Wrestling is Life is Wrestling with Cody Deaner

Episode 19: Shawn Spears - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down with his longtime friend of over two decades - AEW star Shawn Spears (formerly known as WWE/NXT superstar Tye Dillinger). They continue their very personal conversation discussing their lives and lessons they've learned in their two different journeys in the wrestling business.
Shawn discusses a variety of things in this second installment of this 2 part conversation, such as:
- Shawn & Cody's WWE tryout experience together in the early 2000's involving Arn Anderson, Rosie and Hurricane Helms
- dealing with disappointment and picking your battles early in your career
- his perspective on getting signed vs. staying signed from someone who has been signed by the WWE, released by the WWE, and signed again by the WWE and brought into developmental
- the value of working with Cody Rhodes in OVW
- why CM Punk is the reason he got a 2nd chance in the WWE
- how to stand out in today's wrestling landscape
- making people care about you as a brand
- dropping knowledge at his Flatbacks Wrestling School
Shawn currently runs a wrestling school with former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze. You can learn all about Flatbacks Wrestling School at https://www.flatbackswrestlingschool.com/ 
This episode is brought to you Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
Please consider donating toward Cody's current fundraising campaign for a young wrestling fan with a variety of medical needs over at "Giv'er for Conor" - GiveSendGo.com/giverforconor
Get access to a special BONUS STORY with Shawn Spears where he tells the behind the scenes story of how how learned he was in the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble and what that experience was truly like over at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings

Episode 18: Shawn Spears - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down with current AEW star Shawn Spears (formerly known as WWE/NXT superstar Tye Dillinger). Cody and Shawn have been friends for over two decades. They sit down for a very personal conversation discussing their lives and lessons they've learned in their two different journeys in the wrestling business.
Shawn discusses a variety of things in Part 1 of this 2 part conversation, such as:
- how being a new dad has changed his perspective on his wrestling career and time in All Elite Wrestling
- when you start wrestling, you're signing up for the "maybes"
- the importance of having a source of happiness outside the wrestling business
- having a back up plan vs. putting all your eggs in one basket
- what his parents thought when he started wrestling school
- how Eric Young became his first true mentor in wrestling
- how life on the indies was not a "struggle" to him prior to his WWE tryout experience in 2006
Shawn currently runs a wrestling school with former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze. You can learn all about Flatbacks Wrestling School at https://www.flatbackswrestlingschool.com/ 
This episode is brought to you Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
Please consider donating toward Cody's current fundraising campaign for a young wrestling fan with a variety of medical needs over at "Giv'er for Conor" - GiveSendGo.com/giverforconor
Get access to a special BONUS STORY with Shawn Spears where he tells the behind the scenes story of how how learned he was in the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble and what that experience was truly like over at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings

BONUS: Ask Cody Anything

This is a special BONUS episode where Cody Deaner takes questions LIVE from his fans!
Cody ends up telling some stories from his career including: what Ricky Steamboat said to him in the locker room after they worked together, his admiration for Roddy Piper as a heel and someone who persevered through hardship, sitting on his porch and talking about life with the late Brodie Lee, working with ODB in TNA, unsung heroes of the Ontario independent wrestling scene, and more.
Cody ensures all questions from his loyal patrons get answered first. If you'd like to have your question answered on a future episode, consider supporting the podcast at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
This episode is brought to you Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
This episode is also brought to you by http://ceofit.ca
Get top-of-the-line supplements shipped to your door by CEO Fit.
Donate toward Cody's current fundraising campaign for a young wrestling fan with a variety of medical needs over at "Giv'er for Conor" - GiveSendGo.com/giverforconor
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings

