Former WWE Announcer Joins Impact’s Announce Team

Renee Paquette took to Twitter earlier today and revealed that her friend and former WWE announcer, Tom Hannifan (Tom Phillips), will be joining Impact for commentary during tonight’s Hard To Kill event.

Paquette writes, “Huge news!! @TomHannifan joins @IMPACTWRESTLING as their newest play-by-play announcer at Hard To Kill! What a pick-up for them! I have Tom’s first interview this coming Tuesday on The Sessions!! @TheVolumeSports.”

Hannifan was also spotted in Dallas this morning, leading to some speculation prior to the announcement, according to PWInsider. He replaces Matt Striker on the announce team who, as we noted, revealed earlier this week that he is done with Impact Wrestling.

“I am disappointed that my time with #ImpactonAXSTV is done,” Striker wrote on Twitter. “I REALLY enjoyed that locker room. Thanks for allowing me to tell your story. Thanks, everyone. Stay safe.”

D’Lo Brown, however, will remain on the commentary team and will be beside Hannifan to call the play-by-play for Hard To Kill. The duo will be the new team going forward on Impact on AXS TV as of this Thursday’s episode.

Hannifan, age 32, was a part of WWE’s staff from 2012 through May 2021 when he was released by the company along with multiple other employees. At that time, his roles included producing and managing announcers as Senior Manager of On-Air Talent under Michael Cole.

After his departure from WWE, Tom Hannifan transitioned into the world of college football when he became a host for Paydirt: A Penn State Football Podcast.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Striker Reportedly Done With Impact Wrestling

Matt Striker is reportedly done with Impact Wrestling.

In a now-deleted post, Striker tweeted that he was finished with the company and that he was disappointed that his run was over.

“I am disappointed that my time with #ImpactonAXSTV is done,” Striker wrote. “I REALLY enjoyed that locker room. Thanks for allowing me to tell your story. Thanks, everyone. Stay safe.”

PWInsider confirmed with Impact Wrestling sources that Striker is no longer with the company.

Since leaving WWE in 2013, Striker has worked commentary for various promotions, including Lucha Underground. He joined the Impact announce team in January of 2021 along with D’Lo Brown, replacing Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne. PWInsider noted that Brown will remain on the broadcast team.

It appears that Striker’s release from Impact was performance related, according to RingsideNews. Striker has a lot of experience as a wrestling commentator in several companies including WWE, AAA, and Lucha Underground. That experience wasn’t enough to please the folks in charge at Impact.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer talked about Matt Striker’s release from Impact Wrestling. The move has been in the work for months. The company will now have to scramble to find a replacement as the Hard to Kill pay-per-view is Saturday.

Source: Wrestling Inc. and RingsideNews

Impact Wrestling Preview 1/6/22

It’s the last stop before Hard To Kill on an all-new, jam-packed edition of IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mercedes Martinez

* Jonah vs. Jake Something

* The Knockouts Division will make history once again when they compete in the high-flying, high-wire spectacle known as Ultimate X for the very first time at Hard To Kill. But who will gain momentum heading into this Saturday’s monumental matchup? Find out when Tasha Steelz, Lady Frost and Chelsea Green battle IMPACT Digital Media Champion Jordynne Grace, Rachael Ellering and Rosemary in 6-Knockout tag team action

* With Hardcore War on the horizon at Hard To Kill, a match to determine the all-important numbers advantage will take place this Thursday on IMPACT! when IMPACT World Tag Team Champion Karl Anderson battles Heath. 

* Masha Slamovich makes her highly-anticipated arrival

* Ace Austin and Madman Fulton vs. Johnny Swinger and Hernandez

* Your night begins Before the IMPACT this Thursday at 7/6c on AXS TV and 7:30pm ET on YouTube, featuring an exclusive singles match between Raj Singh and Juice Robinson of FinJuice! 

Impact Wrestling Preview 12/16/21

Tensions are at an all-time high as Hard To Kill approaches! Don’t miss an all-new IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.

* Before they collide in a Triple Threat World Title showdown on January 8th at Hard To Kill, IMPACT World Champion Moose, Matt Cardona and W. Morrissey will sign the contract for the blockbuster matchup.

* Rohit Raju vs. Josh Alexander 

*  Tenille Dashwood vs. Jessie McKay

* Doc Gallows and Joe Doering vs. Rich Swann and Willie Mack

* John Skyler vs. Trey Miguel

* Chris Bey vs. Laredo Kid

* Ace Austin w/Madman Fulton vs. Hernandez w/Johnny Swinger – Before the IMPACT, tonight at 7/6c on AXS TV and 7:30pm ET on YouTube. 

