Friend Encounters: Elmo and Mad Man Pondo

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

Mad Man Pondo and Elmo. Now that is an interesting tag-team. There's the hardcore legend and the children's favorite. Would they be a mismatched, but effective, tag team? Would one lean towards the other? Perhaps an edgier Elmo? Or a soft side of Pondo? Whatever way it developed, it would be fun to watch.

I have previously written about Pondo many times. He is one of the good guys in the pro wrestling business and I don't mean his in-ring persona, although he is a fan favorite there, too. Pondo is pure professional. He is the king of hardcore and can be intimidating, but he is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

He is also a great teacher. I saw him give advice so many times back in our days together at Resistance Pro Wrestling. Never pushy and always on target, Pondo helped anyone who went to him. He'd spend more time with others than working his own match. He was very giving and a huge asset to the locker room.

Pondo also had a lot of great stories. I loved listening to him tell tales in and out of the ring. I am not rubbing it in though. You can read about many of those stories in Memoirs of a Mad Man, his book written with my pal John Cosper.

It's a fantastic book and John was the perfect choice as a writer. A respectful historian, John has the knowledge and enthusiasm to help bring Pondo's stories to life. There is also talk of another Pondo book and I can't wait!

For more info and for John's other books, go to EatSleepWrestle.com. Also, check here for my updates from John.

Mad Man Pondo and Elmo in Hollywood Studios, FL-January 2020.

The Legendary Mad Man Pondo

Mad Man Pondo has done it all in pro wrestling and beyond. If you want proof, check out his book Memoirs of a Mad Man, co-written by my pal John Cosper.

I am not promoting his book because John and Pondo are my friends. Also, it is not just a book for wrestling fans. It is a book of almost unbelievable stories which actually happened.

Pondo has a well-earned reputation as one of the best or most hardcore wrestlers. He was one of the few wrestlers who intimidated me when I approached for an interview. He was also one of the nicest I ever interviewed. The duality of Pondo is well-known to his friends and fans. He can battle with the best, but he is a great guy.

He also continues to give back. I saw him help many young wrestlers at RPro. He was very giving of his time and knowledge.

Similarly, he started Girl Fight Wrestling a few years back to help young women wrestlers get experience and exposure. After the pandemic caused the world to stop, I am happy to see GFW is putting on a show March 7 in Jeffersonville, Indiana. I keep hoping Pondo brings GFW to Chicago. I'd be in the front row!

For more info on Pondo, look for him on social media. Also, check out EatSleepWrestle.com for John Cosper's books.  

Mad Man Pondo and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2017.

Friend Encounters: Jewells Malone, Madman Pondo and Jim Strong

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

I have written many times about Mad Man Pondo. There is nobody tougher, but nobody more humble and down-to-earth than Pondo. He's one of the few people who intimidated me about interviews before I met him, but he proved to be one of the coolest from our first meeting.

I can't say enough good words about Pondo. He was a leader in and out of the ring at Resistance Pro. He always had time for other wrestlers and even for me as I tried providing good coverage of RPro. I'm not worried about ruining his "Mad Man" persona, because once he steps in that ring, it is quite evident.

Pondo was a big recruiter for RPro, often bringing in new talented wrestlers from all over, onbe of which was Jewells Malone. Canada native Malone made her wrestling debut in 2011. She is a two-time PWE Flame champion. She also won the PWA Elite Women's championship.

Like Pondo, Malone's reputation preceded her. Fans were lined up to meet her at the RPro show. Some of the fans were lucky enough to get a 2fer picture of both Malone and Pondo. My pal Jim Strong was one of the lucky ones. I only wish the duo would have done more damage to Jim! 
Go to EatSleepWrestle.com for info on Pondo's book Memoirs of a Mad Man. While you are there, check out John Cosper's other books, too!

Jewells Malone, Jim Strong and Mad Man Pondo in Summit, IL-July 2019.

Friend Encounters: Buzz Lightyear and Mad Man Pondo

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

I have previously written several times about Mad Man Pondo. Several years ago at Resistance Pro Wrestling in Chicago, I had the pleasure of working with Pondo. Despite more than 1,000 interviews on my resume, I was intimidated about approaching Pondo, because of his hardcore reputation.

