On 9/8 during the LIVE Victory Road broadcast, IMPACT Wrestling announced that both Don West and Mike Tenay would headline the Hall Of Fame class of 2023 and be inducted at Bound For Glory on 10/21.

West joined TNA when Jeff Jarrett founded it in 2002. He served as the color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Tenay and was known for his trademark enthusiasm. Notably, he was part of the commentary team for the first TNA pay-per-view in June 2002.

West later expanded his role by becoming chiefly responsible for merchandise creation and sales in TNA. West departed TNA in 2012, but returned in 2017 as part of the merchandise department and did some commentary work once in awhile.

Tenay hasn’t been behind the commentary table since 2015, but he won’t rule out a return. 

In an interview before IMPACT Bound For Glory, Tenay told Mike Johnson of PWInsider: “Would I have liked to have continued in the role (as TNA lead announcer before I was swapped out)? Yeah, probably for a couple more years. I reflect back on it and the funny thing is I’ve spent more reflection in the last couple of weeks, in terms of preparation for what I’m going to say (during the Hall of Fame speech). I’ve done more reflection in the last couple of weeks about my career than I have in the years since I’ve announced. In my head, I kind of moved on, and it’s actually been nice to reflect back and think of so many funny stories. Things that went down through the years in terms of — and I know it went on forever on that but in terms of me coming back, would I ever? It’s the weirdest thing… I never wanted to have multiple retirements, come back, retirements. Pretty much everybody does in the history of professional wrestling. I felt like it was kind of a clean break. I follow everything religiously. I don’t think it would be that tough of a transition if I did want to come back. I don’t know if every company wants an old guy on their TV show. At the same time, would I rule any possibility of a comeback out? I would say no, I wouldn’t rule it out, but it would have to be under my terms. I don’t know that any company is willing to have it under my terms. It’s nothing that I really feel in my heart like I need to go back and do. Again, in this reflection of the last couple of weeks, I think I’m kind of happy with everything that I did. And I liked moving on from it. Right place, right time. I can’t say I never would do it, but it’s not something that takes up a lot of my time thinking about thinking, gosh, I need to get back to doing wrestling announcing.” 

H/T Jeremy Lambert from Fightful.

Mike Tenay Hall of Fame induction:

“The Professor” Mike Tenay also joined TNA in 2002 and worked as the play-by-play announcer until 2015. Tenay and West will now be cemented in the story of IMPACT/TNA Wrestling forever after being inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame last Saturday, October 21st as part of the Bound For Glory Countdown/pre show.

Unfortunately, Don West passed away in a December of 2022 before he could physically accept the induction, however, Mike Tenay is still around and will likely be there in person to accept his induction.

Many fans think that these two icons of the company should’ve been inducted along time ago and that’s hard to argue with.

We all hope Mike Tenay returns to the commentary booth one day, but like he says, it would have to be on his terms.

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