Pinfalls: WWE Clash at the Castle

Tommy Else and I are back with Pinfalls: WWE Clash at the Castle. As always, we take a look at all the matches and make our predictions.

WWE Clash at the Castle airs on the Peacock Network on Saturday, September 3 at 1 p.m. ET from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It is the first WWE major stadium event in the United Kingdom since SummerSlam 1992. It is also the first UK WWE PPV since Insurrextion in 2003. The title refers to the nearby Cardiff Castle.

There are six matches announced:

Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

SmackDown Women's Championship

Liv Morgan (c) vs. Shayna Baszler

Six Women Tag Team Match

Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss and Asuka vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky

Matt Riddle vs. Seth Rollins

WWE Intercontinental Championship

Gunther (c) vs. Sheamus (with The Brawling Brutes)

Edge & Rey Mysterio (with Dominik Mysterio) vs. The Judgment Day Finn Balor & Damian Priest with Rhea Ripley

There are seven predictions, including whether Reigns will retain his title, regardless of the declared winner. I won't give spoilers, but there is a lot of agreement in our predictions. For the year, Tommy has a slight edge on me. Tommy is 21-23, while I am two wins behind at 19-25.

All PPV's are major events, but we agree this one lacks a bit of luster. Of course, there is always the possibility of last minute additions or changes, as well as the usual surprises within the show.

Watch the Pinfalls video at Pinfalls: WWE Clash at the Castle and make your own predictions. Then on Saturday, watch Clash at the Castle and see how you do against us. Check back on Every Day Fan Sports for the WWE Clash at the Castle recap.

On the Beat With Grin of Rocket Pro Wrestling

I interviewed Grin, one of my long-time favorite wrestlers. More formally known as Grin N Barrett, he is a veteran of the Chicago area wrestling scene.

I last interviewed Grin about 10 years ago. I was surprised to learn I was his first interview after coming out of retirement back then.

It was long overdue to get an update interview with him. After stepping away from the ring a few years ago, Grin once again was pulled back into the squared circle. This time, Rocket Pro Wrestling lured him back. This was the perfect time to get that update.

The powers that be at RPW were wise to coax Grin back into active duty. Recognizing Grin was a major player at Pro Wrestling Blitz in Joliet, RPW management knew their fans in the same area would welcome him back and they have.

In our interview, Grin returns the love and appreciation for RPW and his fans. He does admit it is odd at times, since Grin is a bit of a sinister character. Like some wrestlers who are so good at being bad, they get cheered, Grin has heard the cheers for years and has had to adjust his character accordingly.

Grin also talked about his teenage daughter. Part of his reason for returning is for her to see him in action. He also discussed what she thinks of her dad the wrestler and if she has a future in the business.

Of course, we had to discuss his upcoming Heavyweight championship title defense against Christian Rose at Fall Brawl September 10. As I have covered in other interviews here, the Fabulous Idols are running the show, but Grin might have a few tricks up his sleeve, too. He likes the title belt and plans on keeping it.

I won't don facepaint, but I will be “On the Beat” at Fall Brawl and will recap it here. Check back here for all my coverage of Rocket Pro Wrestling.

Friend Encounters: Doc Gooden and Larry Freda

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

My east coast friend Larry Freda makes another appearance here. Many of the celebrities he has met are former athletes, particularly former New York athletes.

Today, Larry is pictured with Dwight "Doc" Gooden, who was a star pitcher with the New York Mets and appeared headed for the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, drug issues derailed his career. He did have a resurgence with the cross town Yankees, followed by a few years bouncing around with the Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and the Tampa Rays, before finishing his career with the Yankees. Overall he was 192-112. It's just a shame for him and his career drugs cost him so much.

One of these days I hope to actually meet Larry. Until then, I will keep featuring some of his greatest celebrity encounters.

Doc Gooden and Larry Freda in Paramus, NJ-June 2010.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #602 Bill Lee & Dewayne Staats

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series featuring Celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue my season-long alphabetical march through all MLB teams.

Born in California, Bill Lee became a legend on the mound for the Boston Red Sox, before finishing his career with the Montreal Expos. Spaceman was a unique character and that doesn't seem to have changed. At 75, he recently pitched a bit for the Savannah Bananas. Lee suited up in a special edition Tampa Rays jersey to throw a ceremonial pitch and earn his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Born in Missouri, Dewayne Staats seemed destined for a life in baseball. Although spelled differently, Staats would deal with stats throughout his excellent career behind the mic as a broadcaster. To earn his Celebrity Jersey Card, he threw out a first pitch for the Tampa Rays, for whom he has worked since their debut in 1998. 

On the Beat With Brian "Crippler" Costello

​Tonight at Four Winds Field in South Bend, Indiana, IAW prsents Clash 22: Rise From the Ashes. Wrestling fans are happy, but nobody is happier than Brian “Crippler” Costello, the man behind the Clash.

A ring veteran of 40 years, Brian rose to fame in 1980s in the (then) WWF. Wrestling legends such as Andre the Giant, Don Muraco, the Ultimate Warrior and countless others, Brian wrestled regularly for several years with WWF.

Although he left the WWF in the early 1990s, Brian did not leave the ring. He took his talents to the independent scene, most notably IAW in his home area of South Bend.

It was in South Bend where Brian started the Clash at the Cove in the late 1990s at Stanley Covelski Stadium, often called “the grandfather of the modern ballpark.” Now renamed Four Winds Field, it is home to the South Bend Cubs, the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Tonight though, baseball takes a back seat to wrestling, as Brian and many others will work their magic in the ring, entertaining fans with a full night of wrestling.