That reputation would prove to be completely accurate inside the ring, but outside of it, Pondo is one of the most laidback, coolest people I have met. In a time of turmoil at Resistance Pro, it was always calming to see Pondo at the events.

Pondo is a pro's pro. He is always willing to help any wrestler, without being pushy. The man has wrestled for 30+ years and has done it all. Although he prefers taking a stop sign to his opponent's head (or his own), Pondo is very capable of technical wrestling. He has an incredible mind for the business, too.

You might look at the picture of him and Buzz Lightyear and think it conflicts with his persona. It really doesn't, but if it did, Pondo wouldn't care. Pnndo does what he enjoys and he pays no mind to others.

I figured Pondo had a ton of great wrestling and non-wrestling stories and that was proven in Memoirs of a Mad Man, a book co-written by our mutual friend John Cosper. That book is awesome. There are so many great, interesting and funny stories (although I bet he hasn't even scratched the surface).

I have read a bunch of wrestling books and this one ranks up with the best. Pondo doesn't need to put himself over. He simply tells stories.

John is the perfect person to help with the book. As a knowledgeable, passionate and respectful wrestling fan, John knows exactly how to get the best stories and how to tell them. There are no stories about Pondo and Buzz Lightyear though. Maybe if there is a More Memoirs of a Mad Man, we can learn about Pondo meeting Buzz and some of the mascots we will see here in the future.

For more info on Memoirs of a Mad Man or any of John's other books, go to EatSleepWrestle.com. I am slowly filling my bookshelves with John's books and they all have been hits so far.

Buzz Lightyear and Mad Man Pondo at Hollywood Studios, FL-February 2020.

Friend Encounters: Mad Man Pondo and John Cosper

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

I have written many times about Mad Man Pondo. Several years back at Resistance Pro, I heard Pondo would be coming in for a show. I knew of the legend of Pondo and I admit I felt a bit intimidated. His reputation wasn't bad, but it was crazy. You don't earn the nickname "Mad Man" for being docile.

Pondo proved to live up to that rep in the ring, but out of the ring, he is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. He always helped with advice to other wrestlers and setting up the ring. He also helped the promoters with the talent, storylines and crowd engagement. He was a complete asset to RPro from every angle.

Over the last several years, Pondo has run Girl Fight Wrestling, a wrestling company shining the spotlight on talented women wrestlers. These are legit women wrestlers, not gimmicky divas. GFW is their place to shine thanks to Pondo.

I met John Cosper through Pondo. An author, John worked with Pondo on Memoirs of a Mad Man. Capturing the essence of a larger-than-life character lke Pondo couldn't have been easy, but Memoirs of a Mad Man does just that.

You don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this book. Pondo's life goes beyond the wrestling ring and the book has a lot of great non-wrestling stories in it.

John has written several other books, too. Charlie Kruel: Escape From VHS Hell is a fictional (?) account of the origin of Kruel, everyone's favorite purple haired maniac. Recently John announced future books will feature Chris Candido and Princess Victoria.

These are two good guys and good friends. Someday when this pandemic is over, I hope to join them for a night of wrestling fun.

Go to EatSleepWrestle.com for more info on John and his books. Go to GirlFightWrestling.com for info and schedules of Pondo's women's wrestling company.

Mad Man Pondo and John Cosper in Louisville, KY-October 2020.

Friend Encounters: Lee Majors and Mad Man Pondo

Friend Encounters is a weekly series in which I feature friends who have met celebrities.

This is one of the fun times when both parties are celebrities. Actor Lee Majors and Madman Pondo are both quite accomplished in their respective fields.

Last year, my friend the Pondo met Majors. Mad Man Pondo has appeared here several times with other celebrities. Pondo is a regular attendee at comic and horror cons. A star in the wrestling ring, Pondo is popular at wrestling events, but is also stopped several times at comic cons by fans wanting to get a picture with him.

I have had the pleasure of working with Pondo at The Resistance Wrestling in Chicago. Along with being an in-ring performer, Pondo is a great addition for his knowledge and leadership. I admit I was intimidated (and a bit scared) when I first asked Pondo for an interview, but he immediately made me feel at ease, by being one of the coolest, nicest, most accommodating people I have ever interviewed.

