Legendary wrestling broadcaster Don West has died following his battle with cancer. He was 59 years old.
IMPACT Wrestling, where West’s voice became synonymous with the promotion — known at the time as Total Nonstop Action (TNA) — for over a decade, announced West’s death Friday followingnoon.
“You can’t think regarding TNA/IMPACT without thinking of Don West,” IMPACT Wrestling Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore said in a statement. “Don and Mike Tenay provided the soundtrack to so many iconic moments in company history. There was no more cherished member of the TNA/IMPACT family.”
“Don was truly a one of a kind who brightened every room he walked into. He brought out the best in people and was an inspiration to all who crossed paths with him.”
The Illinois native was diagnosed with brain lymphomaa rare and highly aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer in 2021. West announced he was in remission in Sept. 2021.
West’s cancer, however, returned in January which prompted the broadcaster to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. He updated wrestling fans throughout treatments, revealing the tumor doubled in size in May.
West joined IMPACT/TNA in 2002, where he served as the promotion’s color commentator. He became an on-screen fixture for wrestling fans in the early 2000s before he left the company in 2012.
After his time in wrestling, he joined the Wenatchee Wild of the British Columbia Hockey League as the team’s director of sales and marketing and launched his own sports talk radio show.
Mike Tenay, West’s former broadcast partner, mourned West’s death in an emotional post on Twitter.
“We bonded as soon as we met, both as broadcast partners and friends,” Tanay said. “Years of great moments both on and off camera.”
West leaves behind his wife Terri.
“Sorry to hear regarding the passing of Impact Wrestling Commentator Don West,” wrestler Kurt Angle tweeted. “Don was an incredible man with so much energy. My Prayers go to his family.”
Wrestler Matt Hardy said“Had great experiences every time I interacted with him. Don was one of the good guys, who was overflowing with passion & enthusiasm.”