Episode 17: Colin Hunter from ”Kayfabe News” - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for the 2nd part of his conversation  with the creator of the very popular website Kayfabe News - Colin Hunter. 
Kayfabe News has been viewed by MILLIONS of viewers and has been endorsed by WWE legend Mick Foley as "it's like The Onion for wrestling fans." Colin has a very unique story of how he got into the wacky world of professional wrestling via writing for Pro Wrestling Illustrated and how that love grew into him creating the extremely popular website "Kayfabe News." His journey eventually led him into the ring as a professional wrestling referee.
In Part 2 of this conversation, Cody and Colin discuss how Colin decided to start "Kayfabe News" due to his connection to Colt Cabana and Mick Foley. They also do more deep diving into life lessons they've learned in their different (yet eerily similar) journeys in wrestling and how Colin decided to start a new project - a movie entitled "The Ref Didn't See It" where Colin decides to document his journey jumping into the ring as a pro wrestling referee. 
Colin is currently crowd-funding his new movie "The Ref Didn't See It" (which stars Cody Deaner & other wrestling stars) over at http://therefmovie.com 
This episode is brought to you Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
Please consider donating toward Cody's most recent fundraising campaign for a young wrestling fan with a variety of medical needs over at "Giv'er for Conor" - GiveSendGo.com/giverforconor
Get access to a special BONUS STORY with Colin involving him visiting Christian's home in Tampa, Florida, by becoming a patron over at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings

Episode 16: Colin Hunter from ”Kayfabe News” - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down for his very first non-IMPACT Wrestling guest this week with the creator of the very popular website Kayfabe News - Colin Hunter. 
Kayfabe News has been viewed by MILLIONS of viewers and has been endorsed by WWE legend Mick Foley as "it's like The Onion for wrestling fans." Colin has a very unique story of how he got into the wacky world of professional wrestling via writing for Pro Wrestling Illustrated and how that love grew into him creating the extremely popular website "Kayfabe News." His journey eventually led him into the ring as a professional wrestling referee.
In Part 1 of this conversation, Cody and Colin discuss their unique similarities as young wrestling fans, Colin's career choices that led him into the professional wrestling business, and all the life lessons he learned along the way in his journey.
Colin is currently crowd-funding his new movie "The Ref Didn't See It" (which stars Cody Deaner & other wrestling stars) over at http://therefmovie.com 
This episode is brought to you Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
Please consider donating toward Cody's most recent fundraising campaign for a young wrestling fan with a variety of medical needs over at "Giv'er for Conor" - GiveSendGo.com/giverforconor
Get access to Part 2 of this conversation with Colin, as well as a special BONUS STORY, by becoming a patron over at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings

Episode 15: Jessicka Havok - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 2 of his conversation with former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion & former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag-Team Champion World Champion Jessicka Havok. In Part 2 of this conversation, Havok discusses a variety of topics in her career including:
 
Signing her first big TV contract after struggling on the indies for 10 years
Gail Kim saying she wanted to work with her in TNA Wrestling
Christy Hemme’s creative vision for her new look in TNA & getting to keep her name
The huge difference between indy wrestling & television wrestling
Winning the Knockouts Championship in the main event of an episode of IMPACT
Defending the Knockouts Championship in Japan
The Knockouts division being the first true Women’s Revolution
The female locker-room in IMPACT being so positive & like a family
The impactful advice that Cody once gave Jessicka that has really stuck with her
Opening Piledriver Wrestling Academy with her partner Sami Callihan
Being content creators rather than “just wrestlers” in 2023
A “run-in” from Sami Callihan regarding wrestling gifs vs. cat videos
Advice for young up-and-coming wrestlers
 
This isn’t just a wrestling podcast… it’s a life podcast. Jessicka drops a tonne of important life lessons in this conversation, including:
 
How to deal with negativity on social media
Not trying to please everyone with your work
Finding positive people to help you when you struggle
Being authentic & truthful in your constructive criticism
The importance of paying your dues so you appreciate the opportunities you get in the future
Using your successful career in one field as leverage to gain other revenue streams in other fields
The positives & negatives of social media
 
This episode is brought to you Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
Please consider donating to "Giv'er for Conor" at GiveSendGo.com/giverforconor
To learn more about Jessicka & Sami Callihan’s Piledriver Academy, email PiledriverAcademy@yahoo.com
Follow Havok on IG @ http://instagram.com/havokdeathmachine
Follow Havok on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/fearhavok
Join Havok’s Twitch Community @ https://www.twitch.tv/jessickahavok
Get two… yes TWO BONUS stories from Jessicka regarding some playful, hilarious, and scary ribs played on her early in her career, as well as loads of other exclusive content by becoming a patron at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings

Episode 14: Jessicka Havok - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 1 of his conversation with former IMPACT Wrestling Knockout Champion & former IMPACT Wrestling Knockout Tag-Team Champion World Champion Jessicka Havok. In Part 1 of this conversation, they take a deep dive into Jessicka’s journey to becoming a professional wrestler. Havok discusses a variety of topics in her career including:
 
Her love of animals & job working at veterinary clinics while struggling on the indies
Watching GLOW with her mom and watching wrestling with her grandpa
Starting training to be a pro wrestler at 17 years old
Being the only female in her wrestling school when she started training
The state of female wrestling 20 years ago when she broke into the business
The real-life struggle & sacrifice on the independent wrestling circuit
Wrestling as a form of therapy
JT Lightning bringing in more female talent for her to work with early in her career
Getting her first TV job with TNA Wrestling
 
This isn’t just a wrestling podcast… it’s a life podcast. Jessicka drops a tonne of important life lessons in this conversation, including:
 
The importance of having thick skin in the entertainment business
Dealing with discrimination when striving to achieve your goals
Making a good first impression
The importance of gratitude when overcoming obstacles
Sacrifices that are necessary when moving forward toward your vision/goal
Dealing with being told you need to lose weight and dealing with your self-image
Being strategic with who you take advice from
Not chasing money & fame when chasing your dream
 
This episode is brought to you by Rest When Dead Clothing Company. Shop their entire collection at http://RestWhenDead.ca
Please consider giving toward Cody's current "Giv'er for Conor" campaign. To learn more about the campaign and to possibly donate, go to http://givesendgo.com/giverforconor 
To learn more about Jessicka & Sami Callihan’s Piledriver Academy, email PiledriverAcademy@yahoo.com
Follow Havok on Instagram
Follow Havok on Twitter
Join Havok’s Twitch Community
Get two… yes TWO BONUS stories from Jessicka regarding some playful, hilarious, and scary ribs played on her early in her career, as well as Part 2 of this conversation early and ad-free +  loads of other exclusive content by becoming a patron at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt by getting a personal Cameo
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings
 

Episode 13: David Sahadi - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 2 of his conversation with IMPACT Wrestling Creative Director for Television David Sahadi.
We learned last week that David Sahadi has done it all behind the scenes in terms of wrestling television production. He's worked for NBC Sports, WWF during the Attitude era, WWE, TNA Wrestling, Ric Flair's Last Match, and IMPACT Wrestling. They talk plenty of wrestling over the course of this two-part conversation, including:
Creating the infamous & iconic WWF Monday Night Raw opening
Developing and creating Wrestlemania packages
The production package he created that made Vince McMahon cry
Working for Vince McMahon
His father Lou Sahadi working for Vince McMahon Sr.
The "CookieGate" incident in TNA at Universal Studios involving WWE wrestlers
His mindset behind the iconic PPV commercials during the Attitude Era
and MORE!
This isn’t just a wrestling podcast… it’s a life podcast. David Sahadi drops a tonne of important life lessons he's learned in his long career behind the scenes with the most influential figures in professional wrestling, including:
The importance of being a positive influence
The many life lessons his best friend (his father Lou) taught him
How to be kind, generous, and thoughtful and still be successful in a ruthless business
How to work your way up the ladder to achieve success
What brings him true joy in his life
His plans after his career in the wrestling business is over
Follow David Sahadi and learn more about his upcoming book "My Dad, My Dying Sun" at http://instagram.com/sahadi3
Get exclusive access to next week's guest and podcast early and ad-free at http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Advertise on this podcast by visiting http://codydeaner.com/podcast and filling in the form or emailing ads@codydeaner.com
Support this podcast by buying a t-shirt at http://prowrestlingtees.com/codydeaner  by getting a personal Cameo at http://cameo.com/codydeaner
Let Cody share his love of independent wrestling with you at your wrestling event by booking him on your wrestling show at http://codydeaner.com/bookings1 
Book Cody to speak at your school, youth event, or business at http://www.chrisgrayspeaks.com/bookings
***
This episode is brought to you by: 
Rest When Dead Clothing: http://RestWhenDead.ca
MJD Ultimate Sport Training: http://mjdultimatesport.com