Over the years, while watching him wrestle and help the younger wrestlers, I gained a lot of respect and admiration for Pondo. I am very proud to call Pondo a friend.

When I was growing up, Lee Majors was one of the coolest guys out there. He was the star of The Six Million Dollar Man and married to Farrah Fawcett.

Born Harvey Lee Yeary, he was a high school football star. He hurt his back while playing football at Eastern Kentucky University until a back injury paralyzed him for two weeks and ended his career. When he went into acting, he chose the last name "Majors" in tribute to Johnny Majors, a football hero of his.

Majors and Fawcett were the inspiration for Midnight Train to Georgia, a #1 single in 1973. It was originally entitled Midnight Plane to Houston, a line Fawcett said in a phone chat with songwriter Jim Weatherly.

I haven't seen Pondo in a while, but I hope to connect with him in 2020. He's a really good dude and very talented. Aside from his wrestling, Pondo has acted, hosted his own show and is now promoting Girl Fight Wrestling, a midwest women's wrestling organization.

A couple years ago, Pondo wrote his life story, which I highly recommend. It can be purchased at Memoirs of a Mad Man.

Follow him at @MadManPond0 on twitter. Also, follow @GirlFightWrest on twitter for info on their events.

Lee Majors and Mad Man Pondo in Lexington, KY-September 2019.

Mad Man Pondo at Days of the Dead Indianapolis 2017

I have interviewed hundreds of celebrities, a lot of whom were wrestlers. Although some were pretty big names, very few ever had me hesitant. Madman Pondo was one of those.

Pondo has a well-earned reputation for being a hardcore wrestler. He is world-famous, having also appeared in movies, video games, comic books and more. I simply did not know what to expect from him. Much to my relief, what I got was a completely nice guy.

I have had the pleasure of being around Pondo for several; years with Resistance Pro and now The Resistance. Pondo has been the consummate professional. I have seen him tutor young wrestlers (and veterans, too). I have seen him set up and tear down rings, proving he is willing to do the little things. He is always up for an interview and they are always fun with him. He is sort of like your cool uncle.

Last year, Pondo published Memoirs of a MadMan. It is 340 pages of Pondo's life in and out of the ring. He started as a fan and has carved out (pun intended) a successful career. It's a fun and interesting read. If you happen to have the opportunity to have him sign it, he might even do one of his trademark drawings, because once again, Pondo gives the fans more than expected!

You can check out Memoirs of a MadMan on Amazon. You can also check out Pondo at any of his Girl Fight events or at The Resistance shows.

Pondo and me in Indianapolis, IN-July 2017.

All Choked Up With Mad Man Pondo and Khloe

Of the hundreds of wrestlers I have met over the years, Mad Man Pondo might be the most surprising to me. As I have previously written, his reputation preceded him to Resistance Pro Wrestling. He was blood, gore and all hardcore. Of course, I knew that was his wrestling persona, but researching him didn't change that image. I knew he appeared in movies, videos, video games and other forms of entertainment and obviously had a life outside of wrestling, but still he had a mad man mystique.

He certainly lived up to that image when I met him at RPro, but I also began seeing another side of Pondo. I saw a veteran of many years of wrestling, who knew the business in and out of the ring and who wanted to help in both areas. While I didn't expect some sort of savage, I also didn't expect him to be so hands-on caring about the talent and the product.

The helper I saw was very gracious, offering bits to anyone and giving a lot more if requested. Pondo never pushed his agenda or his way. Instead, he helped everyone with their role. I honestly can't recall seeing anyone give this much and so quietly.

Wrestling can be a very competitive business. Egos and politics are everywhere, but Pondo slices through it all without ruffling feathers. He's just Pondo and The Resistance is lucky to have him.

Pondo will certainly be on hand this Saturday, when The Resistance returns with Chapter V: New Jack City. You can go to LiveDieResist.org or follow LiveDieResist on Facebook for more info.

At the last show of The Resistance, Tommy Else and I interviewed Pondo and Khloe for The "Or Else" Podcast. Our interview is on YouTube at The "Or Else" Podcast: Mad Man Pondo and Khloe. Pondo talks about his career, hardcore matches, helping out and much more. Khloe also dicusses her start, teaming with Pondo and more.

