FAN BLOG: Joey, Chicago

Some people go on vacation for excitement. I stay right here in Chicago and let the excitement come to me—in spandex, no less. The first week of June will forever be remembered as the Wrestling Gauntlet of 2025, when three traveling wrestlers from the underground scene rolled into town and turned my life into a nonstop wrestle-fest. My joints may never forgive me, but my wrestling-loving heart is still doing cartwheels.

What made it even better? These weren’t just any opponents. Jonny Firestorm, Christian Thorn, and Gia Love are more than wrestling partners—they’re friends. Each of them brings their own style, their own fire, and their own post-match appetite. Win or lose (okay, always lose), we make time for a solid meal, a few laughs, and the kind of camaraderie that only comes from trying to choke each other out with love.

Monday: Firestorm Rolls In

Jonny Firestorm kicked off the week like a firecracker—swagger, stories, and a stack of new submission holds I’d never even seen before. We grabbed dinner at a classic Chicago tavern, swapped tales from the East Coast indie wrestling scene (Jonny once wrestled in a ring made of hay bales), and then hit the mats. Same as always.

Now, here’s the thing—Jonny’s dropped weight recently. He’s now right in my weight range, about 170 pounds. For a brief, shining moment, I thought, Hey, maybe this will finally be a competitive match. Same size, same love for the game… how bad could it be?

Well, let’s just say size wasn’t the deciding factor. Johnny’s technical skills are like a black hole—once you’re in, you’re not coming back. A single-leg crab transitioned into some hybrid choke-leglock thing, and before I could even say “tap,” I was already tapping.

“Still undefeated against you,” he grinned. One day, Jonny. One day.

After the match, we grabbed dessert and traded more stories. Jonny never stops talking, never stops smiling, and honestly, I wouldn’t want him any other way. He may be lighter these days, but his hold game is still heavy.

Tuesday: Christian Thorn Throws Down

Just as my ribs stopped creaking, in walks Christian Thorn—a tank in human form. At 5'5" and 170 pounds, he’s compact, powerful, and all business on the mat. Don’t let the quiet guy vibe fool you—he’s explosive when it counts.

We hit the mats, and within five minutes, I was trapped in a vice-tight bodyscissor, lifted like a feather, and pinned like a training dummy. Christian’s strength-to-size ratio should be studied by scientists.

“Short kings,” he smirked, flexing. “Still rule the mat.” Can’t argue with physics… or my back pain.

Later, we hit a neighborhood diner, shared burgers and bad jokes, and talked shop—gear, tournaments, and what it’s like to balance real life with a love for wrestling. Then the conversation drifted, as it always does with Christian, to his other passion—the outdoors.

We started talking about taking a trip out to Montana, maybe Glacier National Park for some serious backcountry hiking. He’s itching to take those powerhouse legs off the mats and onto the trails.

“We’ll climb mountains instead of opponents,” he said. Though let’s be honest—he’ll probably do both.

Saturday: Gia Love, Stronger Than Ever

Then came Saturday. Enter Gia Love—5’7”, 170 pounds, and built like a superheroine straight out of a comic book. I hadn’t seen her in a while, and wow. She’s added serious muscle to her already powerful frame. The confidence? Off the charts. The thighs? Forget steel—titanium.

We locked up in a friendly-but-fierce match, and I swear she was toying with me. Her favorite weapon? The dreaded figure-four headscissors. I got caught in it twice, and let me be crystal clear: there is no escape. Once Gia clamps it on, your fate is sealed. The lights dim, the ears buzz, and all you can do is surrender and hope she’s feeling merciful.

“You still make a great practice dummy, Joey,” she said, laughing. I grinned. 

Afterward, we hit a sunny brunch spot with her companion Fox—bottomless mimosas, fresh fruit, and plenty of wrestling gossip. Gia’s big in the Florida scene these days, and the stories she and Fox swapped had me both cracking up and slightly terrified.

Between sips of mimosa, she leaned in and said with a grin,

“Next time, you’re coming my turf. Florida. Rematch.”

I half-joked, “Can I bring Scrappy as my tag partner?”

She didn’t miss a beat.

“Sure, Joey. Bring Scrappy. Make it two-on-one. I’ll still win.” And honestly? I believe her.

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Looking back, that week in early June was pure wrestling magic. Three friends, three fun matches, three unforgettable post-match hangouts. Whether it was swapping stories over pizza, burgers, or mimosas, what really stood out was the connection. These matches weren’t just about pins and submissions—they were about community. About respect. About the joy of showing up, again and again, win or lose.

It was a week I won’t soon forget—full of taps, laughs, sore muscles, and memories that still make me smile. That’s what this underground world is all about.

Until next time, Joey