My World w/ Jeff Jarrett - Don West [Show Notes] (Patreon)

The reason for our show today…Don West.

Don West began hosting “The Sports Collectibles” show on the “Shop at Home” shopping network in 1993.

He was one of the most colorful personalities of the past two decades in professional wrestling was he not?

I mean even Will Ferrell even portrayed Don on Saturday Night Live in 1997!

https://youtu.be/pZjlCZSXulE

The story is after all the success Don had selling collectibles and his irreverent excitability Vince Russo wanted to bring him into WCW in 2000. Is that how you remember it?

Did you know who he was when he’s first talked about joining WCW?

Do you know why that didn’t work out?

Don was not a wrestling fan but a sports fan - and had a degree in sports broadcasting from Perdue. So the transition to this wasn’t terribly hard was it?

Don would eventually leave the Shop at Home network and hosted a sports talk show on WNSR in Nashville. Did you meet Don during this time or was it later on?

You wanted Don from Day 1 of TNA is that right?

Were you the only one?

Don is the person who first introduced the world to TNA with the first commercial promoting the first pay-per-view. Why Don?

How was the negotiation on bringing him in? Was he compensated for helping promote the shows on his radio show or was that not part of the deal?

From the Observer:

“West had never been involved with wrestling when he did a practice broadcast with Ferrara and Scott Hudson for a Bert Prentice independent show in the area. Within minutes of his getting in the building, he got his first taste of the chaos of wrestling as Jim Cornette at the show spit on Ferrara, because he hated Ferrara’s “Oklahoma” character in WCW that was a cruel mocking of Jim Ross, including contorting his face to make fun of Ross’ Bell’s Palsy attacks. It was something that should have never been allowed on the air but it was WCW and Russo was creative power and wanted to get back at Ross, who he perceived was his enemy in WWF. Cornette and Ross had been close friends since 1983 when both were working for Bill Watts.”

Hell of an introduction to the professional wrestling business wasn’t it?

He was the fan on commentary - not the professor Mike Tenay - or Ed Ferrera - which I don’t know did something for somebody (Russo)...but how hard was it when he first started? Was he coachable? Frustrated?

How much did working with Mike Tenay help - and their instant friendship?

He was not well received in the beginning critically but what did you think of him?

Meltzer compared him in his latest issue to Pat McAfee nowadays in the WWE…is that an apt comparison do you think?

Eventually Ed Ferrera would leave when the money fell through with Scrushy - what was the conversation like with Don when that all went down?

West became a student of the game - taking it all in - and in early November even Meltzer gives him credit for improving greatly. Was there a moment that you or your dad or anyone went…that’s it! He’s finally become our man - and he was what you wanted or needed in the product?

Don would react and get hot at the heels and cheer on the babyfaces - and in one classic moment - Red is getting heat on him and the crowd started chanting, “Go Red Go” and Don joined in while on commentary. That was Don to a T wasn’t it?

From the Observer:

“They nearly created a star in Amazing Red, as the announcers were selling for his beating like crazy. Then, Don West stood up on the ringside table and started screaming “Go, Red, Go” which got the crowd going nuts for his comeback like at a real sport. That was apparently Jerry Jarrett’s idea as he was the one who told West the spot. The negative is that the place would have come unglued had Red actually won. Since Red was pinned earlier in the show, it wasn’t a good idea for him to get pinned again. The deal is that when booking the finish, they had no idea the crowd would get this hot, and figured going in since Low Ki & Daniels & Skipper were returning and it was the first night for them under Russo, that they should go over.”

How much did your dad have to do with Don’s improvement?

Is this something you wish you had flipped when the crowd had gotten behind him?

Don being able to sell merch - when did that role begin to evolve and get fleshed out?

There’s an interesting note that I’m sure you’ve never seen before so I have to ask about it:

From the Observer on June 9th, 2003:

The Harris Twins were back twice on the show, showing no signs of a beating, and never vowing revenge, nor was the beating ever acknowledged.

Don West actually brought this up before the show at a production meeting and Jarrett said that the Twins wouldn’t be seen until 30 minutes after the beating. There is a feeling that because West came in less than a year ago with no product knowledge,

that even though he’s been a fast study, Jeff, and more so Jerry, don’t take seriously his questions about the show.