Of course, Pondo also talked about Memoirs of a Mad Man, his recently released book. I picked up my copy that night and got it signed by Pondo, who included a little Mad Man sketch. I highly recommend Memoirs of a Mad Man, available on Amazon. You can also pick up a signed copy of his book Saturday at Chapter V: New Jack City.

Khloe, Mad Man Pondo and me in Summit, IL-December 2018.

The "Or Else" Podcast: Mad Man Pondo and Khloe

I usually do interviews "On the Beat"  at The Resistance, but at Silent Night, Deadly Night, I was joined by Tommy Else, as we interviewed Mad Man Pondo and Khloe for The "Or Else" Podcast. It was a fun change of pace.

I have done over 1,000 interviews, including more than 100 with wrestlers. I have to admit I was a bit nervous and excited the first time I interviewed Pondo. The man has a well-earned hardcore reputation. I had seen many videos of his insane matches. I have to say that Pondo couldn't have been any more accommodating. It was a great experience.

Over the years, I got to watch him up close and interview him several more times. It was always a pleasure being around Pondo. In the ring, he is every bit a "Mad Man," but outside the ring, he is a total class act.

As you will see in the video, Pondo is also very humble. I have seen him guide many young wrestlers, lend advice to bookers and generally help in any way he can. He is a consummate professional.

Tommy and I wanted to get Pondo's thoughts on his experience in RPro, but we also wanted to discuss his book and other things. Since we couldn't do it on the podcast, we talked to him when he cam to Chicago to wrestle for The Resistance. Having Khloe join us was a bonus.

Pondo discussed his start in RPro, hardcore matches and other fun stuff, most notably Memoirs of a Mad Man, his recently released autobiography. We also got Khloe's take on teaming with the hardcore legend, as well as her thoughts on hardcore matches and her career.

Memoirs of a Mad Man contains the story of Pondo in all its bloody glory! It's all in there, the good, the bad, the ugly and of course, the bloody! Pondo has had quite a career in wrestling and an interesting life in general. Pondo tells it straight, like always.

Tommy and I weren't just interviewers though. We were both customers of Memoirs of a Mad Man. We wanted to wait to get one directly from him and signed.

We really appreciate Pondo and Khloe for their time and consideration. I have a ton of respect for Pondo and am grateful for his friendship. Although Khloe is relatively new to wrestling, she is off to a great start and has a promising future.

Be sure to check out The "Or Else" Podcast on Soundcloud for our thoughts on this and other things related to Tommy's experience at RPro, as well as The Resistance. Also, check out all of my interviews on the Johngy's Beat YouTube channel. Lastly, follow Pondo on Facebook and buy his book.

Friendly Encounters: Dee Snider and Mad Man Pondo

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

It always cracks me up to see Mad Man Pondo meeting his favorite celebrities.  It's an interesting juxtaposition to the man who has totally earned his "Mad Man" moniker through his in-ring work.

Pondo is known for his hardcore matches.  I've seen him use stop signs, staplers, bats wrapped in barb wire and other dangerous objects.  Worse yet, he seems to enjoy it when they are used on him.  He can dish out punishment, but he also takes it well.

Then I see the fan (I will not call him a fanboy) who is meeting any of his favorites and he is just a regular guy.  (Okay, maybe not quite regular, as he is still Pondo, but pretty close to regular.)

It really just goes to prove that we all have our interests.  Those of us who attend these comnic cons, all have that certain celeb who we really want to meet.

Look at the picture of Pondo and musical legend Dee Snider.  Pondo looks gleeful (please do not tell him that.)  Of course, Snider was also happy to meet Pondo.

Snider was very happy to meet all of his fans.  In fact, as I previously reported, Snider went above and beyond to satisfy his fans after a storm caused him to be delayed.  Still, this particular meeting brought Snider extra joy.  Pondo is fairly well known in circles outside of wrestling, too.  He's a bit of a legend in his own right.

Pondo is a great guy.  I'm happy to call him a friend.  I'm also happy to see him jump from line to line, just like me at the cons.  Who'd have thought that Pondo and me are a bit alike (please don't tell him that either).

Snider will be appearing at Days of the Dead in Chicago November 17-19.  I don't know if Pondo will also be there, but there is a chance.  Either way, it will be a great time.

Mad Man Pondo and Dee Snider in Indianapolis, IN-July 2017.

