Mike Tenay Mike Tenay ( February 28 , 1956 ) , is a play - by - play announcer . He is best known for his time working with World Championship Wrestling and currently for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is considered one of the foremost wrestling historians , which earned him the nickname " The Professor . " Career . World Championship Wrestling ( 1994 - 2001 ) . Mike Tenay made his WCW announcing debut during the WCW - co - promoted " AAA When Worlds Collide " pay - per - view in November 1994 . Every announcer in WCW , including lead announcer Tony Schiavone , declined to work the broadcast . During this first broadcast , he and Chris Cruise called the match of Los Gringos Locos ( Eddy Guerrero and Art Barr ) vs . Hijo del Santo and Octagon , judged by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter as a " legendary " five - star match . 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 would later serve as a full - time play - by - play announcer for secondary television shows such as " WCW Worldwide " and " WCW Saturday Night " , where he was known as " Iron " Mike Tenay . He was also backstage interviewer for Uncensored 1995 . 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 . 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 . 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 . He remained an announcer with WCW until its purchase by the WWF in 2001 . Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ( 2002 - 215 ) . 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 . From that point onward , Tenay ( now sporting a tuxedo at every event ) became the voice of TNA , announcing the weekly pay - per - view events , every single episode of " Impact Wrestling " ( originally " TNA Impact ! " ) and " Xplosion " , and every monthly pay - per - view . 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 . 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 ) . Josh Mathews took Tenay ' s place as commentator on weekly airings of " Impact Wrestling " after its move from Spike to Destination America . Following his move from " Impact " , Tenay has done range of things including interviewing Jeff Jarrett , replacing color commentary on Impact for one night and called by the side of Josh Matthews and The Pope at TNA Slammiversary . He also inducted Jeff Jarrett into the TNA Hall of Fame . Since August 2015 , Tenay has been on hiatus from TNA because there was no job for him on the weekly airings of Impact Wrestling . As of January 2016 , it was confirmed TNA does not need Tenay on Pop and has no use for him during the rest of his current TNA Contract .