Mike Tenay
Ring name(s)	"The Professor" Mike Tenay
Billed height	5 ft 8 in
Billed weight	170 lbs
Born	February 28, 1956 (1956-02-28) (age 53)[1] Los Angeles, California[1]
Debut	1994

Mike Tenay (born February 28, 1956, in Los Angeles, California^[1]) is a professional wrestling play-by-play announcer. He is best known for his time working with World Championship Wrestling and currently for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.^[2] He is considered one of the foremost wrestling historians which earned him the nickname "The Professor."

[edit] Career

[edit] World Championship Wrestling (1994-2001)

Mike Tenay made his WCW announcing debut during the WCW-promoted AAA When Worlds Collide pay-per-view in November 1994.^[3] Everyone in WCW (including lead announcer Tony Schiavone) declined to do the PPV.^[3] During his first broadcast, he and Chris Cruise called the match between Los Gringos Locos (Eddy Guerrero and Art Barr) vs. Hijo del Santo and Octagon as judged by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.^[4] Following the success of that event, WCW added more luchadores to the roster, and Tenay would appear as a guest announcer during their pay-per-view matches due to his extensive knowledge of holds and maneuvers as well as lucha libre ring psychology. Tenay made his television debut for World Championship Wrestling in the mid-1990s, serving as a play-by-play announcer for secondary shows such as WCW Worldwide and WCW Saturday Night, where he was known as "Iron" Mike Tenay.

On September 2, 1996 he was moved up to the main show, WCW Monday Nitro, where he served as a third commentator to the team originally consisting of play-by-play announcer Tony Schiavone and color commentator Bobby Heenan.^[5] It was there that Schiavone gave him the nickname "The Professor" for his vast and impressive knowledge of the wrestling business, wrestling history, and wrestling maneuvers. ^[2]

In light of WCW adding Thunder as another major weekly show in its lineup, the announce team was pulling double duty during the week. Tenay was named the lead announcer for WCW Thunder, with Schiavone and Heenan serving as the on-screen auxiliaries.^[5] He remained an announcer with WCW until its purchase by the WWF in 2001.^[5]

[edit] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002-present)

Tenay (right) and Don West (left) calling the action at Lockdown.

In early 2002, Tenay was approached by Jeff Jarrett regarding the play-by-play announcer's slot with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Tenay became the voice of the upstart company when it launched in June 2002.^[6] From that point onward, Tenay (now sporting a tuxedo at every event) became the voice of TNA, announcing every single weekly pay-per-view event, every episode of TNA Impact! and Xplosion, and every monthly pay-per-view.^[2]

Tenay's role for the company beyond that of play-by-play man has developed both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. After TNA decided to switch to a booking committee format in mid-2005, Tenay was named to the committee, enhancing his formerly modest influence behind the scenes.^[7] Tenay also became the prominent on-screen personality for TNA, conducting interviews with Jeff Jarrett (who has labeled Tenay as "the voice of the fans") as well as making major announcements (such as the signing of Sting).

[edit] Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame

He also serves on the board for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

[edit] Awards and accomplishments

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• Best Television Announcer (1997, 2005)^[1]

• Nicknames
  • "The Professor"

[edit] Personal Life

Mike is married to his wife, Karen.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Professional wrestling portal