In its 22nd year, the Clash is back after taking off two years due to the pandemic. The card features Sgt. Jay Peterson battling Brutus Dylan for the vacant IAW Heavyweight title. Also on the card, Crystal White and Sinister Shay grapple to the IAW Women's title. There's an IAW U.S. Title match pitting Andy Chene against William Studd.

Along with making sure things run smoothly tonight, Brian will also lace up the boots again. Brian will team with WWE Hall of Famer Cowboy Bob Orton to defend their IAW Tag Team titles against Pastor Pain and PitBull.

There are a few other excellent matches on the card, too. Plus, all the wrestlers will take part in a meet-and-greet, taking pictures and signing autographs.

I talked to Brian about all of this in our interview yesterday. Even after 40 years in the business, Brian's passion is still strong. You can tell he loves what he does and it shows in the Clash. That interview can be found at On the Beat with Brian Costello.

Brian and his crew run a fantastic show. Dozens of superstars have appeared at the Clash, including Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ken Patera, the Iron Sheik and many other legends.

I have been to several Clash events and it is always a blast. It amazes me to see all of the larger-than-life wrestling legends still going strong. Meeting all during the night brings me right back to my early years of following wrestling. It is surreal and so cool.

It's also fun seeing the independent wrestlers carving their own paths in wrestling. They are eager to prove they can go with the legends. This produces excellent matches every time.

Having it all on the infield of the baseball stadium adds to the vibe. Every seat is great and the background of the stadium and skyline is awesome.

My schedule does not permit me to make It to Clash 22, but I will be there in spirit. Just because I won't be there, I don't want others to miss the fun. The weather forecast looks perfect. You can't beat wrestling in a baseball stadium on a beautiful summer night.

I thank Brian for his time and consideration. The young wrestling fan in me was excited to talk to the man I watched on television so many times. The older wrestling fan in me thanks him for so many great Clash events and I hope there are many more to come.

PJ Soles at Flashback Weekend 2022

Earlier this month, I attended Flashback Weekend, Chicago's longest-running horror convention. My coverage appeared at Flashback Weekend Recap on the Chicago Patch.

One cool story involves PJ Soles, a longtime favorite of mine. Soles was on my list of "must see" at the convention. Unfortunately, her line was so long every time I went by her table.

As my friend Cuzz Gekas and I were leaving for the day, show promoter Mia Kerz (Cuzz's cousin) asked us how it was. I said all was great, but I missed Soles and might return the next day to see her. Mia surprised me by saying Soles was in the break room and I could pop in to see her there.

I didn't want to bother her on break, but Mia led the way and Soles could not have been any nicer. She actually remembered me from previous meetings, including once when I interviewed her (at On the Beat With PJ Soles).

We chatted for a few minutes and took the picture. I thanked Soles and Mia profusely for this moment.

Granted, everyone won't get that treatment from Mia (or husband Mike), but everyone will have a great time at Flashback Weekend. I have been going for many years and it is always a stop on my convention list.

Go to FlashbackWeekend.com for news and updates throughout the year. Also check back here for my recurring coverage.

PJ Soles, Cuzz Gekas and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2022.

On the Beat With John Cosper

I have known author and wrestling historian John Cosper for several years. John is my “go to” guy for discussions of independent wrestling in the Ohio Valley area and wrestling in general.

John has written (or co-written) many wrestling books, including biographies on Wahoo McDaniel, Chris Candido, Princess Victoria and other fascinating wrestlers. Not limited to the squared circle, John also has written a few fiction books, including the Dead Park series. I proudly have several of John's books on my bookshelf, with more to come.

It had been longer than usual since I last spoke to John, but we finally got together yesterday for a Zoom interview. As usual, we talked indy wrestling and his book projects. That interview is at On the Beat With John Cosper.

John started by discussing a night at FTC wrestling with Bobby Blaze. Likening his experience with Blaze to previous encounters with the late Tracy Smothers, John was fascinated hearing Blaze's insight. Several wrestlers earned John's praise, perhaps with Reese Ramone at the top of the list.

From there, John discussed his multiple visits to Ohio Valley Wrestling, run by WWE legend Al Snow. John had several interesting stories from the shows and mentioned some of the talent. OVW is doing great things and it all starts with Snow.

As always, John discussed a few wrestlers on the rise. We share a respect for Billie Starkz, current the champ at both 2econd Wrestling and Girl Fight Wrestling. Having seen Starkz twice recently, I am very impressed with every aspect of her.

While I have yet to see Charlie Kruel in person, I have followed her online and I have a growing admiration for her. Still young and early in her wrestling career, Kruel has already taken her character in several directions, while not losing her core nature. She is one of the most intriguing young wrestlers.

We finished by discussing John's books. Diary of a Mad Man, the Mad Man Pondo book co-written by John and Pondo was the first of John's books to catch my eye. Since then, I have added many of his other biographies and have expanded my knowledge because of him.

I was drawn into his fiction books by Charlie Kruel: Escape From VHS Hell. This “bio” of Charlie Kruel is a fascinating look at the Kruel character. Already hooked by his writing, His Dead Park series has been my next favorite. John discussed all of this, including revealing Dead Park will be revisited at least a few more times.

I have such a good time discussing wrestling with John. After the recording, John agreed to join e for regular updates to discuss indy wrestling and other wrestling-related topics. Look for those here and on TheEveryDayFan.com.

Go to EatSleepWrestle.com for more info on all of John's wrestling books. Also, check DeadParkBooks.com, his site for the Dead Park series and other works.

