Don West (wrestling)

Donald West (June 20, 1963 – December 30, 2022) was an American pitchman, television personality, and professional wrestling broadcaster.

Don West
Don West in July 2010
Born
Donald West

(1963-06-20)June 20, 1963[1]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[2]
DiedDecember 30, 2022(2022-12-30) (aged 59)
Cashmere, Washington, U.S.
Other namesD-Dub
Alma materPurdue University
Occupations
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1]
Spouse
Terri West
​
(m. 1992)​

West first came to prominence as a host for the Shop at Home Network in the early 1990s, achieving a degree of fame for his loud, energetic, abrasive sales pitches on late night television and for his blunt tone and persuasive style. After briefly hosting a talk show, The Sports Reporters, on WNSR, West joined the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as a color commentator in 2002; he would work with the promotion in various capacities over the 2000s and 2010s. In September 2023, it was announced that West would be posthumously inducted into the Impact Hall of Fame.

Early life

West was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 20, 1963. He attended Purdue University, where he majored in sports broadcasting.[2]

Career

Shop at Home Network

Don West initially became involved with television shopping when he applied for a job with the Shop at Home Network as the host of a sports memorabilia show, Sports Collectibles. Despite his degree in sports broadcasting (and the fact that his brother Dale was the chief financial officer of the Shop at Home Network), West was rejected on the basis of his "scrabbly voice".[2] In 1991, West began selling knives on television, and in March 1993, was made host of the Sports Memorabilia Show.[3] Between 1993 and 2001, sales rose from $3 million to $150 million. In addition to sports memorabilia, West also pitched products such as Beanie Babies and Pokémon collectibles.[2] Both Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan parodied West and his co-host, Eddy Lewis, on three episodes of Saturday Night Live.[2][4]

The Sports Reporters

In 2001, West amicably left the Shop at Home Network and began hosting a sports talk show called The Sports Reporters on WNSR in Nashville, Tennessee. The program covered sports topics of the day and ongoing local sports issues.[2][5] West was contacted by Vince Russo, then booker for World Championship Wrestling, who invited him to join the company. West declined the offer, the company being bought out a year later.[2]

NWA Total Nonstop Action
West (left) and Mike Tenay (right) commentating at Lockdown in April 2007.

In 2002, West was hired by Jeff Jarrett, who had been introduced to West by Russo, to serve as the color commentator for his newly formed professional wrestling promotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. West made his commentary debut on June 19, 2002, on the inaugural TNA pay-per-view alongside Ed Ferrara and Mike Tenay. Ferrara departed TNA in August 2002, reducing the commentary team to Tenay and West.[2] Aside from commentating, West accompanied Jeremy Borash on the YouTube-based show TNA Today, where he promoted new TNA merchandise and special packages called "Don West's Insane Daily Deals".[6][7]

In 2007, West was appointed TNA's Director of Merchandise. In 2008, he was appointed TNA's Director of Merchandise for Live Events.[3]

On the February 26, 2009, episode of Impact!, West turned heel when he verbally assaulted and walked out on his commentary partner Tenay, leaving him to call the remainder of the show alone.[8][9] On the August 17, 2009, tapings of Impact! TNA removed West as a color commentator and replaced him with Taz. The company later announced that West had been promoted within the organization to oversee merchandise development and sales initiatives.[10] On the October 15 edition of Impact! West returned as Amazing Red's new manager, turning face in the process.[11]

On May 28, 2012, it was reported that West had given his notice and would be leaving TNA shortly.[12]

Wenatchee Wild

In 2012, West left TNA to become the new director of sales and marketing of the Wenatchee, Washington–based Wenatchee Wild ice hockey team.[13]

Impact Wrestling

On January 13, 2017, TNA (now known as Impact Wrestling) revealed that West had joined the merchandise department. On July, 2, 2017, West returned to commentary for the final time at the Slammiversary XV pay-per-view.[14] In 2022, Impact Wrestling featured a video tribute to their original announce team of West and Mike Tenay during Slammiversary.[15]

On September 8, 2023 during Impact's Victory Road event, it was announced that West (alongside Mike Tenay) would be posthumously inducted into the Impact Hall of Fame in honor of them being the promotion's original broadcast team.[16]

Personal life and death

West married his wife Terri on July 18, 1992.[3]

On June 16, 2021, West announced that he had been diagnosed with a lymphoma of the brain, and began treatment.[17] On December 30, 2022, Mike Tenay confirmed that West had died from lymphoma at the age of 59.[18] Memorial tributes to West were made by the pro-wrestling community through social media and on WWE, AEW, and Impact Wrestling programming.[19][20]

References
  1. "Don West at Cagematch.de". Retrieved March 27, 2007.
  2. Nation, Ryan (January 31, 2006). "The evolution of Don West". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2007.
  3. Topoleski, Ed (June 6, 2012). "Columbia Basin Herald – Sports, Don West heads out west". Columbia Basin Herald. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019.
  4. "Don West at the SNL Archives". Saturday Night Live. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2007.
  5. "Don West Passes Away at Age 59". TPWW.
  6. "Don West, Iconic Impact Wrestling Announcer, Dies at 59". CBR. December 31, 2022.
  7. "Don West". ImpactWrestling.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  8. "TNA Impact February 26, 2009 Results". Wrestle View. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  9. "TNA Impact March 5, 2009 Results". Wrestle View. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  10. "Tonight: Taz Joins The Announce Team". TNA Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 23, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  11. Wilkenfeld, Daniel (October 15, 2009). "WILKENFELD'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/15: Ongoing (but suffering an hour lag) "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast". PWTorch. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  12. Martin, Adam (May 28, 2012). "Report: Don West gives notice, leaving TNA". Wrestle View. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  13. Martin, Adam (May 28, 2012). "Update on Don West's departure from TNA". Wrestle View. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  14. IMPACT Wrestling (June 15, 2017), Don West is Coming Back to Call Slammiversary | #Slamm15 July 2, 2017, retrieved March 21, 2018
  15. "Slammiversary 2022 Full Results". ImpactWrestling.com. June 19, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  16. Thomas, Jeremy. "Mike Tenay, Don West To Be Inducted Into Impact Wrestling Hall Of Fame". 411 Mania. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  17. "An Update from Don West – NewsRadio 560 KPQ". June 16, 2021.
  18. Lambert, Jeremy. "Former TNA/IMPACT Announcer Don West Passes Away". Fightful. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  19. Rose, Bryan (December 30, 2022). "WWE, Impact Wrestling, Jeff Jarrett pay tribute to Don West". WON/F4W – WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results.
  20. Pulido, Luis. "IMPACT Wrestling (1/5/2023) Results: Masha Slamovich vs. Taylor Wilde & More To Kick-Off 2023". Fightful.com.
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