Mad Man Pondo Loves Johngy's Beat

Mad Man Pondo is the latest celebrity to jump on the Johngy's Beat bandwagon.  Having been around the Mad Man for a few years at Resistance Pro, I am firmly on the Pondo bandwagon.

Obviously, I knew of Pondo from his many years of wrestling.  His hardcore reputation preceded him into Resistance Pro, but I had no idea what to expect of Pondo outside of the ring.

It has been an absolute pleasure being around Pondo.  He is a true professional in the ring, in the lockerroom and with the fans.  I have seen him teach other wrestlers, help promoters, interact with fans, all while doing so with little fanfare.  He might clobber me with his trademark stop sign for saying this, but he really is one of the most humble, nicest people I have met in pro wrestling.

Don't let what I wrote fool you though.  Inside the ring, he is every bit of a mad man as his name and reputation would indicate.  Fortunately, I caught him prior to his match and got him to do a Johngy promo.  Even in this good mood though, you can still get a snippet of the madness.

The video below is for your enjoyment.  It shall now also take a place in the promo column to the left.

Friendly Encounters: Mad Man Pondo and Ric Flair

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

A few months ago, Mad Man Pondo posted a particularly interesting message on Facebook (as opposed to his usual interesting posts).  Quoting the Mad Man, "Memories come and go but a picture last forever. We are all marks or we wouldn't be in this business today. Don't let opportunity pass you by. If you want to take a picture, who is anyone to tell you not to. I've spent a few times around Luna Vachon, but didn't take a photo with her. I regret that a lot. Diary of a Mad Man message 7."
I love it and I love that it came from Pondo.
Pondo came to Resistance Pro with a well-earned reputation as a hardcore wrestler.  When "Mad Man" is your name, you don't expect Miss manners, however Pondo is actually quite the opposite outside of the ring.
I don't want to ruin his reputation, but Pondo is a class act all the way.  Whether it is being a leader and a teacher in the lockerroom, posing for dozens of pictures at events or putting on a clinic in the ring, Pondo gives himself completely.
He also does it all under the radar.  He doesn't seek attention, but he gets it, often times at the vary conventions he attends to meet his celebrity favorites.  This is why it is so cool to hear him talk about meeting celebs.  Pondo is not above admitting he is a fan of whoever.  He's not afraid to pose with Ric Flair, one of the all time greats and a mark out moment for anyone.  Pondo is not ashamed to admit he marks out.
Good for Pondo.  I am glad he meets so many of his favorites.  I am also glad he posts all of these pictures, moments and thoughts.  I am even happier to have a few such moments with Pondo for myself.  Yes, I will mark out for Pondo every time!

Mad Man Pondo and Ric Flair in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Rose McGowan and Mad Man Pondo

This is a weekly feature about friends who have met celebrities.

Here's my guy Mad Man Pondo again.  Lately we have run into each other at several celebrity conventions.  It makes me think we probably were at many conventions separately long before we knew each other.
Pondo can usually be seen with the lovely and talented Crazy Mary Dobson.  A mad man and a crazy woman make for a great couple.  Seriously, these two are awesome.
Today, I am featuring Pondo with another beautiful woman.  This time, he is with Rose McGowan, who costarred as Paige in Charmed and as Ann-Margret in the television miniseries Elvis, among many other roles.
This is an alert (or maybe a warning).  Keep a lookout at these celeb conventions.  You will never know who you might see as fans.  Even celebrities are normal people, too.  (Don't tell Pondo I called him a normal person, though).

Mad Man Pondo and Rose McGowan in Schuamburg, IL-November 2014.

Friendly Encounters: Barry Bostwick and Mad Man Pondo

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

A lot of thoughts go through my head when I see friends meeting celebrities.  Why do they like that particular celebrity?  How many celebrities have they met?  If they are a celebrity, too, I wonder if the celebrity recognizes them.  In the case of Mad Man Pondo meeting Barry Bostwick, I wondered a few other things, too.
Did Bostwick know he was standing next to a hardcore wrestling legend?  Did he know of any of Pondo's exploits?
On Pondo's side, did he mention some of the acting he has done?  Did he size up Bostwick as an opponent and try to construct a wrestling match in his mind?  How would he handle the lanky Bostwick?  Would he be able to properly use his trademark stop sign head smash?
I doubt any of the above actually happened.  Instead, I know the two met at Days of the Dead and Pondo was probably just like the average fan.  When he isn't wielding that stop sign, a chainsaw or any other weapon, Pondo actually blends in with the rest of the crowd.
I know Pondo is a big fan of these conventions.  In fact, he could probably start his own PondosBeat website, but I don't want that competition.