On the Beat With Jonny Nigh and Damien Grey

Yesterday, I conducted separate interviews with Jonny Nigh and Damien Grey, tag team champions at Rocket Pro Wrestling. I would usually write a piece for each, but it seemed to make sense to do these together. Those interviews are at On the Beat with Jonny Nigh and On the Beat With Damien Grey.

Both Grey and Nigh are cocky, brash and confident. As tag team champions, they probably have earned that right though. Despite their boastfulness, they gave a look at their careers before and during their time as a team and as part of the Fabulous Idols, led by Joey Roth and Roxi Heart.

Nigh talked about his unusual start in wrestling. While not a lifelong dream, wrestling quickly became Nigh's passion once he got started. Things really seemed to fall together once he joined the Fabulous Idols. His dedication to the group earned him the spot as Roth's second in command.

Outside of the ring, Nigh is a successful musician. He even wrote and performed his entrance theme. That feat puts him ahead of the Road Dogg in terms of musical wrestlers. Several wrestlers have had music gimmicks (The Honky Tonk Man, Van Hammer, Jeff Jarrett), but few have legit music careers. 

Holding the other tag team strap, Grey is the less experienced, but equally as bold as Nigh. Grey started our interview by teaching me the way to do a proper introduction. Once he set me straight, Grey talked about his start in wrestling, unfortunately in the Covid era. Still, Grey wrestled when he could, building his match resume.

I asked Grey about soaking it all in. He'll be quick to tell all that fans should enjoy the moment he's in the ring, but he also discussed his emotions. I followed that by asking about fans. As a heel, how does he deal with fans. Once again, Grey gave an interesting response.

Of course, both men previewed Fall Brawl in Joliet, Illinois on September 10. Through a series of events, the Fabulous Idols are in charge of everything. That could lead to anything. More specific to Nigh and Grey, they defend the RPW Tag Team championship against No Coast. Naturally, both agreed they would keep the titles. With the Fabulous Idols in charge, who knows what type of chicanery will be utilized in that match and all night. I know Roth well and he certainly will have a few tricks to play that night.  Even RPW owner Bill Schelli has no idea what might happen.

I will be "On the Beat" at Fall Brawl, covering all the action. Check back here and TheEveryDayFan.com for my recap and other wrestling coverage.

On the Beat With Jacey Hinton

University of Miami swimmer Jacey Hinton has lead quite a life and she is just getting started. Yesterday, I went “On the Beat” with Jacey to hear her story. That interview is at On the Beat With Jacey Hinton.

Already an accomplished swimmer, a young Jacey saved her brother's life. Jacey described the incident and the effect it had on both of them. That's an amazing, impactful incident, especially for two youngsters.

By the time she was in high school, Jacey established herself as a standout swimmer, but she also had a burgeoning modeling career. Showing incredible maturity for such a young person, Jacey talked about balancing both, but keeping the focus on her swimming career. Swimming isn't as glamorous as modeling, but Jacey had a path in mind and swimming came first at that point and still today.

A sprint freestyle specialist, Jacey was a three-time scholastic All-American with Crimson Aquatics. She chose to continue her swimming career at the University of Miami.

The developments in Name Image Likeness (NIL) rules have provided many opportunities to college athletes and Jacey is among the first waves to reap the benefits. Very active on social media, Jacey offers several services, including appearances, shout outs and more, for various fees. While others use third-party companies, Jacey wisely is in total control of her business ventures.

After a lifetime of dedication to competitive swimming, Jacey admits it will be hard to walk away from it after her time at Miami is done, but she has plenty of other options. More modeling will definitely be in the mix. Broadcasting and journalism is also a goal.

Already possessing a growing platform, I see the Jacey brand expanding in other ways, too. Whatever she does, she will do with passion and a plan. Anything she does will reflect and benefit from her personality.

I really appreciate Jacey for her time and consideration. This was my first interview with a swimmer and Jacey was fantastic to be the one.

Follow Jacey on Instagram at JaceyLaneHinton. Also, check my coverage on TheEveryDayFan.com.

Friend Encounters: Amanda Chidester and Jim Strong

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

This harkens back to the days of the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. I had so many great times with the Bandits, as did many of my friends, including Jim Strong.

Although Jim is a University of Kentucky fam, he was happy to meet Michigan alum Amanda "Chiddy" Chidester. Of course, everyone loves Chiddy. I especially have a soft spot for Chiddy, because she was the catcher of my infamous ceremonial pitch. She not only caught the "slightly high" pitch, but she called it a strike in a later interview. The catcher knows!

Chidester is finishing another season with Athletes Unlimited. AU just finished their fourth of five weeks, with the season ending Sunday, August 28.

Utilizing a fantasy league points system, AU is different from other softball leagues. It takes a bit to understand the system and possibly to even like the setup, but at the heart, it is softball, played by the most elite players. Any bit of hesitation immediately leaves once I'm at the ballpark, immersed in the softball fun.

I find myself unnecessarily saying "oh she's good" as every player is announced. Of course she's good. They're all the best of the best. It is a real pleasure watching them. It has also been a great thrill to get to know many of them from the NPF and even now through three years of AU.

For more info on AU, go to AUProSports.com. Also, check my recurring coverage here and on TheEveryDayFan.com.

Amanda Chidester and Jim Strong in Rosemont, IL-July 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #601 David Bell & Dion Pride

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue my alphabetical season-long trek through Major League Baseball with two multi-generation stars.

The son of Buddy Bell and grandson of Gus Bell, David Bell is one of five third generation baseball players. David and Buddy are one of five father-son manager combinations. David had a solid 12 year MLB career, before going into managing. Fittingly, papa Buddy appears on David's Celebrity Jersey Card in the dugout during Buddy's time with the Texas Rangers.

