David Penzer
Encyclopedia
David Penzer is an American
professional wrestling
ring announcer
, most recently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling
(WCW) between 1995 and 2001.
, graduating with a C+
average. While there, he operated a mobile disc jockey
company. He debuted as a ring announcer in 1988, appearing with the Global Wrestling Alliance in the South Florida metropolitan area
.
n jobbers
who appeared at WCW events. He was eventually hired by Tony Schiavone
in 1995, and was mentored by Gary Cappetta
. When Capetta was released from WCW in 1996, Penzer was appointed main ring announcer by WCW President Eric Bischoff
. His announcing attire was notable in that, rather than the traditional black, Penzer often wore a vibrantly colorful cummerbund
with his tuxedo
.
Penzer's place at wrestling events was usually restricted to announcing; however, in late 1997, Chris Jericho
found himself on a losing streak and would repeatedly attack Penzer for announcing the winner's name, often taking Penzer's steel chair and repeatedly bash it against the ring post. Jericho would then give humorous
apologies and even gave Penzer a new suit jacket as a gift, yet he would once again throw a tantrum soon after. Penzer remained with WCW until the promotion was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation
in March 2001. In the course of his WCW career, he attended every single taping of WCW Monday Nitro
as well as Thunder
.
as a booking agent, in addition to acting as the manager of Rowdy Roddy Piper
's book tour and appearing with the short-lived World Wrestling All-Stars
promotion. In 2004. he became Vice President of an airbrush tattoo company.
as a ring announcer, making his debut on the pre-show of Against All Odds pay-per-view
on February 13, 2005.
On the October 16, 2008 edition of TNA Impact!
, Kurt Angle
forearmed Penzer in his face, beat him with his shoe and then put the Ankle lock on him. Penzer was legitimately injured as his face became swollen. Backstage announcer Jeremy Borash
took over ring announcing duties for the rest of the night.
On May 16, 2010, Penzer was released from TNA.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
ring announcer
Ring announcer
A ring announcer is a paid in-ring employee for a boxing, professional wrestling, or mixed martial arts event or promotion...
, most recently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) between 1995 and 2001.
Early career
Penzer attended the University of FloridaUniversity of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, graduating with a C+
Grade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
average. While there, he operated a mobile disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
company. He debuted as a ring announcer in 1988, appearing with the Global Wrestling Alliance in the South Florida metropolitan area
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
.
World Championship Wrestling
Penzer first became involved with World Championship Wrestling around mid-to-late 1993 or early 1994 while acting as a booking agent for FloridiaFloridia
Floridia is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily .-Geography:Floridia lies 12 km west of Syracuse...
n jobbers
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
who appeared at WCW events. He was eventually hired by Tony Schiavone
Tony Schiavone
Noah Anthony "Tony" Schiavone is an American sports broadcaster. He is the play-by-play broadcaster for the Gwinnett Braves of the International League...
in 1995, and was mentored by Gary Cappetta
Gary Michael Cappetta
Gary Michael Cappetta is an American professional wrestling ring announcer, author, voice over artist, screenwriter and stage performer...
. When Capetta was released from WCW in 1996, Penzer was appointed main ring announcer by WCW President Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
. His announcing attire was notable in that, rather than the traditional black, Penzer often wore a vibrantly colorful cummerbund
Cummerbund
A cummerbund is a broad waist sash, usually pleated, which is often worn with single-breasted dinner jackets . The cummerbund was first adopted by British military officers in colonial India as an alternative to a waistcoat, and later spread to civilian use...
with his tuxedo
Black tie
Black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions. For a man, the main component is a usually black jacket, known as a dinner jacket or tuxedo...
.
Penzer's place at wrestling events was usually restricted to announcing; however, in late 1997, Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
found himself on a losing streak and would repeatedly attack Penzer for announcing the winner's name, often taking Penzer's steel chair and repeatedly bash it against the ring post. Jericho would then give humorous
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
apologies and even gave Penzer a new suit jacket as a gift, yet he would once again throw a tantrum soon after. Penzer remained with WCW until the promotion was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
in March 2001. In the course of his WCW career, he attended every single taping of WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
as well as Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
.
Post-WCW
Following the sale of WCW, Penzer worked with the Xcitement Wrestling Federation until it closed. He then began working on the independent circuitIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
as a booking agent, in addition to acting as the manager of Rowdy Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
's book tour and appearing with the short-lived World Wrestling All-Stars
World Wrestling All-Stars
The World Wrestling All-Stars was a professional wrestling promotion founded by Australian concert promoter Andrew McManus in 2001. The promotion was operated by McManus' International Touring Company. WWA was one of several promotions to come into existence shortly after the closings of Extreme...
promotion. In 2004. he became Vice President of an airbrush tattoo company.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
In 2005, Penzer joined Total Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
as a ring announcer, making his debut on the pre-show of Against All Odds pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
on February 13, 2005.
On the October 16, 2008 edition of TNA Impact!
TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
, Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
forearmed Penzer in his face, beat him with his shoe and then put the Ankle lock on him. Penzer was legitimately injured as his face became swollen. Backstage announcer Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash , is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator, announcer, ring announcer, booker, interviewer, producer and website designer...
took over ring announcing duties for the rest of the night.
On May 16, 2010, Penzer was released from TNA.