Getting Started

Cantigny VFW 367, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.

Warrior Wrestling 7

Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Friday, Dec. 13, 2019.

Freelance Underground: Wrestling: It's What You Crave

Cantigny VFW, Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019.

Warrior Wrestling 6

Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.

AEW All Out 2019

Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2019.

Frontline Pro #12

Oak Lawn Pavilion, Oak Lawn, Ill., Saturday, July 20, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

SSW/SNS SuperShow 2

The Brat Stop, Kenosha, Wis., Sunday, May 26, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow unless indicated)

Warrior Wrestling 5

Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Sunday, May 12, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

Zelo Pro: Wrestling on Weed St.

Joe’s on Weed St., Chicago, Ill., Sunday, April 28, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

C2E2

McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill., Friday, March 22, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

AJ Styles cosplayer at the Two Sweet Cosplay booth.

AJ Styles and Becky Lynch cosplayers at the Two Sweet Cosplay booth.

Pro Wrestling Tees booth at C2E2.

Pro Wrestling Tees booth stocked with T-shirts.

El Generico and Kevin Steen cosplays.

A fan poses with the El Generico and Kevin Steen cosplayers.

The All Elite Wrestling panel is about to invade C2E2.

Kenny Omega says it was his first time back in Chicago since ALL IN during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Kenny Omega answers a fan question during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Nick Jackson, from left, Matt Jackson and Kenny Omega during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Nick Jackson says All Elite Wrestling wants to emphasize tag team wrestling during the AEW panel.

Matt Jackson, left, and Kenny Omega during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

The Young Bucks would love CM Punk to be a part of AEW, but it’s ultimately Punk’s decision whether he wants to return to wrestling.

The Young Bucks during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Matt Jackson says the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, site of last year’s ALL IN show, has a picture of them at the entrance.

Nick and Matt Jackson and Kenny Omega during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Matt Jackson, right, along with his brother Nick, says the AEW crew learned a lot while they were putting together ALL IN.

Matt Jackson, center, speaks during the All Elite Wrestling panel as Nick Jackson, left, and Kenny Omega flank him.

Kenny Omega discussed video games and an upcoming documentary during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

The Young Bucks during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

Kenny Omega seemed to let on that All Elite Wrestling will be holding a sequel to ALL IN this year.

A packed conference room watches the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

The Young Bucks share a laugh about a fantasy match with the MegaPowers.

Kenny Omega, right, looks like he’s telling Matt Jackson a secret during the All Elite Wrestling panel.

The fans thoroughly enjoyed the the All Elite Wrestling panel with the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega.

Ring of Honor star Marty Scurll, center, talks with fans at the Pro Wrestling Tees booth.

Former WCW personalities Eric Bischoff, top, and Tony Schiavone did a show together at C2E2.

Rowdy Roddy Piper cosplayer at the Too Sweet Cosplay booth.

Rowdy Roddy Piper cosplayer poses with Too Sweet Cosplay admin Niko.

Pro Wrestling Tees brought CM Punk and Marty Scurll for meet and greets at C2E2.

Long lines for Marty Scurll and CM Punk at the Pro Wrestling Tees booth.

CM Punk, right, poses with a fan at the Pro Wrestling Tees booth.

A fan poses at the Too Sweet Cosplay booth.

ROH star Marty Scurll, center, talks with fans at Pro Wrestling Tees booth.

Too Sweet Cosplay admin Ezra combines his Kevin Steen cosplay with a Pete Dunne pose.

A fan poses with the “Triforce” championship belt at the Too Sweet Cosplay booth.

Too Sweet Cosplay admin STVO in his Al Snow cosplay.

Cosplayer Luis with his Twisty the Clown outfit at the Too Sweet Cosplay booth.

Finn Balor cosplayer.

Too Sweet Cosplay admins STVO, back row from left, Ezra and Andy with Niko in front.

The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega signed plenty of autographs and took many photos with fans.

Cool portraits and merchandise at the Pro Wrestling Tees booth.

CM Punk portrait at the Pro Wrestling Tees booth.

Pro Wrestling Soup had a cool panel discussion at C2E2.

Awesome John Cena and Charlotte Flair cosplayers.

Warrior Wrestling 4

Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Friday, March 15, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

Warrior Wrestling 3

Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., Saturday, January 5, 2019 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

ACE Comic Con Midwest

Navy Pier, Chicago, Friday, October 12, 2018 (All photos by Mike Pankow)

Berwyn Championship Wrestling: Heavyweight Rumble for the Gold

Berwyn Eagles Club, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. (All photos by Mike Pankow)

Too Sweet Cosplay at Wizard World Chicago 2018

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill., Friday-Saturday, August 24-25, 2018. (All photos by Mike Pankow)

PROGRESS Wrestling Chicago

Cicero Stadium, Saturday, August 11, 2018. (All photos by Mike Pankow)