The son of music legend Charley Pride, Dion has carved out a solid musical career of his own. Unlike papa Carley, Dion never played minor lague baseball, but he has sung in many ball parks, including Arlington Stadium, where he earned his Celebrity Jersey Card.

On the Beat With Bill Schelli of Rocket Pro Wrestling

The world of pro wrestling is full of fascinating characters and stories. Bill Schelli is definitely an interesting character and how he got started in pro wrestling is a unique story.

Yesterday, for The Every Day Fan, I interviewed Bill, the owner/promoter of Rocket Pro Wrestling in Joliet, Illinois. I learned all about him and RPW. That interview is at On the Beat With Bill Schelli.

A long-time wrestling fan, Bill tells how his son's college graduation led him into pro wrestling. Eventually, Bill started RPW in Joliet, the former home of the long-running, successful Pro Wrestling Blitz company.

In its fifth year, RPW is gaining rave reviews from fans, wrestlers and critics. Bill talks about the challenges of running an indy wrestling company, the help he receives from his Knights of Columbus brethren, St. Joseph's parish, the Joliet community and more, including a preview of the upcoming Fall Brawl.

On September 10, RPW presents Fall Brawl, featuring a double main event of a 20-man Rocket Rumble and an RPW championship match. In keeping with the family friendly goal, Fall Brawl starts at 5 pm.

Creating and keeping a family atmosphere is important to Bill. Early shows allow more kids to attend. You won't see any offensive merchandise nor hear improper language from anyone involved. 

When Bill lists some of the talented folks at RPW, it's a mix of the biggest and most popular names on the area. Marshe Rocket, Christian Rose, Those damn Coyotes, Steve Michaels and Cody James are just a few of the many stars appearing at Fall Brawl. Bill also coaxed Grin, one of my all-time favorites, out of retirement to join the RPW roster.

Of course the discussion had to include Joey Roth and Steve Ahrendt (both of whom I recently interviewed). Through a series of events, Joey and his Fabulous idols are now in charge of RPW. Where does that leave Bill, announcer Steve and the rest of the crew? Some answers will be revealed at Fall Brawl, but knowing Joey, he will have a few new surprises.

Bill has invited The Every Day Fan and me to Fall Brawl. If my schedule allows, I will be there, but either way I will report the results here. Until then, I hope to have a couple RPW wrestlers for interviews.

Thank you to Bill for his time and consideration. I look forward to updates and more interviews involving RPW. Check out RocketProWrestling.com for more info and news and TheEveryDayFan.com for more of my wrestling coverage.

Rachel Lewis and Athletes Unlimited Softball

I followed and covered Rachel Lewis at Northwestern. Rachel racked up a bunch of honors and accolades. She is the all-time leader in home runs at NU. She was also the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2022.

I was hoping she would be selected in the Athletes Unlimited college draft and she was one of the 13 collegiate players picked. I was so happy for Rachel to play pro ball, especially in front of the Chicago fans.

As an AU rookie, Rachel hasn't played much. She has had six at bats, getting two hits and adding three walks. With a team of elite players, it is hard to crack the starting lineup, but Rachel has made the most of her limited playing time. As a local college player, Rachel always gets a huge reaction from the crowd.

Last weekend, I was finally able to get a picture with Rachel in her AU uniform. It seemed right that she was in purple, like her time with the Wildcats.

Rachel looks like she is having a blast. She deserves this. I hope she gets a few more at bats. Dare I ask for a Rachel bomb? That would make the season.

Check back here for my recurring coverage of AU sports. Also, go to TheEveryDayFan.com for more of my AU coverage and other fun sports articles.

Rachel Lewis and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2022. 

On the Beat With Andrea of Evkami Art

I recently covered Anime Magic for the first time. Anime Magic is a anime and Japanese culture convention held in Rosemont.

As I meandered through the artist area, I saw the Evkami booth. Among dozens of very appealing booths, this one stood out. I was so impressed, I asked for a picture with Andrea, the creative force behind Evkami. Although I was armed with my video cam, it was a bit too loud and active at the con to get a solid interview, but I took her card to contact her later for one.

Earlier today, the interview came to fruition. I was excited to learn more about Andrea and her career. That interview is at On the Beat With Andrea of Evkami Art.

Andrea is a graphic design artist in the Chicago area. Her creations include keychains, patches, pins, plushies, stickers and more. Her beautiful plushie creations caught my eye first, but then I was pulled into all of her other colorful, culture, whimsical, intriguing products.

The first thing I learned was Anime Magic was also Andrea's first convention as an artist. I was happy to hear that, because I love following the journeys of creators, especially from the beginning stage.

I questioned Andrea about her artistic process, specifically how she knows (or feels) a project is done. I'm always fascinated learning how artists decide they are satisfied with their creations. In doing research on Andrea, I saw a social media post of Nessie artwork where she added a boat, because she "felt something was missing." This is the perfect example.

Andrea also talked about her first time experience attending a convention as a creator. Although anime isn't her main focus, Anime Magic was an excellent choice and the attendees, including me, loved her work. She talked about how it felt having folks come up and admire her work and what her friends thought of her burgeoning success.

I also learned Andrea came to the Chicago area from Wisconsin. She was looking for new and more opportunities and she is finding them. I was also happy to hear she will be doing more conventions. I really look forward to seeing Andrea at future conventions and seeing her new creations.

Until then, I will continue following her journey on social media. I encourage all to follow her, too. She is as interesting as her art. She posts pictures of new products with fun, short descriptions.

For more info and to see all of her work, go to Evkami.com and at Evkami.art on Instagram. She will also be at the DuPage Comic Con September 10 and Milwaukee Comic Con September 24.

