David Penzer is excited for fans to see what IMPACT Wrestling has in store and he says part of that comes from being the result of the decision-makers being open to and encouraging feedback from everyone.
Penzer, WCW’s long-time ring announcer, recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard and commented on the feeling of returning to work for IMPACT Wrestling and shared a funny story about how he found out IMPACT was welcome to all performers sharing their feedback.
“One of the other cool things about IMPACT is, a lot of other promotions don’t want feedback. I’ll tell you a funny story—the first set of tapings that I worked, after creative is done they send out the formats out to the producers and the production people. Scott included me on that and he put up a [message] that said ‘if you have any input on the shows please get it to us by tomorrow at noon.’ The next day at 12:30, I get a call from Scott D’Amore and he’s pissed off, he’s like ‘what do you think, you’re too good to give feedback?’ [laughs] I said ‘you were talking to me?!? I thought you were just being polite by CC’ing me on it, I didn’t think you wanted my feedback!’
“He said we want everyone’s feedback, there’s no wrong questions or answers or input. There’s been a few things that I’ve brought up that people have agreed with, I’m just feeling my way around there and I don’t want to just walk in there and act like I know everything because I certainly don’t. Everybody has a say in IMPACT Wrestling. At the end of the day, we know the decision-makers make the decision and that’s why they’re there but it’s cool to be able to have your say and for people to listen to it without blowing it off.”
One of the things Penzer is excited to see play out is the new Wrestle House features that have been airing weekly on IMPACT television. Penzer was at the most recent Nashville tapings but wasn’t at the Wrestle House tapings, so he’ll be seeing it for the first time just like fans at home and says he doesn’t know the format but is excited to see the final product.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be an elimination type thing,” Penzer said, “I have no clue. All I know is the talent that was there and I love the open that they did, like a ‘Three’s Company’ thing and I’m excited for it. In all fairness, if Vince Russo would’ve come up with that people would have crapped all over it. It needs to be entertaining without being condescending, and I hope and think it is because we’ve really got a great group of talent and a great group of producers and writers. If it’s not, I’ll be the first one to say that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and no one is expected to like everything but I’m looking forward to that and I think it’s going to be fun.”
Penzer also says he’s looking forward to seeing what many of the fresh faces on the roster will be doing in the singles and tag team divisions. Penzer praised EC3 for his prior run with IMPACT and noted that Heath [Slater] and Brian Myers really have a chance to do more than they did in their respective runs with WWE.
“I’m looking forward to what Gallows and Anderson, Motor City Machine Guns and EC3, especially him because I love his [new character]. It sets the narrative for these times and I’ve always loved him as a performer and as a talker. I’m super excited to see where this goes. Eric Young is great, I’m looking forward to seeing how we can fit Heath and Brian Myers in the mix. Two talented guys who languished too long, not really doing anything but house shows [in WWE]. And more potential surprises, I’m psyched and I’m not just saying that. I think that people that hear me on podcasts or my podcast that I’m excited. It’s genuine excitement, opposed to feigned excitement and we’ll see what happens.
We’re in unknown times, and I was so excited baseball was back because I’m a huge Tampa Bay Rays fan and now it might be over in 6 games, 12 games. You can never take anything for granted at this point, so I take every day and every opportunity and chance I get to be a part of the business and just appreciate it. It’s just the truth. I’m 54 years old and I’ve got the chance to be back in a business that I absolutely love in several different ways, possibly more ways to come, and I just take every day and enjoy it.”
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