During a recent appearance on the “B4 The Bell” podcast, TNA broadcaster Tom Hannifan explained how Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin helped him secure a job at TNA Wrestling following his WWE exit.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his relationship with Maclin and Purrazzo: “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 watch this week’s episode of TNA Xplosion below:
And finally, you can check out the updated lineup for Thursday’s episode of TNA iMPACT! below:
* Joe Hendry & Elijah vs. Moose & Brian Myers (Trick Williams on commentary)
* Ace Austin vs. Mustafa Ali
* Santana & Sami Callihan vs. First Class
* Eddie Edwards in action.
* Santino Marella and Robert Stone in-ring debate.
In Thursday's all-new #TNAiMPACT just 24 hours away from #TNAUnderSiege… TNA World Champion @joehendry and @_Iam_Elijah_ battle X-Division Champion @TheMooseNation and @Myers_Wrestling with #WWENXT's @_trickwilliams on commentary.
UK/Ireland fans signing up to TNA+ can get a… pic.twitter.com/VKW9tcv152
— TNA Wrestling UK (@ThisIsTNAUK) May 20, 2025
.@TheEddieEdwards w/@MrsAIPAlisha will be in action THURSDAY at 8/7c on @AXSTV in the US, @Sportsnet 360 in Canada and TNA+ worldwide, ahead of his collision with @CodyDeaner at #TNAUnderSiege. #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/BsIEZytGJv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 19, 2025