On the Beat With Abbey Cheek

Over several seasons covering the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits, I conducted more than 150 player interviews, but I missed Abbey Cheek. On Monday, I finally had the opportunity to add Abbey to my list. That interview is at On the Beat With Abbey Cheek.

A native of South Carolina, Abbey was highly recruited out of high school. She went on to have a stellar career at the University of Kentucky. Abbey racked up a lot of records and accolades at Kentucky, including being named the SEC Player of the Year. A powerful hitter, who holds career records at Kentucky for home runs, RBIs, runs, slugging percentage and total bases, Abbey also was named to the SEC All-Defensive team during her final season.

She was drafted by the Bandits and was named NPF Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, the NPF folded after Abbey's first season. Since then, Abbey played one season in Japan.

Abbey talked about her start in softball and her career. She indulged me by answering whether when playing for the Bandits, she ever tried to hit the expressway in batting practice, Despite Parkway Bank Sports Complex positioned with a Chicago expressway well beyond the outfield fence, the possibility of a home run reaching it is a continual topic of discussion among fans.

Last season, Abbey joined the softball coaching staff at Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina. She talked about the challenges and rewards of coaching young players at the NCAA Division II school.

Abbey also played the 2022 season with the USSSA Pride of the new Women's Pro Fastpitch league. Although the season was an exhibition, there are plans for expansion and a full regular season in 2023. Abbey talked about the debut season and the WPF future, as well as her own future.

The WPF is a pro league using standard scoring, as opposed to Athletes Unlimited Softball, which utilizes a fantasy scoring system to produce one individual champ. I attended a few WPF games and was impressed with every aspect from the play to the organization. Hopefully, the WPF continues to grow. There is plenty of room for both AU and WPF softball.

I thank Abbey for her time and consideration. Check back here and TheEveryDayFan.com for updates on the WPF as announcements are made.

On the Beat With Michelle Morris

Last week, I had the pleasure of being "On the Beat" with actress Michelle Morris. Over many years of talking at conventions, I am fortunate enough to have become friends with Michelle. That interview is at On the Beat With Michelle Morris.

I started the interview with a bit of name clarification. Michelle has gone by Portia Chellelynn at times, but is now using her real name. You can find her online under either name.

Michelle talked about her start in acting. Already doing several things like modeling and appearing in a music video, Michelle got her first part in an unlikely way. From there, she added acting to her already impressive resume.

Anyone who has met Michelle at a convention knows she is special. Many of her fans become her friends. She treats everyone like dear friends. It is always a special experience meeting Michelle.

From there, we got into the main focus of the interview. Written and directed by Bobby Easley, another friend, Witch House is based on the H.P. Lovecraft short story The Dreams in the Witch House. Michelle plays a grad student escaping an abusive boyfriend. After moving into the Hannah House, she faces strange and horrific events. What is reality and what is the fourth dimension? Does she know? Do we know what's real?

I won't reveal any spoilers, but I will say it is a fantastic movie. There's enough horror to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, without it becoming overdone and cartoonish. It's a psychological thriller. Some parts require a bit of thought. Others need a bit of imagination. The entirety gets the viewer to think and to keep thinking. I always like it when a movie comes back to me over the next few days and Witch House did just that.

Michelle did a wonderful job in her role. She talked about the challenges of some of the most emotional scenes. You can tell how much Michelle puts into those scenes. Even simply recalling some scenes is emotional for Michelle. It's that type of passion which adds to the movie.

Of course, Bobby did a great job, too. Like Michelle, I have known Bobby for several years. Having seen his other work, I figured I would like Witch House, but it surpassed my expectations. I highly recommend Witch House, as do many of my friends, including Tony Feddeler, also a long time pal through the convention scene.

Witch House is available streaming and on DVD through Amazon and elsewhere. Especially with Halloween fast approaching, I encourage everyone to check out Witch House if you want a scary, thrill ride.

I thank Michelle for her time and consideration. I also thank Bobby, Michelle and their whole crew for years of entertainment and friendship.

Friend Encounters: Kenny Rogers and Larry Freda

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I have featured Larry Freda several times here. Although I have never met my east coast pal, I have been a follower and fan of his many celebrity meetings over the years.

Today's features finds Larry with the legendary musician Kenny Rogers. Larry met Rogers at Bookends, where he was doing a signing.

With a career spanning more than 60 years, Rogers built a Hall of Fame resume as part of the First Edition and as a solo act. Rogers also had a bit of an acting career. Unfortunately, Rogers passed away in March 2020.

Rogers earned another spot in pop culture history, thanks to a Seinfeld episode. Kramer and Newman became obsessed with Kenny Rogers Chicken in what was a hilarious episode.

Once again Larry has met a celebrity who I did not meet. I wonder how many celebs Larry has met total. It's got to be in the hundreds and we will see more here in the future.

Kenny Rogers and Larry Freda in Ridgewood, NJ-October 2012.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #600 Matthew Modine & Jeff Daniels

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Today, I continue my alphabetical march through all the MLB teams.

California native Matthew Modine has carved out an excellent career. One of his first major roles was in Full Metal Jacket. Now a New York resident, Modine heads "Bicycle for a Day," a pro-bike organization. Modine played baseball Hall of Famer Honus Wagner in 2004s The Winning Season and earned a Celebrity Jersey Card in the process.

Born in Georgia and raised in Michigan, Jeff Daniels appeared on and off Broadway before jumping to the big screen. His second role was in Terms of Endearment, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The tarantobelus jeffdanielsi, a parasite that kills tarantulas, was named to honor his role in Arachnaphobia. Daniels threw out a pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates and earned his Celebrity Jersey Card.

