Wrestling is Life is Wrestling with Cody Deaner

Episode 30: Heath - Part 1

A lot of people think they know Heath (formerly known as Heath Slater in the WWE). But, to know the REAL Heath, you have to know where he came from.
In Part 1 of this 2-part conversation, Heath discusses his humble upbringing and shares some deep, personal stories of the man who raised him and inspired him to believe in himself and achieve his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Listen to a version of Heath that most wrestling fans have never heard before.
Oh… and of course there’s some hilarious stories from his backyard wrestling days thrown in there too!
Follow Heath on Twitter: http://x.com/HEATHXXII 
Follow Heath on Instagram: http://instagram.com/heathxxii 
Book Heath at BOOKMEBABY.22@gmail.com
Get access to the entire conversation (early and ad-free) and a BONUS STORY with Heath where he describes a time NEXUS had a little too much heat in the WWE - 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 CEO Fit. Buy all your health, fitness, and supplementary needs at http://ceofit.ca
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 29: Traci Brooks - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for the second part of his conversation with his long-time friend and TNA Hall of Famer – Traci Brooks.
Last week, Cody and Traci discussed her upbringing. Traci was born and raised in a very small, rural, Canadian town on a pig farm. And she grew up dealing with a physical disability known as Erb’s Palsy. Despite these things, she overcame all these obstacles to make it to the top of the professional wrestling industry.
This week, Cody and Traci continue their conversation about Traci’s life as they discuss Traci’s adventures in the professional wrestling world… and the adventure that eventually led her to the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Get access to a BONUS STORY with Traci where she goes into detail about her experience posing for Playboy - http://patreon.com/codydeaner  
Follow Traci on Twitter/X @TheTraciBrooks
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
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 28: Traci Brooks - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down with his long-time friend and TNA Hall of Famer – Traci Brooks.
Traci Brooks is an original TNA Knockout. She is the longest reigning contracted TNA Knockout in company history. She’s worked alongside some of the biggest names in the professional wrestling business. Oh… and she posed for Playboy. Those are just a few of the things Traci Brooks is known for.
But, what you might not have known about Traci is that she was born and raised in a very small, rural, Canadian town on a pig farm. And she grew up dealing with a physical disability known as Erb’s Palsy. Despite these things, she overcame all these obstacles to make it to the top of the professional wrestling industry. And she shares some amazing stories of the lessons she’s learned in her journey from the pig farm to the wrestling ring.
Follow Traci on Twitter/X @TheTraciBrooks
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 both Part 1 & 2 of this conversation with Traci, early and ad-free (as well as a BONUS STORY with Traci) 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 27: Tornado - Part 2

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 2 of his conversation with his long-time friend and professional wrestling veteran journeyman of almost 30 years – Tornado.
They start where they left off last week, talking about lessons Tornado learned while working the independent wrestling scene. They also discuss his work with WWE and the trials and tribulations of a Canadian indy wrestler striving to get a job in the largest wrestling company in the world. They also discuss Tornado’s successful venture into promoting and starting a thriving wrestling company – Rock Solid Wrestling. Oh… and they also talk about Tornado’s foray into Hollywood and the film industry!
If you learn nothing else from this conversation, you’ll learn that Tornado has led a fascinating life… and that wrestling is life. And life is wrestling.
While Tornado doesn’t exist on the internet, you can still learn more about Tornado’s wrestling promotion – Rock Solid Wrestling, by visiting the following:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rocksolidwrestling1483
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocksolidwrestling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rocksolidpro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocksolidpro
Official Website: https://rocksolidwrestling.tickit.ca/
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 Tornado 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 26: Tornado - Part 1

Cody Deaner sits down for Part 1 of his conversation with his long-time friend and professional wrestling veteran journeyman of almost 30 years – Tornado. Tornado has led a fascinating life. Whether it’s the fact that he started playing with famous Canadian bands as a professional musician when he was only a teenager, worked for the WWE for almost two years without a contract, became a successful Canadian wrestling promoter, or started working in movies as both an actor and a professional stuntman, you’ll learn something from the amazing stories Tornado has to tell.
While Tornado doesn’t exist on the internet, you can still learn more about Tornado’s wrestling promotion – Rock Solid Wrestling, by visiting the following:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rocksolidwrestling1483
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocksolidwrestling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rocksolidpro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocksolidpro
Official Website: https://rocksolidwrestling.tickit.ca/
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 both Part 1 & 2 of the conversation, un-edited and commercial free (as well as  a BONUS STORY with Tornado 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 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