Barry Bostwick and Mad Man Pndo in Schaumburg, IL-November 2014.

Friendly Encounters: John Waters and Mad Man Pondo

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

Mad Man Pondo has met a lot of famous people.  Actually, he has wrestled a lot of famous people.  At Culture shock, he wasn't wrestling anyone, but he was busy meeting some celebrities.

Pondo has had a lengthy wrestling career which has allowed him to get in the ring with a lot of big name wrestlers.  Pondo is pretty well-known, too.  In fact, many wrestlers are excited to step in the ring with him.

At Culture Shock, Pondo was one of the thousands of fans meeting their favorite stars.  Pondo met a bunch of them, including John Waters.  I see similarities in this duo.

Both men have carved out careers in their respective fields in their own way.  Both have worked under the radar a bit, but both also have jumped into the mainstream at times.

Also, they are both loyal, solid company men.  Waters uses a lot of the same people in his various projects.  Our old friend Mink Stole is one of two people to be in all of his films, but several have appeared in multiple films.  I love those bonds.

I see Pondo as a loyal guy, too.  I am not sure when Pondo crossed the line from Mad Man to wise veteran, but he did.  Actually, he is a wise, veteran mad man.  I see him helping fellow wrestlers with their craft.  I see him working with the management at companies to help in any way.  I also see him wearing a handful of title belts.  They are all well-deserved.

Maybe Pondo and Waters are "multiple maniacs."  Neither is a "cry-baby" and it would be "a dirty shame" if you don't check out the works of both men.

(Sorry about those puns.  Now I really have to watch out for Pondo's stop sign.)

Mad Man Pondo and John Waters in Indianapolis, IN-February 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Mad Man Pondo and Jeff Fahey

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

I first saw actor Jeff Fahey in the early 1980's, when he was on tv's One Life to Live.  Soon, I enjoyed him in Psycho III, Lawnmower Man, Body Parts, Sketch Artist and other films.  By then, I was hooked on his work.
I first saw Mad Man Pondo at Resistance Pro wrestling.  I had previously heard of him, but had no idea what to expect.  Despite his hardcore image, he is actually a super nice guy.  I have seen him help out quite a few wrestlers.  He can still go in the ring, but he is almost like a player-coach.
He also happens to be a big horror fan and a convention goer.  I always find it interesting when celebrities meet celebrities.  I also find it interesting to see which celebrities my friends like to meet.
When I saw the pic of Pondo meeting Fahey, I had to run it.  Fahey has had an excellent career, but he flies a bit under the radar.  I just thought it was cool that Pndo would want a picture with one of my favorite "underrated" guys.

Pondo and Jeff Fahey in August 2010.

On the Beat with Mad Man Pondo and Crazy Mary Dobson at Days of the Dead 2014

Crazy Mary Dobson and Mad Man Pondo are two of my favorite wrestlers in Resistance Pro.  On the surface they are seemingly opposites, yet they are a great match.
Pondo is a ring veteran of many years.  When I heard he was coming to RPro, I expected to see hardcore wrestling from him.  I have seen plenty of that, but I have also seen a veteran who is willing to help the younger wrestlers any chance he gets.
If I say Pondo is caring, he might crash my skull with his trademark stop sign, but the truth is he does care.  He cares about the sport of wrestling, Resistance Pro as a company and the individual wrestlers.  He has shown himself to be a real company man, while still being a hardcore wrestler.
Crazy Mary came in a one of many women trying to earn respect in the women's division.  She has put on many great matches.  She went to Japan for several months to hone her skills.  Since her return, even the WWE has taken notice and put her on their program a few times.  I think it is only a short matter of time before she has televised matches with the WWE.
At the recent Days of the Dead convention, I caught up with the couple.  They talked to me about some of their horror favorites, as well as what they have been doing in wrestling.
These two are just great.  I love them both.  I encourage everyone to come out to the next RPro show on January 17 to see them in action.  They will not disappoint!  Until then, check out my interview below and then go to ResistancePro.com for more info on them and RPro.