On the Beat With Alejandra Lion

About a month ago, I saw Alejandra Lion wrestle in a four-person match at 2econd Wrestling. Very impressed, I reached out for an interview, which happened yesterday and is at On the Beat With Alejandra Lion.

Lion's journey started in El Salvador, but came to fruition in Dallas, Texas. Always a fan of wrestling, Lion debuted in 2018 and has earned a few titles already.

The interview started with Lion discussing her start. We moved on to her match at 2econd Wrestling. She explained the challenge of wrestling multi-person matches. She also expressed happiness at wrestling in Chicago and being able to explore the city a bit.

Lion named a few of her wrestling role models and how it feels to be on the other side, having fans of her own. She also spoke about soaking it in and how she feels entering the ring and wrestling.

She explained her wrestling style and her finishing maneuver. In the four-person match, she showed excellent brawling skills, along with solid technical wrestling. She also made a connection with the fans.

Of course, we had to discuss her hair, one of her distinctive features. The lion has an amazing mane, although sometimes her opponents use it against her. Undaunted, she's not going to change her look.

Lastly, Lion discussed her own animals. The queen of the jungle has quite a little personal zoo.

Still based in the Dallas area, Lion's appearance at 2econd Wrestling was her first in the Chicago area, but hopefully not her last. The fans really got behind Lion and all the women wrestlers at 2econd Wrestling.

I thank Lion for her time and consideration. Check back here and TheEveryDayFan.com for more of my wrestling coverage, including interviews.

Kris Statlander at New York Comic Con 2021

The New York Comic Con is less than four months away. I plan on being "On the Beat" once again, meeting a lot of interesting celebrities, wrestlers and creators.

Last year, All Elite Wrestling had a large presence at NYCC. Kris Statlander was one of the many wrestlers to appear at the AEW booth. Still dealing with the pandemic, Statlander was wearing a mask, but it was still cool to meet her.

Statlander made her debut in 2016.After wrestling in a few indy companies, Statlander signed with AEW in 2019. In 2019, Sports Illustrated ranked her No. 6 of the top ten female wrestlers of the year.

She was extremely nice, even apologizing for wearing a mask. While the apology was unnecessary, it was classy for her to do it. Masks were (and still are) a part of our lives to some degree. I won't get into the mask debate. I'm merely commenting on Statlander being very nice. The mask did not deter any of the hundreds of fans who lined up to see her.

I am sure wrestling will have a big presence at NYCC again this year. NYCC runs October 6-9.

Go to AllEliteWrestling.com for info on Kris and her mat mates. Check NewYorkComicCon.com for updates and scheduling on NYCC 2022.

Kris Statlander and me in New York, NY-October 2021.

Hannah Flippen and Athletes Unlimited Softball 2022

My coverage of Athletes Unlimited Softball Season Three continues on The Every Day Fan with AU SB Week Three Draft Recap. I look at the teams and the leaderboard implications.

On week One, I caught up a bit with former Chicago Bandits player Hannah Flippen. Currently sitting in 7th place in the standings, Flippen is positioned to make a move upwards.

Flippen was a star player at Utah, before playing professionally. She was also a member of Team USA 2016-18. Her mother was an All-American at Utah State and helped the Aggies to two national titles.

During her time with the Bandits, I had a fun exchange after one particularly hot day. When talking of the game, I said "at least the game was short." Flippen thought I said she was short. I quickly restated I was referring to the weather and we had a big laugh.

It's great seeing Flippen and all the players, especially former Bandits, back on the field. With the unique scoring system of AU, I still waffle on how to cheer, but I do lean towards rooting for my former Bandits, like Flippen.

Week three games start on Friday at 5:30 PM CST with Team Jaquish facing Team McCleney. Following at 8 PM CST, Team Chidester battles Team Mulipola. Saturday and Sunday feature two games each, with the week's final game seeing Team McCleney taking on Team Mulipola at 7 PM CST.

Hannah Flippen and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2022.

On the Beat With Steve Ahrendt

Yesterday, I interviewed Steve Ahrendt, whose presence is felt on many levels in several companies around Chicago. A broadcaster, general manager, podcaster and more, Ahrendt has even stepped into the ring to do battle. The interview can be found at On the Beat With Steve Ahrendt.

As usual, the interview started with Ahrendt discussing his start in wrestling. Having a late start, Ahrendt took a bit of an unusual route entering pro wrestling. In a few years though, he made up for lost time.

In talking about broadcasting, Ahrendt brings up Jim Ross. Although he doesn't copy Ross, he approaches calling matches in a similar fashion. He brings a fan's aspect to the announce table. After I compare him to the WWE's Pat McAfee, Ahrendt gives his thoughts on the football player-turned-announcer.

While broadcasting was his background and entry point, Ahrendt has assumed other roles, too. He also has worked both as a fan favorite and a heel. Ahrendt discussed working both sides, which is easier and which he prefers.

As will happen, occasionally a broadcaster will get involved in storylines and find himself in the ring. This has happened to Ahrendt a handful of times, but he semi-proudly states he is 3-2 in such matches.

Working in a few companies and seeing so many young wrestlers, I asked Ahrendt to name some under-the-radar wrestlers in the area. As expected, he immediately gave me several men and women.

Last week, I interviewed Chicago area entertainer Joey Roth. During the interview and in post-interview reactions, the current issues between Roth and Ahrendt heated up again. Since Joey gave his side, I felt it was only fair to let Ahrendt give his perspective.

Both men make valid points. I have been on the wrestling scene long enough to see where this is going. It will end up in the ring. It might be Roth against Ahrendt or they might have wrestlers battling for them. Either way, both will be involved and it will be highly entertaining.

