Wrestling is Life is Wrestling with Cody Deaner

Episode 25: Kon - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 2 of his conversation with fellow IMPACT Wrestling tag-team partner and The Design stablemate – Kon. Kon is a veteran of over 2 decades in the wrestling business. He worked for the WWE for over 13 years in various sectors of the company (Deep South, FCW, NXT, and the WWE main roster).
Cody and Kon start where they left off last week discussing the dangers of losing yourself due to the rough life on the road as a wrestler. They go onto discuss a variety of topics in Part 2 of this conversation, including:
- living by a simple rule in life: treat people well
- the importance of being honest and easy to get along with
- what about his character helped him keep a job in the WWE for over 13 years
- “getting over” in the locker-room rather than just the audience
- valuable lessons he learned and mentors he had in the WWE developmental system
- a valuable life lesson he learned on a flight sitting next to Gerald Briscoe while they shared some wine and beer
- an absolutely insane personal story involving a wacky gimmick idea Vince McMahon had for him because of a quick comment made by John Laurinaitis in Vince’s office
- his source of true joy outside the wrestling business
- the importance of giving back
Kon can be found on social media on Twitter and Instagram @Big_Kon1
Info on Kon’s wrestling school “The Wrestling Lab” in St. Pete, Florida can be found online at https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Wrestling-Lab-100065501719531/ and https://www.instagram.com/the_wrestling_lab/
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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.ca
Get access to a BONUS STORY with Kon NOW 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 24: Kon - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down with fellow IMPACT Wrestling tag-team partner and The Design stablemate – Kon. Kon is a veteran of over 2 decades in the wrestling business. He’s worked in the WWE developmental system in Deep South, FCW, and in NXT and the WWE main roster.
Cody and Kon discuss a variety of topics in Part 1 of this conversation, including:
- what led to Cody and Kon’s friendship
- their first match together, that involved a lot of “ga-ga” (including one of them playing the piano mid-match)
- what led to Kon signing with IMPACT Wrestling
- growing up a young wrestling fan and watching old-school wrestling with his grandfather
- allowing his son to finally play with his action figure and what led to his son becoming a wrestling fan
- the wild story of how he actually broke into the business thanks to a chance meeting with Sargent Slaughter
- the importance of gaining respect from vets in the business (like Ricky Steamboat and Tatanka)
- being influenced by veterans because of their pure class and respect (not just their accolades)
- the danger of losing yourself in showbiz life and in your “gimmick”
Kon can be found on social media on Twitter and Instagram @Big_Kon1
Info on Kon’s wrestling school “The Wrestling Lab” in St. Pete, Florida can be found online at https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Wrestling-Lab-100065501719531/ and https://www.instagram.com/the_wrestling_lab/
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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.ca
Get early access to Part 2 of this interview, as well as exclusive access to a BONUS STORY with Kon NOW 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 23: Deonna Purrazzo - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 2 of his conversation with former Impact Knockout Champion, Impact Knockout Tag-Team Champion, Ring of Honor Women’s Champion, AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and former WWE / NXT Superstar – “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo.
Deonna continues in this conversation to be vulnerable and honest with her successes and failures within the wrestling business and what that taught her about herself as a woman. We start this week where we left off last week… with Deonna getting released from her childhood dream job at the WWE. The same dream job that she wrote in her childhood journal about as a young girl.
As Deonna and Cody continue their conversation, they discuss various topics, including:
- dealing with the aftermath of her WWE release
- dealing with the backstage drama in wrestling in a positive manner and growing as a person because of it
- how her parents felt about her getting into the wrestling business
- her desire to change the perception of women’s wrestling
- finding a support system in the business with other women who felt the same way as her about women’s role as athletes in professional wrestling
- the importance of finding people to FAIL with, not just people to SUCCEED with
- her source of true joy outside the wrestling business
Deonna can be found on social media on both Twitter and Instagram @DeonnaPurrazzo
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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.ca
Get access a BONUS STORY with Deonna NOW (as well as loads of other exclusive content) 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 22: Deonna Purrazzo - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down former Impact Knockout Champion, Impact Knockout Tag-Team Champion, Ring of Honor Women’s Champion, AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and former WWE / NXT Superstar – “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo.
Deonna opens up in this conversation like she never has before. She is open, honest, and vulnerable about her wrestling career and the successes and failures within it that taught her so much about herself. Deonna and Cody discuss various topics, including:
- her teaching job before wrestling and how it helped her break into the business
- is it smart to have a plan B in life when plan A is being a pro wrestler?
- when she was a young girl, writing in her personal diary all the dreams and goals that she was able to manifest later in her career
- how she had to give up being a planner and a “control freak” in both her personal relationships and her career
- why she sought therapy to improve her mental health
- how her struggles in WWE / NXT affected her mental health
- navigating the WWE developmental system and the negatives that go along with it
- getting released by the WWE
Deonna can be found on social media on both Twitter and Instagram @DeonnaPurrazzo
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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.ca
Get access to next week’s Part 2 with Deonna NOW 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 21: Chris Bey - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for the 2nd part of his conversation with wrestler, singer/songwriter, and all-around great dude – Chris Bey. Chris is a former X-Division Champion, proud member of the Bullet Club and current TNA Impact Tag-Team Champion.
Cody and Chris start where they left off last week discussing the lessons Chris learned in wrestling school. They go on to discuss various topics, such as:
- a wild story of the advice he received from none other than WWE’s Kane… and the full circle moment involving him one year later
- the power of manifestation
- the importance of putting in the work and having goals to work toward
- the story of working with WWE, IMPACT, and ROH all within a short span of each other and how they taught him what he truly wanted
- signing with IMPACT Wrestling and how he knew it’s the place he truly wanted to be
- why the chants of “BEY!” at T-Mobile Arena during his WWE appearance meant so much to him
- finding success when you’re your true self
- getting signed vs. staying signed from the perspective of someone who got signed very early in their career
- the importance of content creation in 2023 and his successful venture into the music industry
Chris Bey can be found on social media on both Twitter and Instagram @dashingchrisbey
You can listen to Chris’ music on Spotify by visiting https://open.spotify.com/artist/1PvnNmZQzfHwh7NB4oEVlN
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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.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 Chris Bey and a funny in-ring incident on a recent tour with New Japan Pro Wrestling 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 20: Chris Bey - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down with wrestler, singer/songwriter, and all-around awesome guy – Chris Bey. Chris is a former X-Division Champion and current TNA Impact Tag-Team Champion. He’s accomplished a lot during his relatively short time in the wrestling business (including appearing for WWE, Impact Wrestling, and ROH all within the first few years of breaking into the business).
Cody and Chris work together at TNA, and in this discussion they explore Bey’s wrestling journey and the life lessons he’s learned along the way by exploring such topics as:
- the power of story and how it can be an inspiration to others
- growing up in a small town with small expectations
- Bey’s influential mentor (his elementary school principal) who helped steer Bey away from the negative influences around him in his very rough neighbourhood in Alexandria, Virginia
- how CM Punk and Eddie Guerrero inspired him as a young wrestling fan
- his father’s passing and how that dramatically effected his decision to pursue a career in wrestling
- the decision to move away to go to wrestling school and how changing where you are can be a powerful step in making a positive move away from negative influences and forces
Chris Bey can be found on social media on both Twitter and Instagram @dashingchrisbey
You can listen to Chris’ music on Spotify by visiting https://open.spotify.com/artist/1PvnNmZQzfHwh7NB4oEVlN
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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.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 Chris Bey and a funny in-ring incident on a recent tour with New Japan Pro Wrestling 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 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