About

 

Mike Pankow

Founder/Editor, Windy City Slam

I have been a professional journalist (writer and editor) for more than 25 years and I have been a professional wrestling fan since the mid-’80s.

Windy City Slam is a combination of both my passions. I believe I have made Windy City Slam something enjoyable, newsworthy and insightful.

Most of my professional journalism experience came at the Chicago Tribune, the city’s largest newspaper, where I have been a sports writer and copy editor for nearly 20 years.

I also ran an independent website for the UIC Flames men’s basketball team for the better of part of 20 years. In addition, I have freelanced for publications of different sizes, including the Arizona Republic, UIC Magazine and Illinois Alumni in addition to taking photos for a few local publications.

I was born and bred in Chicago, living within the city limits for 35 years and in the Southwest suburbs for the last 14 years. I know Chicago sports fans and Chicago wrestling fans are the most rabid fans anywhere.

Among my greatest experiences as a journalist were the times I crafted stories about professional wrestling, including a piece on Chris Nowinski when he worked for WWE in 2002. Chris was a local kid who graduated from Harvard, then decided to pursue a career in WWE as a contestant on “Tough Enough.” I also wrote pieces on Kurt Angle and William “Refrigerator” Perry prior to WrestleMania 22 in Chicago.

I live in the Southwest suburbs with my wonderful wife, Jen, and Yellow Labrador, Obi-Wan.

(Illustration by Jonathan Espinoza ... special thanks for the cool birthday artwork a few years ago!)

 

WINDY CITY SLAM Highlights

—Site went online on August 2, 2018.

—After being a regular contributor to The Broadcast Basement Podcast, The Windy City Slam Podcast debuted as a standalone show on Jan. 20, 2020. The Windy City Slam Podcast drops every Tuesday and can be found on windycityslam.com and downloaded from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher Radio and Podbean.

—Covered two AEW pay-per-views in Chicago area (including All Out in Sept. 2019 and Revolution in Feb. 2020).

—Covered IMPACT Wrestling’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view in Villa Park in Oct. 2019.

—Covered C2E2 in 2019 and 2020, Wizard World Chicago in 2018 and 2019, ACE Comic Con Midwest in 2018 and Starrcast I in 2018, Starrcast III in 2019 and Starrcast in 2023.

—Feature story on former WWE Superstar Chris Nowinski and his mission with the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

—Podcast interviews with past and present mainstream wrestling stars such as The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows), Skye Blue, Maven, Baby Doll, Eric Young, EC3, Eddie Edwards, Matthew Rehwoldt, Zach Gowen, James Ellsworth, Missa Kate, Billie Starkz and Marshe Rockett.

—Interview with actor, writer and director Stephen Merchant and story on “Fighting With My Family,” the biopic on WWE Superstar Paige.

—Story and interview with WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, his wrestling career and ties to Chicago.

—Story on WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW coach Billy Gunn, his career in WWE and IMPACT Wrestling and his son, Austin Gunn.

—Story on WWE Hall of Famer Road Warrior Animal of the legendary tag team, the Road Warriors, and how they came to be one of the best teams in wrestling history.

—Story and interview with ECW legend and House of Hardcore promoter Tommy Dreamer on his career in ECW and WWE and his own promotion.

—Story and interview with AEW star Frankie Kazarian of So Cal Uncensored about the evolution and future of AEW.

—Story on the evolution of AEW with coverage from 2019 C2E2 with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.

—Story and interview with longest reigning Ring of Honor World Champion Jay Lethal, his run in IMPACT and ROH, the Black Machismo character and his relationship with Lanny Poffo.

—Story and interview with IMPACT Wrestling announcer and executive Josh Mathews and preview of IMPACT’s Bound For Glory show in the fall of 2019.

—Story on WWE legend Lanny Poffo, the brother of WWE Hall of Famer “Macho Man” Randy Savage, which was conducted at Starrcast I in 2018.

—Story and interview with independent wrestling star Sam Adonis in summer of 2019.

—Story and interviews on Busted Open Radio and longtime host Dave LaGreca, which was conducted at Starrcast I in 2018.

—Story and interview with Rob Schamberger, WWE artist in residence, during 2019 C2E2 about how comic books changed his life and a chance meeting helped him get his gig with WWE.

—Feature story on IMPACT Wrestling star Tessa Blanchard about growing up in a family of wrestlers, her career and her ties to Chicago.

—Feature story on current NXT superstar and former IMPACT Wrestling star and Chicago native Scarlett Bordeaux.

—Preview story on local promotion Warrior Wrestling, with main focus on former IMPACT Wrestling star Brian Cage.

—News story about WWE bringing the 2019 Survivor Series to Chicago with quotes from Seth Rollins.

—Feature story about WWE’s women’s revolution with quotes from Alexa Bliss and The Bella Twins.

—Feature story on local wrestling cosplay group, Too Sweet Cosplay.

—Local stories and photo galleries on various independent shows in the Chicago area/Midwest including Warrior Wrestling, Berwyn Championship Wrestling, Zelo Pro, Freelance Underground, Frontline Pro, SSW Entertainment, All Heel Wrestling, 2econd Wrestling, Ego Pro Wrestling and PROGRESS Wrestling

—Previous to Windy City Slam, editor Mike Pankow did a feature story in the Chicago Tribune on WWE’s Chris Nowinski in 2002, which included interviews with Nowinski and Jim Ross