Ahrendt ends our interview with a preview of several wrestling events where he will appear in some role. Chicago area wrestling is in high gear and Ahrendt is all over the scene.

Thank you to Ahrendt for his time and consideration. Check TheEveryDayFan.com for my coverage of Chicago wrestling.

Major Wrestling Figure Podcast at New York Comic Con 2021

The New York Comic Con running October 6-9, is less than two months away. Last year was my first time at NYCC and I plan on returning this year.

Last year, I met the guys behind the Major Wrestling Figure podcast. Pro wrestlers Matt Cardona and Brian Myers host the weekly discussion of wrestling figures. "Smart" Matt Sterling produces this cool podcast. Wrestling figures are hotter than ever and this podcast covers everything.

One of the interesting parts of meeting these men at NYCC was many people did not realize Cardona was one of them. This was a great way to meet Cardona before people realized it and mad the line extra long.

This is a lesson to all. Sometimes wrestlers or celebrities appear at other booths as part of something else other than self-promotion. These are usually good ways to meet the folks in a different setting and probably with a slightly shorter line.

Either way, all three were really cool. You could tell they had great chemistry as hey interacted with each other and as a group with the fans.

Find the Major Wrestling Figure podcast on all major podcast platforms. Check NewYorkComicCon.com for updates and scheduling on NYCC.

Brian Myers, Matt Cardona, Mark Sterling and me in New York, NY-October 2021.

Friend Encounters: Abe Lincoln & Kayla Wood, Kylie Ohlmiller, Dempsey Arsenault and Ally Kennedy

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

In 2021, Athletes Unlimited exposed me to the fun world of pro lacrosse. I covered the league for the entire season, partaking in many Zoom interviews with the players. Based in Washington, D.C., the players took advantage of the area and visited many historic and fun places. One of those was a Washington National game. 

Kayla Wood, Kylie Ohlmiller, Dempsey Arsenault and Ally Kennedy attended a game and got a picture with the Abraham Lincoln mascot. Obviously, the lady athletes were trying to get featured here in the offseason and of course, I am always happy to feature fun "celebrity encounters."

For more info on AU and the great players, go to AUProSports.com. In addition to lacrosse, AU has leagues of softball, basketball and volleyball.

Kayla Wood, Kylie Ohlmiller, Abe Lincoln, Dempsey Arsenault and Ally Kennedy in Washington, D.C.-August 2021.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #599 Carrot Top & Chris Kattan

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue marching through all MLB teams alphabetically.

Born in Florida, Scott Thompson grew to fame as Carrot Top, a comedian and actor. Carrot Top threw out a first pitch for the Phillies to earn his Celebrity Jersey Card. He also gets extra points for wearing a Phillies cap.

A native of California, Chris Kattan started his career performing with The Groundlings in Los Angeles. After a few roles, he landed on Saturday Night Live, where his career blossomed. Kattan went all out for his Celebrity Jersey Card, donning a full uniform. The #34 was most notably worn by the late Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Halladay.

Cards That Never Were: Duffy Dyer Topps 1982

 Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets over the years. More of my creations and thousands from others can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards Group on Facebook. It's not just baseball cards.

After starring at Arizona State University, catcher Don "Duffy" Dyer was selected by the New York Mets in the 1st round 9 (ninth overall) of the 1966 MLB June Draft. Dyer made his Major League Baseball debut with one game in 1968. He split 1969 between the Mets and their minor league affiliate. In 1970, Dyer was up with the Mets for good. After the 1974 season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Gene Clines. He signed with the Montreal Expos for the 1979 season, then was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Jerry Manuel before the 1980 season. The Tigers released Dyer early in the 1981 season.

For his career, Dyer played 722 games over parts of  14 seasons. He collected 441 hits, 30 homers, 173 RBIs and 151 runs scored. He had one at bat in the 1969 World Series that his team won.

For his efforts, Topps gave him cards in every set from 1969-1981. That left a 1982 "career capper" missing. I found a picture and with minor editing for the signature, filled that void.

Haylie Wagner and Athletes Unlimited Softball 2022

 Last weekend, Athletes Unlimited Softball returned to Rosemont, IL for its third season. As always, I was "On the Beat" and loving every minute of the softball action.

As much as I love softball, the best part of the weekend was seeing so many friends again. I caught up with fans, officials and players there, one of whom was pitcher Haylie Wagner.

A star pitcher at the University of Michigan, Haylie started her pro career with the National Pro Fastpitch Pennsylvania Rebellion in 2015. In 2017, she joined the Chicago Bandits, where I had the pleasure of getting to know h, see and interview her.

Pre-game on Opening Night, I wandered to the bullpen area and saw Haylie warming up with catcher Taylor Edwards, another former member fo the Bandits. It was like old times.

Not wanting to bother her, I simply watched her work on a few pitches. As her session ended, Haylie looked over and warmly greeted me. With a lot on her mind, facing her first start of the season in her former ballpark in front of so many fans, I didn't expect anything from Haylie, but her happy greeting made my night. Haylie is all class and definitely a fan favorite.

After the game, I was lucky enough to see Haylie again and grab a selfie. We greeted each other with "Go Blue," in reference to her Michigan ties. Although I have no connection to the Wolverines, I love the Big 10 and it is a fun thing with Michigan alumni.

I'll be "On the Beat" all season at AU. My coverage will be here and on TheEveryDayFan.com. Also check AUProSports.com for more info and updates.

Haylie Wagner and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2022.

On the Beat With Joey Roth

A couple days ago, I was "On the Beat" with Joey Roth for The Every Day Fan. That interview is at On the Beat With Joey Roth.

