TNA Wrestling broadcaster Tom Hannifan recently appeared on the B4 The Bell podcast, where he discussed various topics. He talked about his relationship with Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin, explaining how they supported him in securing a job at TNA after his departure from WWE.
Hannifan said, โSo Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo are two very close friends of mine. Steve Maclin and I have known each other since the NXT days and he was already in IMPACT as Deonna was at the time and I think it was like December of that year and they were like, โHey, I think theyโre gonna make a change. It sounds like theyโre moving on from Striker and they might need a new play-by-play guy. Do you want us to introduce you?’โ
On how they opened the door for him joining TNA Wrestling:
โSo, thankfully, they opened the door. I had a great conversation with Josh Mathews who I worked with once upon a time. He did my audition in WWE. So just full circle and then I speak to Scott DโAmore shortly thereafter and it just clicked and it just clicked very quicklyโฆโ
On if heโd ever want to be involved in an on-air storyline in TNA:
โI mean, itโs come up in a couple of different instances in TNA but itโs just never really worked out or made sense I guess. Part of it is Iโm the only play-by-play guy so if you take me out, then itโs like, okay, what do we do now with the show? Because then itโs just (Matt) Rehwoldt going Joey Styles for what? However many weeks I gotta sell it.โ
You can check out the complete podcast below.
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)