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MAJOR DEPARTURE FROM TNA

By Mike Johnson on 2012-05-28 10:25:16
Numerous sources within TNA are confirming that Don West, who has been with the company from day one as an announcer before moving on to head TNA's Merchandise end during the summer of 2009, has given TNA notice that will be finishing shortly with the company.

West, who had no previous experience working in the business, was brought in as an announcer for the company when they launched in June 2002. He and Mike Tenay soon became the company's announcing team, although West was also used at times as The Amazing Red's manager, which was a role he was very good at.

In August 2011, West was replaced by Taz as an announcer for the promotion, West was given a promotion behind the scenes and took over TNA's Merchandise end. West immediately went on the road full-time handling the company's autograph signings and doing "Don West Deals" live at the shows. West would trumpet special deals from inside the ring and the merchandise table, sort of a pied piper for selling shirts and DVDs, doing an amazing job at getting the company's merch sales up.

West, who first gained fame for Shop at Home, was famous for his unique and zany sales pitches, which at one point was parodied by Will Ferrell on Saturday Night Live. West regularly created those pitches online via the ShopTNA.com websites. A number of people within TNA have noted that it's going to be "near impossible" to replace West's skills in the merchandise aspect of the company.

Going forward, West will be focusing on his website WildWestDeals.com.

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