Roth has been a force on the Chicago entertainment scene for many years. A wrestler, broadcaster, manager, actor and more, the versatile Roth talked about all of this in our interview yesterday.

Our interview began with Roth discussing how WWE legend The Honky Tonk Man (Wayne Ferris) played a role in his start in the business. Fast forward about 20 years, I saw first hand when Roth caught up with HTM at C2E2, thanking him.

While still remaining active in the ring, Roth eventually starting transitioning into more of a manager. Along the way, he added Roxi Heart as his partner in wrestling and life. Together they have collected titles, while creating havoc in several independent wrestling companies.

Not satisfied with helping others win titles and even winning a few of his own, Roth created the Joey Roth title, as did Heart with the Roxi Heart belt. Both are accepting challenges for their titles, but Roth really has his eyes on legendary television horror host Svengoolie, who he presented with his own Sven belt. A Roth versus Sven match with both belts on the line would be a main event anywhere.

Roth discussed what makes a great wrestling manager. He also discussed which big name wrestler could benefit most from his services. That answer was a bit out of the box and on a larger scale than expected, but knowing Ross, it really should not be a surprise.

Outside of wrestling, Roth still takes center stage, litterally. He talks about his acting career, including his upcoming role in The Tempest with the GreenMan Theatre Troup in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Explaining how he views wrestling and theater, Roth gets to the core of wrestling. This really is why he excels in both. He isn't in wrestling to get himself over with fans. He is there to entertain fans. Roth is the perfect example of the wrestler fans love to hate.

Wrapped around a wrestling gig at POWW Entertainment this weekend, Roth and Heart will be in full cosplay mode at C2E2, a huge Chicago comic con. Roth will also be conducting interviews for me, as he masterfully has done in the past. Armed with a great knowledge of pop culture and comics, Roth's improvisation skills make him one of my most popular interviewers.

I couldn't let the interview end without bringing up Rowdy Roddy Piper, a wrestling legend important to Roth and me. Recently hitting the seven year anniversary of Piper's passing, Roth tells what the wrestler-actor meant to him. Anyone who sees Roth in action, sees bits of Piper.

I appreciate Roth for his time and consideration. Follow Roth on social media for his news. Always check back on The Every Day Fan for my coverage of Chicago area wrestling.

Princess Etch at C2E2 2019

C2E2 2022 runs August 5-7. It's not too early to make plans to be there. I know I'll be "On the Beat" as usual.

One of the most interesting creators I ever met there was Princess Etch. Special Contributor Joey Roth handled the interview duties for our most recent interview which can be found at On the Beat With Princess Etch at C2E2 2020.

If you haven't guesssed, Princess Etch (aka Jane Labowitch) is an artist who creates with Etch A Sketch. While I have seen others do Etch A Sketch art, I have never seen anyone do such amazing and so much Etch A Sketch art. She really is in a class by herself. One might say she etched her own niche.

One of my favorite creations of hers is the Spongebob Etch A Sketch below. It's incredible, as are all of her creations. I have watched her do some and I still have no idea how she gets Etch A Sketch to do what it does. She is like a magician with it.

Unfortunately for Chicagoans, Princess Etch moved and hasn't been back for C2E2. I hold hope she will return one day, but most important, I am happy she is doing well.

Go to PrincessEtch.com for more info on Jane and her work. Also, check C2E2.com for news and updates on C2E2 2022.

Princess Etch and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.

Kurt Dinse at Flashback Weekend

Flashback Weekend returns August 5-7. Of course, I will be "On the Beat" meeting celebrities, vendors and creators.

One of the first creators I met and started to really follow was Kurt Dinse. My first interview with him is at On the Beat With Kurt Dinse. I was first drawn to his unique take on Chicago sports team logos.  Kurt puts a awesomely horrific spin on the familiar icons. It is a perfect meeting of horror and sports.

Of course, Kurt also does a lot of other artwork, too. Some of his work features other pop culture bits, while some is original. All are wonderfully creative though.

I was so happy to see Kurt at Flashback Weekend 2021 and I am happier to see he will be there this year. I look forward to seeing his new creations or even recalling his older work.

For more info on Kurt, go to PungentBasementArt.com. Also, check FlashbackWeekend.com for info and updates.

Kurt Dinse and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2021.

Friend Encounters: Billie Starkz and Tony Feddeler

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

When the pandemic was lessening, my bud Tony Feddeler and I decided to go to more independent wrestling shows to see some new talent. One of the most talented young wrestlers is Billie Starkz.

Still in her teens, Billie has been preparing for a pro wrestling life for several years. She started in high school, which caused some funny situations. Billie talked about that and more during the interview Tommy Else and I did with her for Global Women's Sports Radio.

When Tony and I saw Billie would be wrestling at 2econd Wrestling's show north of Chicago, we immediately knew we needed to see her and the new-ish company. Neither disappointed!

The crowd was hot all afternoon (yes, a Sunday afternoon show!) and all of the wrestlers were on the top of their game, especially Billie, who wrestled twice. Both matches were against men, with the last being the final match for the inaugural 2econd Wrestling championship.

After the show, Tony and I beelined to Billie's table to meet the champ (we may or may not have pushed some kids out of the way). Billie was exuberant with her newly-won title. She was also as nice as could be.

Writer friend John Cosper has been singing the praises of Billie for a while and he was right. Billie will be on the big stage very soon. I'm glad we got to meet her now.

Follow Billie on Instagram to get all of her updates. Check out the interview with Billie at On the Beat with Billie Starkz.

Tony Feddeler and Billie Starkz in Northbrook, IL-March 2022.