What say you to that Jeff?

Don’s ability to plug the next show is very similar to what Excalibur does now at AEW. That’s just his insane sales ability right?

What is something about Don when it pertains to the business we don’t know about?

Let’s talk about some classic Don West moments - the night he got hit in the head with a kendo stick by Puppet on the 3rd TNA pay-per-view…how did you convince Don to take that?

Turning Point 04 - the Elix Skipper spot - how much more is it made with Don’s sell of YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME? The move itself is amazing and if you watch it without audio it’s still great - but the sell…

Kurt Angle’s debut - as big as it was for the company - Don’s selling of the announcement and video - it was real wasn’t it?

Then Kurt would eventually put the ankle lock on Don and Don’s selling is…hilarious.

The infamous high five between Don & Mike comes after Christy Hemme hands Don an envelope - and that the new management would debut at Slammiversary 2006 and Samoa Joe will take on Scott Steiner. These two were just so good together were they not?

Later that year - when you hit Sting with the guitar at Bound for Glory and Sting no sold it and screamed - just Don’s voice and inflection - just made it all. Where do you rank him in terms of great commentators?

He would host various press conferences for TNA - why was it him and not say Mike Tenay?

With the economic downturn in 2008 Don gets let go of his regular job as an afternoon sports talk show in Nashville. How hard did Don take that?

Eventually…and in something we’d all like to forget. Don West…is turned heel.

From the Observer:

“Tenay and West were shown on camera, this time with their back to the crowd again. Tenay plugged that Jarrett did it and stepped up to the plate and signed Angle–Sting. West looked upset and told Tenay, “While you’re in ass–kissing mode, why don’t you kiss Sting’s ass as well.” Tenay asked, “What in the hell are you talking about?” West said he knows what it is about. Tenay said he doesn’t know. West yanked off his mic clip and said there’s something that needs to be said. He stood up and held the wireless mic.

He said they’ve called every single match in TNA together (well, there was that Mafia takeover episode) and they’ve been to each other’s houses. He said their wives are best friends. Tenay asked what this was about. West asked for him to let him finish. West said a few days ago TNA management held meetings that included a discussion about his future as a co–host. West said he heard Tenay was at that meeting and when the subject of West came up, Tenay wouldn’t pick sides, he wouldn’t speak up for him.

“You’re nothing but a selfish prick! You could’ve done the right thing, but you didn’t have the balls,” said West. “I don’t know what my future holds, but I know two things. Number one, our friendship will never be the same. And number two, you can take this microphone and shove it up your ass.” He threw the mic down and walked away.”

This story is told now that Tazz was coming into the company and Russo was looking to move away from Don. What did you think of this idea - what did Mike think of it - and what did Don think of it?

From the Observer:

“West’s new character is entertaining,

although it’s just killing whatever is left of Mike Tenay’s ability to get angles over because of being involved in this nonsense. The gimmick is West is now an alcoholic, and he came in and asked why nobody told him they started the tapings early. Tenay noted they started the same time they always do and hinted West smelled like alcohol.”

This is a sharp turn - you couldn’t have been happy with this?

“They’ve toned down the Don West heel turn per orders from the top. That was quick.

They felt they went too far with it and had to get it under control. The way it was at the PPV and TV is where they want it, with West playing subtle heel. I guess they recognized it was getting in the way of selling the product. West is more of a heel only when The

Beautiful People are out there and also when the babyfaces do something outrageously stupid. Honestly, making Tenay stick up for the faces in those situations still buries Tenay’s credibility as the lead announcer having a connection with the viewing audience is almost a necessity to build a product.”

This just never works correctly - so why even try it?

“The new Don West role is patterned almost completely after Bobby Heenan. What is impressive about West is that I don’t think he ever even saw much of Heenan or studied him. Mike Tenay was Heenan’s best friend in WCW so he knows how to work with Heenan to make him shine. The West situation is interesting because nobody knows that his future is. The expectation is Taz is coming in for a short-term role as Joe’s mentor, but will eventually become a manager, and people don’t know if that means a three-man booth, or how it affects West. Most likely, Taz would not replace Tenay since Tenay plays a different role.”