On the Beat with Resistance Pro at "Rust in Peace"

Resistance Pro's Halloween themed "Rust in Peace" was another night of great wresting action, along with spooky, funny and odd costumes worn by wrestlers and fans.  It made for another memorable night at RPro.
JohngysBeat.com scored our first interview with RPro Security member Scottie Steiner.  The namesake of Big Poppa Pump and the son of RPro staffer Heidi discussed his future goal of wrestling, along with other fun stuff.  Scottie, aka Big Scott Vader, won last year's costume contest as ScottDust and should have won this year.
Special Correspondent Jonathan McMahon got an interview with Sugar Dunkerton.  Special D is always a treat and is always entertaining.
JMac also talked to Mad Man Pondo.  Pondo discussed his role in video games, his role at RPro and more.
Lastly, I talked to Professor Kliq who was back at RPro.  The talented musician and wrestling fan talked about his latest projects.  It is always a pleasure seeing and talking to Professor Kliq.

The next RPro show is "...And Justice For All" on Friday in Lockport.  Check out ResistancePro.com for all of the details.

On the Beat at Resistance Pro's "Welcome to My Nightmare"

Resistance Pro's last event, Welcome to My Nightmare, was a fantastic evening of exciting pro wrestling, cool costumes by all, tricks, treats and Svengoolie!  Who could ask for more?
Every R Pro show is special, but the Halloween show is uniquely special.  (Is that redundant?)  In any case, the Halloween show is a lot of fun because most in attendance are in costumes and that includes the wrestlers, the fans and even the R Pro owners.  It is magically surreal.
As Rowdy Johngy Piper, I scored some interviews with a mix of the R Pro talent.  JohngysBeat.com got Vector A before and after his title match with Egotistico Fantastico (aka "The Ego" Robert Anthony).  We got Road Warrior Andres the announcer.  We got Lucy Mendez, Mad Man Pondo and Crazy Mary Dobson and newcomer Jordynne Grace.  We even got musician and R Pro fan Professor Kliq.  Oh, did I mention we got Billy Corgan, Creative Director?  All of those interviews can be viewed below.
It was another great show.  I know this seems like a repeat of last month's piece about the previous R Pro show, but that is only because R Pro continues to put on great shows and I continue to try to tell everyone.

Watch the interviews below and see some of the R Pro talent.  Head over to ResistancePro.com to learn more.  Come out to n R Pro show and see for yourself.  As a matter of fact, there is an R Pro show tomorrow at Amundsen High School in Chicago.

On the Beat with Mad Man Pondo and Crazy Mary Dobson at Resistance Pro's Mane Attraction

With names like "Mad Man Pondo" and "Crazy Mary Dobson," who knows what to expect.  I saw the "Mad Man" and "Crazy" parts in the ring, but outside of the ring, I found them to be extremely nice and fun people.
Pondo came to Resistance Pro for the Samuel J. Thompson Memorial Tournament.  While he did not win the event, he expressed his respect for Brady Pierce (the winner) and asked for a one-on-one rematch.  Last month, Pondo beat Pierce and again expressed his respect for Pierce, offering to mentor him or even tag team with him.  That could be an interesting pairing.
Crazy Mary Dobson came to R Pro with Pondo.  CMD has already earned her nickname in the ring and looks like she could add a new spark to the women's division.
I could write volumes on Pondo, but you can easily find that info elsewhere.  The story I want to tell is one of this 20+ year veteran coming to R Pro because of what he has heard about this young company and the people involved.  That speaks volumes about his character, as well as the fine folks at R Pro.  Class attracts class.  This seems to be a recurring theme at R Pro.  I do not know how long Pondo and CMD will be staying at R Pro, but however long it is, will be enjoyed by the fans!
Pondo and CMD also hosted a YouTube show dedicated to horror movies.  You can see these episodes at Mad Man Pondo Horror Movie Massacre.
To find out more about Pondo and CMD and to get updates, check out the Stricktly Nsane Pro Wrestling Facebook page. You can also check out ResistancePro.com to see when this pair and others will be wrestling next.