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Don West (wrestling)

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Don West
West in 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)​

Donald West(June 20, 1963 – December 30, 2022) was an American pitchman, television personality, andprofessional wrestlingbroadcaster.

West first came to prominence as a host for theShop at Home Networkin 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 atalk show,The Sports Reporters,onWNSR,West joined the professional wrestling promotionTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling(TNA) as acolor commentatorin 2002; he would work with the promotion in various capacities over the 2000s and 2010s. In 2023, West was posthumously inducted into theTNA/Impact Hall of Fame.

Early life

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West was born inChicago, Illinois,on June 20, 1963. He attendedPurdue University,where hemajoredinsports broadcasting.[2]

Career

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Shop at Home Network

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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 thechief financial officerof 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 theSports 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 asBeanie BabiesandPokémoncollectibles.[2]BothWill FerrellandChris Kattanparodied West and his co-host, Eddy Lewis, on three episodes ofSaturday Night Live.[2][4]

The Sports Reporters

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In 2001, West amicably left the Shop at Home Network and began hosting a sportstalk showcalledThe Sports ReportersonWNSRin Nashville, Tennessee. The program covered sports topics of the day and ongoing local sports issues.[2][5]West was contacted byVince Russo,thenbookerforWorld 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

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West (left) andMike Tenay(right) commentating atLockdownin April 2007.

In 2002, West was hired byJeff Jarrett,who had been introduced to West by Russo, to serve as the color commentator for his newly formedprofessional wrestling promotion,Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.West made his commentary debut on June 19, 2002, on the inaugural TNApay-per-viewalongsideEd FerraraandMike Tenay.Ferrara departed TNA in August 2002, reducing the commentary team to Tenay and West.[2]Aside from commentating, West accompaniedJeremy Borashon theYouTube-based showTNA 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 ofImpact!,West turnedheelwhen 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 ofImpact!TNA removed West as a color commentator and replaced him withTaz.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 ofImpact!West returned asAmazing Red's new manager, turningfacein 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

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In 2012, West left TNA to become the new director of sales and marketing of theWenatchee, Washington–basedWenatchee Wildice hockeyteam.[13]

Impact Wrestling

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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 theSlammiversary XVpay-per-view.[14]In 2022, Impact Wrestling featured a video tribute to their original announce team of West and Mike Tenay duringSlammiversary.[15]

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

Personal life and death

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

On June 16, 2021, West announced that he had been diagnosed with alymphomaof 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 onWWE,AEW,and Impact Wrestling programming.[19][20]

Awards and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ab"Don West at Cagematch.de".RetrievedMarch 27,2007.
  2. ^abcdefghNation, Ryan (January 31, 2006)."The evolution of Don West".Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.RetrievedMarch 27,2007.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^abcTopoleski, Ed (June 6, 2012)."Columbia Basin Herald – Sports, Don West heads out west".Columbia Basin Herald.Archived fromthe originalon August 12, 2019.
  4. ^"Don West at the SNL Archives".Saturday Night Live.Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2007.RetrievedMarch 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.Archived fromthe originalon August 21, 2011.RetrievedJuly 23,2011.
  8. ^"TNA Impact February 26, 2009 Results".Wrestle View.RetrievedFebruary 27,2009.
  9. ^"TNA Impact March 5, 2009 Results".Wrestle View.RetrievedMarch 5,2009.
  10. ^"Tonight: Taz Joins The Announce Team".TNA Wrestling. Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2009.RetrievedAugust 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.RetrievedOctober 16,2009.
  12. ^Martin, Adam (May 28, 2012)."Report: Don West gives notice, leaving TNA".Wrestle View.Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2012.RetrievedMay 28,2012.
  13. ^Martin, Adam (May 28, 2012)."Update on Don West's departure from TNA".Wrestle View.Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2012.RetrievedMay 29,2012.
  14. ^IMPACT Wrestling (June 15, 2017),Don West is Coming Back to Call Slammiversary | #Slamm15 July 2, 2017,retrievedMarch 21,2018
  15. ^"Slammiversary 2022 Full Results".ImpactWrestling.June 19, 2022.RetrievedDecember 30,2022.
  16. ^Thomas, Jeremy."Mike Tenay, Don West To Be Inducted Into Impact Wrestling Hall Of Fame".411 Mania.RetrievedSeptember 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.RetrievedDecember 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.
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