Don West (wrestling)

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, he was finally given the job with the Shop at Home Network that he had applied for. 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]

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][6] West was contacted by Vince Russo, then booker for World Championship Wrestling, who invited him to join the company. West declined the offer as the company was bought out a year later.[2]

Don West in January 2006

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".[7]

West (left) and Mike Tenay (right) commentating at Lockdown 2007

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] although this was shortlived. He then appeared mainly on TNA's internet programming and at house shows selling merchandise. In 2010, West became the pitchman for WildWestDeals.com, an internet marketing site.[12]

On May 28, 2012, it was reported that West had given his notice and would be leaving TNA shortly,[13] having accepted an offer to become the new director of sales and marketing of Wenatchee, Washington based Wenatchee Wild ice hockey team.[14]

On January 13, 2017, Impact Wrestling, formerly known as TNA, 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.[15] In 2022, Impact Wrestling featured a video tribute to their original announce team of West and Mike Tenay during Slammiversary.[16]

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

West was married to his wife Terri from July 18, 1992, until his death in 2022.[17] On June 16, 2021, West announced that he had been diagnosed with a lymphoma of the brain, and began treatment.[18] On December 30, 2022, Mike Tenay confirmed that West had died from lymphoma at the age of 59.[19] Memorial tributes to West were made by the pro-wrestling community through social media and on WWE, AEW, and Impact Wrestling programming.[20][21]

• Don West at wildwestdeals.com
• TNA profile
• Don West at IMDb
• Online World of Wrestling Profile
• Wenatchee Wild Hockey - Front Office