In this episode of pplpod, we dive deep into the life and career of retired American professional wrestler Patrick Joseph Michael Kenney, best known to fans around the world by his iconic ring name, Simon Diamond. Before stepping into the squared circle, Kenney was a standout baseball prospect who famously turned down a major league contract from the San Diego Padres to pursue his education and play on scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University. After a severe shoulder injury cut his baseball dreams short, Kenney pivoted his athletic talents from the baseball diamond to the wrestling ring.

We explore his early beginnings in 1991, training under Jim Kettner and debuting as "Lance Diamond," before getting his major break by joining Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in May 1998. Adopting the name "Simon" as a tribute to his mentor Dean ...