Dinerpod 50: Preston Ryker

The Party Bus is rolling back into the Dinerverse studio!

After over a year away, the highest-energy man in independent wrestling—the reigning, defending Lethal Lucha Heavyweight Champion, "Mr. Party" Preston Ryker—joins Red Velvet via satellite for an absolutely raw, uncut, and deeply personal conversation.

From being counted out as a mere "popcorn match" to shocking the world by pinning the legendary 400-pound Congo Kong to snap a four-year undefeated streak, Preston opens up about what it truly takes to silence the haters. If you've ever been doubted, underestimated, or told your dreams were a joke, this episode is your ultimate fuel.

• Overcoming the Noise: Preston gets real about the backstage politics, the doubters in his own circle, and fulfilling a deathbed promise to his father to prove everyone wrong.

• The 5-Hour Grind: The insane story of Preston driving a 5-hour round trip twice a week from Toledo to Indiana just to get his craft tightened up at Congo Kong's Academy.

• The Origin of the Party: How a childhood watching Friday Night SmackDown with his grandmother saved his life, and how he inherited the "Mr. Party" legacy from his parents.

• Wrestling Nerd-Out: Preston shares his ultimate Wrestling Mount Rushmore, his obsession with the Broken Universe of Matt Hardy, and the booming success of his own official action figures.

• A Message to the Next Challenger: A fiery, ice-cold warning to Anderson Knight ahead of their massive championship clash.

"All that doubt is just adding more to my fire. Bring it, brother. Let’s go." — Preston Riker

• Instagram: @PrestonRykerBrand

• Facebook: Preston Ryker

📢 Support the Show: Love what we do here in rural America? Crack open a Red Solo Cup and hit that subscribe button! For just $0.99 a month on Facebook, you get exclusive early access to full episodes, bonus clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Stay wild, everybody!

#wrestling #prowrestling #indiewrestling #wrestler #dinerpodsports

Dinerpod 49: Rich Green-Indiana State University esports Coach

What’s going on, everybody? Red Velvet is taking you outside of the studio and right into the high-tech Esports Lab at Indiana State University!In this episode, we sit down with Rich Green, ISU's Director of Radio, Digital Content, and Esports. Rich walks us through his incredible journey—from a sports-and-video-game-loving kid playing RBI Baseball and Madden, to a club DJ, and finally to landing what he calls "the coolest job in the world" mixing music, sports, and multimedia under one roof.

We dive deep into the booming world of collegiate gaming, exploring how ISU built its esports program from a 46-page proposal into a fully funded, thriving facility open to all students and faculty.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Reality of Esports: What competitive collegiate gaming actually looks like and how the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) matches work.

The "Gamer" GPA Boost: Why active participation in campus esports actually leads to better grades and higher classroom attendance.Inside the Playbook: How the team recruits talent, handles intense team communication, and breaks down game film just like traditional college football.

The Game Lineup: A look at ISU’s current competitive titles, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Valorant, Rocket League, and Overwatch.What’s Next for ISU: Rich’s future vision for a varsity "farm system," club expansions, and bringing academic esports certificate programs to Indiana State.

"Kids, you can do it. You can have your dreams. It is possible. You just got to work at it." — Rich Green

Connect with ISU Esports & Media:If you are a current or prospective student wanting to join the team or take a tour, reach out directly to Rich at richard.green@indstate.edu.

Instagram: @indstate_esports

Twitch: indstate_esports

Radio & YouTube: @wzisfm

#esports #esportsteam #gaming #videogames #dinerpodsports

Pull up a chair, Dinerverse! Red Velvet is back in the studio, and today we’re beaming in a powerhouse via satellite—"The Clydesdale" Clayton Clark.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the indie wrestling scene and talking serious shop. Clayton hits us with the ultimate throwback, detailing his journey from a 6-year-old John Cena fan who lied on the school bus, to his days doing Elvis tribute shows at nursing homes, all the way to bumping in backyard rings and cutting his teeth in Noble, Illinois.

We break down:

• The Transition: How a country boy playing "Sheriff Woody" in a podunk town evolved from the Shotgun City Sheriff into a ruthless, workhorse "Clydesdale."

• The Rivalries: The inside story behind his explosive, rail-jumping Rivalry of the Year with Dalton Davis and Ace Perry.

• The Tape Study: Why Bret vs. Owen at WrestleMania X remains the holy grail of storytelling, and what it’s really like watching the Hulk Hogan documentary as a student of the game.

• Locker Room Lore: Karaoke chaos, respect for the veterans who showed patience, and the reality of taking three black eyes from Devontae Knox.

Whether you're a die-hard mark for the Monday Night Wars or love the grit of modern independent wrestling, this is an interview you don't want to miss. Pass the platter and let’s get into it!

#wrestling #prowrestling #indiewrestling #wrestler #dinerpodsports