When it comes to pro wrestling, the commentator is a vital part of the story being told, but they’re not always in the know.
TNA Wrestling star Tom Hannifan has spent almost 15 years in the business, with much of that behind the desk, having started in WWE and getting to call huge events like WrestleMania.
However, as he exclusively told Metro as the build starts for before Slammiversary 2026 next month, sometimes the commentary team aren’t given the full script for the show.
In 2019, three years before joining TNA and becoming a fixture on their programming, Tom was ‘honoured’ to call his first ever WrestleMania, which included the emotionally charged moment Kofi Kingston finally won a world championship.
‘I didn’t know who was going over in that,’ he revealed. ‘”Are they going to pull the trigger on this? Are they really going to do it?” And when they really did it, the place just went absolutely crazy.’
Tom recalled a powerful video of MVP and late wrestler Shad Gaspard watching the historic moment as Kofi became only the NUMBER Black world champion in WWE history.
‘The ripple effect of the effect of representation is never lost on me,’ he said. ‘Because Kofi achieved, people who look like him feel like they can achieve. And I think that transcended wrestling.’
The 36-year-old broadcaster admitted the buildup to the moment itself, which was dubbed KofiMania, was ‘like a bolt of lightning’ capitalising on the fans’ love for the veteran, and it made for a special night.
‘The thing that really always got me was Kofi’s kids being in the ring with Kofi and Big E and Xavier [Woods]. And fortunately, I got to all work with all three of those people and consider them all friends,’ he smiled.
‘To this day, that’s my favourite commentary call. And as much as I’m happy with my own performance, Byron Saxton knocked it out of the park with his performance that night. His call after the pinfall is incredible.’
Tom did acknowledge a ‘challenging time’ for New Day teammates Kofi and Xavier, who are leaving WWE after well over a decade, following reports they decided to mutually part ways.
‘I’d welcome the chance to work with just about anybody in professional wrestling,’ he teased when we broached the idea of the duo joining TNA, as he referenced Xavier’s history with the company as Consequences Creed.
He added: ‘You just never say never in pro wrestling, and see what happens.’
Away from the New Day, Tom also referenced getting to commentate on his real-life friend Steve Maclin’s world title at TNA Rebellion 2023.
‘That was an extremely emotional night for me, and the most emotionally important moment of my career,’ he admitted. ‘We had a very long friendship, and to be able to run backstage and give him a big hug – and I was crying.’
Tom didn’t know KofiMania was coming on the night, and while that’s not a regular occurrence, there are moments where it makes sense for him not to know.
‘Depending on where it is in the structure of the show, it can be really beneficial for the play-by-play guy to know, because if it’s some gigantic emotional moment or something that deserves a reaction, we have to come on camera, and we have to articulate something very specifically for creative so that way the story can be told,’ he explained.
‘But there’s certain ones, like if it’s the last segment of a show or a pay-per-view, then it’s kind of like, you just have to react, and you have to wrap this up.’
He added: ‘If I can keep [co-commentator] Matthew Rehwoldt professionally in the dark, then I know I’ll get a great, organic reaction out of him. And I’d much rather him have that spotlight to really put over the excitement of the moment, and then I just steer the ship around him.’
Tom acknowledged that might ‘sound deceptive’, but there’s always a ‘good reason’ behind it.
‘You’ll get an organic, enthusiastic, energetic response out of somebody, [whereas] if they knew about it, it’s going to be just more performative,’ he explained. #That’s improv, that’s acting to a degree.’
Even if Tom doesn’t get clued in, he’s always prepared, with ‘enormous files’ of notes on every wrestler and storyline on the show.
‘Especially if there’s more emotional moments, I like to make sure that I have maybe a line or two figured out in advance,’ he said. ‘That can change on the day as things change, inevitably, with a wrestling show, so I try to stay up to speed with everything.’
Tom, who credited the likes of Lance Storm and Michael Cole with helping him understand the intricacies of wrestling and how to work as a commentator, committed his future to TNA last summer, and he described it as an ‘easy decision’.
He’s not ruling out expanding that role, whether that’s cutting promos in the ring, or potentially being more involved creatively behind the scenes, having been in ‘plenty of production meetings’ for WWE and TNA over the years.
‘You never know. It’s just a matter of what’s going to be the right thing for me, what’s gonna be the right thing for the company,’ he explained.
‘Especially as I get older, whenever I look hideous on camera, then maybe I should probably not be on camera anymore. But hopefully that’s a long way off!’
Slammiversary airs June 28. UK fans can watch the show, and all TNA Wresting action, on the TNA+ app.
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