Impact Wrestling Preview 12/9/21

Don’t miss an all-new IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.

* Deonna Purrazzo and Matthew Rehwoldt vs. Knockouts World Champion Mickie James and Chris Sabin

* Street Fight: Eric Young vs. Rhino

* Knockouts Tag Team Champions The IInspiration and The Influence vs. Decay

* The Learning Tree vs. FinJuice

* Rohit Raju w/Raj Singh vs. Lawrence D 

* Kimber Lee w/Brandi Lauren vs. Lady Frost – Before the IMPACT, this Thursday at 7/6c on AXS TV and 7:30pm ET on YouTube.

Impact Wrestling Preview 12/2/21

IMPACT! returns to Las Vegas with a loaded lineup on the road to Hard To Kill. Don’t miss any of the action this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* At Turning Point, JONAH put the entire wrestling world on notice when he decimated Josh Alexander with a brutal blindside attack in his IMPACT debut. This Thursday, JONAH returns to the IMPACT Zone for the first time since the assault and there’s no telling what chaos he might unleash. Why did JONAH target Josh Alexander and what will his next move be?

*  Matthew Rehwoldt vs. Chris Sabin

* VBD w/Eric Young vs. Rich Swann and Willie Mack

* The action begins Before the IMPACT, this Thursday at 7/6c on AXS TV and 7:30pm ET on YouTube. Hikuleo w/Chris Bey vs. Jake Something

Impact Wrestling Preview 11/18/21

It’s the last stop before IMPACT’s first LIVE special in almost two years, Turning Point! Don’t miss an all-new IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.

* “The King of Pro-Wrestling” Minoru Suzuki vs. “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander

* The IInspiration vs. The Undead Bridesmaids

* Doc Gallows w/Karl Anderson vs. Hikuleo w/Bullet Club

* Steve Maclin vs. Laredo Kid (If Maclin wins, he’ll be added to the X-Division Match at Turning Point)

* Deonna Purrazzo will make her first post-Bound For Glory appearance in a sit-down interview with Gia Miller.

* Sam Beale vs. Brian Myers – Before the IMPACT, 7/6c on AXS TV.

* Johnny Swinger, Hernandez & Fallah Bahh vs. The Demon, Crazzy Steve & Black Taurus

Impact Wrestling Preview 11/11/21

Less than two weeks away from Turning Point, what will happen on an all-new IMPACT? Find out this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* Impact World Championship #1 Contenders Match: Matt Cardona vs. Eddie Edwards vs. W. Morrissey

* Kaleb With a K vs. Minoru Suzuki

* Mercedes Martinez vs. Madison Rayne

* Impact World Tag Title #1 Contenders Match: Bullet Club (Chris Bey and Hikuleo) vs. FinJuice

* Rohit Raju w/Raj Singh vs. Rocky Romero

* Undead Bridesmaids vs. Decay

* Savannah Evans w/Tasha Steelz vs. Rachael Ellering w/Jordynne Grace

Impact Wrestling Preview 11/4/21

The road to Turning Point continues on an all-new IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* Josh Alexander, Eddie Edwards and Matt Cardona vs. Moose, W. Morrissey and NJPW legend Minoru Suzuki

* Knockouts Championship: Mickie James (c) vs. Madison Rayne

* Madman Fulton w/Ace Austin vs. Chris Sabin

* Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers vs. Fin Juice

* X-Division #1 Contenders Match: Rohit Raju vs. Steve Maclin vs. Laredo Kid vs. Black Taurus 

* Brian Myers, VSK and Zicky Dice vs. Rich Swann, Willie Mack and Same Beale – Before the IMPACT, this Thursday at 7/6c on AXS TV.

Impact Wrestling Removes Tommy Dreamer, Petey Williams And Others From Roster

Impact Wrestling has removed five wrestlers from its roster this week, with their profiles being taken down from the company website which has sparked question marks about their futures with the company.

PWInsider reports that the following names have been removed: No Way, TJP, Taylor Wilde, Petey Williams, and Tommy Dreamer.

The removal of Williams is one that makes sense as he has recently had a tryout with WWE. He was backstage at SmackDown last week where he was working as a producer for the company.

Former ECW star, Dreamer, is another name that isn’t too much of a surprise considering the controversy surrounding him following his comments on Dark Side Of The Ring. The company suspended him in the aftermathalthough Busted Open Radio has since brought him back to the show.

However, it is worth noting that the company hasn’t officially announced that any of these names have been released. It was stated that sources haven’t made any form of comment, with these removals not to be taken as a guarantee of any releases.

Source: Wrestling Inc.