Tom Hannifan Credits Deonna Purrazzo & Steve Maclin For Helping Him Join TNA

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, “So 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, ‘Hey, I think they’re gonna make a change. It sounds like they’re moving on from Striker and they might need a new play-by-play guy. Do you want us to introduce you?’”

On how they opened the door for him joining TNA Wrestling:

“So, 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 D’Amore shortly thereafter and it just clicked and it just clicked very quickly…”

On if he’d ever want to be involved in an on-air storyline in TNA:

“I mean, it’s come up in a couple of different instances in TNA but it’s just never really worked out or made sense I guess. Part of it is I’m the only play-by-play guy so if you take me out, then it’s like, okay, what do we do now with the show? Because then it’s just (Matt) Rehwoldt going Joey Styles for what? However many weeks I gotta sell it.”

You can check out the complete podcast below.

(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)