Don West (wrestling)

Donald West (born June 20, 1963) is an American pitchman, television personality and wrestling broadcaster currently signed to Impact Wrestling as the sales director. West previously worked as a host for the Shop At Home Network. In the 1990s, West achieved a degree of fame for his loud, energetic, abrasive sales pitches on late night television, and his blunt obvious observations, with his persuasive style.

Career

Don West is the pitchman for WildWestDeals.com, an internet marketing site. West was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Purdue University, where he majored in sports broadcasting. West currently resides in Wenatchee, Washington.

Shop at Home Network

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". 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 US$3 million to US$150 million. In addition to sports memorabilia, West also pitched products such as Beanie Babies and Pokémon collectibles.

Between November 1996 and March 1997, Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan parodied West and his co-host, Eddy Lewis, on three episodes of ''Saturday Night Live''.

In 2001, West amicably left the Shop at Home Network and began hosting a sports talk show on WNSR.

In 2000, West was contacted by World Championship Wrestling booker Vince Russo, who invited him to join the company. West declined the offer in favor of "the sure thing" (WCW was purchased by its chief competitor, the World Wrestling Federation, in March 2001).

According to the December 9, 2007 episode of Shop At Home's ''The Sports Room'' show with hosts Kevin Hite and Shawn Leflar, Don West would be a guest host on the December 16, 2007 episode of ''The Sports Room'' and make a sculpture of the Empire State Building out of butter.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2012)

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 (now known as Impact Wrestling). West made his professional wrestling debut on June 19, 2002, commentating 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.

Aside from commentating, West accompanies Jeremy Borash on the YouTube-based show ''TNA Today'', where he promotes new TNA merchandise and special packages, called "Don West's Insane Daily Deals." He is also an unlockable character along with providing commentary in the first ever TNA video game, ''TNA Impact!''.

On the December 14, 2006 episode of '' Impact!'', Kurt Angle put West in an ankle lock, making West pass out (kayfabe); he was replaced that night by Jim Cornette.

During the Fish Market Street Fight between Curry Man & Shark Boy and Team 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray) at Destination X in 2008, he repeatedly made mention of the competitors creaming each other with a fish.

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. The following week, West once again verbally assaulted Tenay, took the sides of heel wrestlers, and then once again walked out on Tenay. The week after that West showed up late, in a drunken state and again walked out on Tenay, after Tenay suggested West leave. Since then, West was back at the announcers table as a heel commentator. At 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. On the October 15 edition of ''Impact!'' West returned as Amazing Red's new manager, turning face in the process. However, West's role of managing Red ended shortly thereafter. Since then, he has appeared mainly on TNA's internet programming and at house shows selling his merchandise. On May 28, 2012, it was reported that West had given his notice and would be leaving TNA shortly, having accepted an offer to become the new director of sales and marketing of Wenatchee, Washington based Wenatchee Wild ice hockey team.

Radio (2001–2008)

From 2001-2008, West hosted a daily mid-day sports talk show called "The Sports Reporters" on SportsRadio 560 WNSR AM in Nashville, Tennessee. The locally-aired program featured a rotation of different co-hosts from Nashville media (including David Boclair, Eric Yutzy, Steve Wrigley, and Paul Kuharsky), with each co-host appearing on a specific day of the week. The program covered sports topics of the day and ongoing local sports issues. However the show often shifted focus to additional topics, such as film, pop culture, and quite often "hot chicks." The show achieved the top ratings spot for its timeslot, a considerable accomplishment for a sports-themed program airing on an AM station. The economic downturn of 2008, in conjunction with West's TNA Wrestling obligations (in the later years, tapings of TNA Wrestling made it impossible for West to host the program on Mondays), ultimately led to the demise of the show.

Return to TNA / Impact Wrestling (2017–present)

On January 13, 2017, Impact Wrestling revealed that West had joined the merchandise department. On June 15, 2017, Impact announced that West would return to the commentary team for their Slammiversary XV pay-per-view held Sunday July 2.

Other media

He is an Unlockable character in ''TNA IMPACT!''.

Personal life

West has been married to his wife Terri West, since July 18, 1992.

On June 16, 2021, West announced that he has been "diagnosed with a brain lymphoma and will begin immediate treatment."

Championships and accomplishments

*''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''
** Worst Television Announcer (2007)

References

External links

Don West at wildwestdeals.comTNA profile
*
Wenatchee Wild Hockey - Front Office

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Don
American color commentators
American radio sports announcers
American television personalities
Sportspeople from Nashville, Tennessee
Sportspeople from Chicago
Professional wrestling announcers
Professional wrestling managers and valets
Purdue University alumni
1963 births
Living people