Tom Hannifan is excited to accomplish more with IMPACT Wrestling.
WrestleZone recently spoke with IMPACT Wrestling’s Tom Hannifan about his role as commentator and the company’s upcoming Las Vegas TV tapings. Hannifan (formerly WWE’s Tom Phillips) debuted with IMPACT at the 2022 Hard To Kill event, and he looked back on what he’s been able to do with the company in his first year.
“It’s been so much fun. It’s just been loosening up in a lot of ways. It’s shaking off some old habits that were necessary and trying a lot of new things, trying a lot of new things that I may have not tried before. Trying to open up my personality, see what works, what doesn’t work. So, it’s a really interesting time,” Hannifan said.
“I remember when I first started with WWE, Michael Cole told me it’s going to take you ten years to feel comfortable about this and get good at this. I’m just thrilled now that I have the chance to be the lead for IMPACT Wrestling. At a point in time where I feel like I’ve learned a lot, I still have a lot more to learn, a lot more than I want to accomplish,” Hannifan explained. “I’m just glad that I can contribute to a place that is growing, is trending in the right direction with everything they’re doing. So, I just feel very fortunate and I feel I’m very humbled to have this opportunity to be the lead guy for IMPACT Wrestling. It’s an opportunity that’s just not lost on me.”
What does year two look like for him?
“Year two? I’m excited because like you mentioned, we’ll be in Vegas for No Surrender. Friday, February 24th, live. Then we’re going to have a nice stretch in Canada in March, Windsor, Ontario, for Sacrifice,” he noted. “First time we’ll be in Canada in three years, and then in April, we’ll be in Toronto for Rebellion, which the first time we’ll be in Toronto since 2019. So, it’s just it’s really exciting. It’s these places — I don’t remember the last time I was able to perform in Canada with WWE probably late 2019 or something like that. So, I’m gonna have to check my sticker or something like that. But, I’m looking forward to all the things that we’ve been building on.
“This past Bound for Glory was the highest-attended event for IMPACT in three years. We sold out Hard To Kill, and I hope to see that trend continue. From what I understand, the response in Canada has been great,” he said. “The response was outstanding and IMPACT has a great international audience, so I’m hoping we can do more and more there. Then just for me personally, I’m getting to call great matches with some awesome wrestlers and I have an awesome color commentator. I love working with my producer. Scott D’Amore is fantastic to work with. So, I mean, I have nothing to complain about. I’m just hoping to do more.
Hannifan has Philadelphia roots and called his first IMPACT show at the 2300 Arena in March 2022. Asked about the prospect of getting another “home” show, Hannifan said he’s certainly open to it when the opportunity presents itself.
“I’m very lucky to have done a lot in Philadelphia over the years. Getting to work in the 2300 Arena, I think it was in March of this past year, was really, really cool because obviously I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. I was aware of ECW, so to be able to work in the famed 2300 Arena was really, really special to me. So, hopefully we get a chance to get back into Philadelphia soon. I don’t know what venue that would be in particular [if IMPACT returned to Philadelphia]. Obviously the 2300 is very, very special. But just to be in front of the Philly crowd, I would rank Philadelphia up there with the likes of New York and Chicago as some of the best wrestling cities in the country. So, I think it’s I think it would be great. And selfishly, for me, it’s a really easy commute, So why not?”
IMPACT Wrestling is at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas for No Surrender on February 24-26; event information can be found here.
Read More: Aron Stevens On 2013 Money In The Bank Win: It Stands The Test Of Time, Everyone Worked Selflessly
