It’s only been 24 hours since the bombshell news that Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of IMPACT Wrestling, had purchased the controlling interest of AXS TV and HDNet and already the changes are being felt. On Tuesday afternoon, longtime employee Adam Swift was departing the company after 11 years.
This is my last week at AXS TV after 11 amazing years. Proud of all that we accomplished, blessed to have worked with so many wonderful people, and excited for the next adventure.
— Adam Swift (@AdamMSwift) September 10, 2019
To the vast majority reading this, this may not seem like a big deal. Who is Adam Swift? But without Adam Swift, there would not be an MMA or pro wrestling presence on AXS TV. He handled the combat sports side of AXS TV (a similar position that Ed Nordholm handles for Anthem already), alongside AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon, and was instrumental in bringing Ring of Honor to HDNet in 2009, a relationship that continued until Sinclair Broadcasting bought ROH and moved it to their own Sinclair channels. But that wasn’t Swift’s last dalliance in pro wrestling – in 2015, he brought New Japan Pro Wrestling to AXS TV, a situation that continues to this day. He was since promoted to Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs.
Cindy Ronzoni, another longtime PR/publicist with AXS TV (she also worked with Women of Wrestling series), has also left the company, laid off as a result of the purchase. PWInsider is reporting that the AXS Dallas office has already been shut down. With Anthem reshuffling and taking over, expect many more lay-offs and repositioning of employees.
Have to admit. I'm going to really miss working with amazing @wowsuperheroes and the wrestling press. Was honored to be @WOW_Wrestling's publicist. Wishing everyone the best! Please stay in touch.
— Cindy Ronzoni (@cindyronzoni) September 10, 2019
At least one executive from a prominent wrestling promotion has taken notice of Swift’s departure.
Thank you for helping bring wrestling to AXS. A lot of folks(myself included) benefited greatly from an alternative wrestling product being on tv. Thanks for being an ally to the sport. https://t.co/kwqOSAhD2H
— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) September 10, 2019
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