Was TNA better off with Don West in the role or Taz do you think?

After the transition is made, Meltzer would write this:

“Taz has already taken over for Don West as the color commentator on television starting with the show that airs on 8/20. As has been noted several times, when Don West’s heel turn started, it was an effort by people on his side to keep him in his role because there were factions that wanted him out. What was interesting is that it was almost universal he was doing well in the role. Still, when Taz was hired, it was ultimately to be an announcer, with the idea that when the Taz/Samoa Joe angle ran its course, he’d take over the spot, and nobody had an answer regarding what would happen to West. The word got around at the PPV. West is staying with the company working in merchandise, and has been told that if the company gets a new TV show, he’ll be announcing on it. As noted, since the Taz move has been planned from the day he signed, the only question was when it would happen, or if they’d do a three-man team. Unlike the Dutch Mantel move, this was probably not a move based on Jeff Jarrett losing power and his allies being eliminated.”

Do you think Don was hurt by you losing power and that you could’ve stopped this?

Now long after…Dave would write this:

“There is a ton of second guessing the announcer change since Don West was liked by most people in the company, including some of the top name wrestlers. It was a Dixie Carter decision, and West was considered a Jeff Jarrett guy, although as noted, the move was in the works long before Jarrett was removed from creative power. A lot in the company noted how the style of announcing is completely different, with less going 100 miles per hour and more a WWE style and consider that a negative.”

Don was perfect in the role at this point after 7 years - and it’s one of those things done by a company who is out of touch with their fanbase - fair to say?

Eventually Don would come back and be a manager to Red…well not a manager but promoter. Problem is Red is tiny and Don is not…and it only lasts two months before it’s ended even though Don was doing great in the role wouldn’t you say?

From Meltzer:

“West was excellent in his role, dropped with the new regime. If the idea is that the

dynamic between West and Red doesn’t really work, which I agree with, that’s fine. If

West isn’t put with a top act, preferably someone he isn’t twice the size of, to take

advantage of his talking ability, then it will depress me to no end to see how badly their eye for talent is. The deal is, West doesn’t have the “TV look” so that first reaction of seeing him is negative until you hear him cut a promo and then realize he’s got the potential to be top five in the business at it.”

Did he have that potential?

His focus then becomes merchandise and the house shows and in March of 2010 it’s reported that house show business has been way up since January with the credit going to you, Don & Jeremy. You’re doing media, West is doing merch live at the shows and Borash is running his ass off. Did you guys have a lot of fun doing this?

How much money do you think Don made the company doing his pitches - as Meltzer would say eventually that the shows were doing sometimes $20 per head in merchandise.

“It’s funny watching the TV commercials for the house

shows because the only thing they promote is that Don West will be there for the insane deals. The funny thing is, people who go say West is always one of the highlights of the shows because of how hard he works at the merchandise booth.”

In June of 2012 - Meltzer would report this:

“In what is actually a much bigger story than it would appear on the surface, Don West, 48, who has been with the company from its inception in 2002, has given notice. He will be taking a job as the General Manager of the Wenatchee Wild of the North American Hockey League. West had been going on the road and running the merchandise stand, and with his hard sells, the company’s merchandise business is huge which is how it remains profitable even when house shows draw less than 1,000 people most of the time.

The story is that West was looking for something new, and had fallen in love with Washington the last time the company toured there. He was also burning out on the travel associated with his TNA job. His new role will be more of a promotions oriented General Manager.

He won’t be in charge of players, building the roster and those aspects one usually

associates with that position. He’ll be in charge of marketing. He’ll be in charge of ideas for promoting the team and marketing and merchandising the team.”

Is it ironic that his being with TNA would lead him to this area of the country?

Were you talking with Don a lot during your time in and out of the company?

Was this a big deal for Don?

When you announce GFW…you announce Don West would be working with the company. You wouldn’t have done GFW without him right?

When you return to TNA in 2017…which we will cover in a few weeks…one of the first things you do is bring Don back to work in the ShopTNA department to help unload merchandise. How invaluable was Don to this?

He would commentate one last time…at Slammiversary 2017…with Robert Flores who was with the MLB network at the time. How special was this to Don?

WWE & AEW both mentioned Don.